Not guilty plea over Kiwi teacher death

Johnnie Lee Wiggins, charged with second degree murder over the death of his partner, New Zealander Prudence Hockley, at her Seattle home on Christmas Eve. Photo / supplied

An American man accused of beating a New Zealand teacher to death has pleaded not guilty.

Prudence Hockley, 55, died on Christmas Day after she was allegedly beaten by her bodybuilder boyfriend Johnnie Lee Wiggins - a convicted criminal with a history of illegal steroid use and violent and sexual offending.

Ms Hockley, originally from Nelson and educated at Canterbury University, moved to Seattle, Washington in 1978.

Police said she left her home about 11pm on Christmas Eve to speak with a friend.

Witnesses reported hearing a thump and seeing a man walk away and drive off in a car.

Ms Hockley's 13-year-old daughter, Maggie, raced outside to find her mother unconscious.

She died in hospital on Christmas Day from blunt-force trauma to the head.

Wiggins, 48, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder at the King County courthouse today (NZ time), Seattle television news channel King 5 reported.

Prosecutors said they would seek an exceptional sentence for Wiggins, which could include life in prison, because they claim Ms Hockley was killed in the presence of her teenage daughter.

Wiggins was in violation of his parole in Georgia by living in Washington without the Department of Corrections' knowledge.

He remains in jail on $5 million bail.

Ms Hockley's nephew, 45-year-old Jonathon Hockley, previously told APNZ her death was an awful shock to the family.

"My father phoned from Australia on Boxing Day morning and said Prue had been assaulted and was not expected to live. He phoned about an hour later to say she had died.

"It's been a bit of a blur trying to deal with it and come to terms with it ever since. It's been a hell of a time."