Protection order breached: Police

Mother-of-two Gail Bower's body was found in the backyard of her Havelock North home. Photo / Warren Buckland

A man accused of stabbing to death his former partner in Havelock North earlier this month was allegedly breaching a protection order when police say he went to her home and murdered her.

Raymond Shane Christison, 48, was found by police with cuts to his throat and wrists after he allegedly stabbed to death Gail Bower, the mother of his two children, at her home on June 7.

Name suppression granted at Christison's appearance last week in Hastings District Court lapsed yesterday.

Flanked by two police officers, he appeared in the same court yesterday with bandages on his arms and neck.

He was initially charged with male assaults female in relation to the incident but court documents show he is now charged with murder and breach of a protection order.

Name suppression was not applied for on the two new charges but an in-court camera application was declined by Judge Phil Gittos.

Christison's lawyer, Tony Snell, said a forensic psychiatrist's report would be sought before his client's next court appearance.

Christison was remanded in custody without plea to reappear on July 9.

Ms Bower and Christison had recently separated after more than 20 years together and had been living apart.

Ms Bower, 48, was farewelled in Havelock North last week at a funeral attended by more than 300 mourners, including the two sons she had with Christison.

Matthew Christison, 19, paid tribute to his mother during the ceremony and said he had noticed a change in his mother since the couple split.

"After we left home, she really came out of her shell, she started to enjoy life a lot more, spending a lot of time with her friends and family. Going out for dinner and drinks, having a generally good time."