Schoolgirl murder-accused to stand trial

Jade Bayliss. Photo / Supplied

A man accused of murdering Christchurch schoolgirl Jade Bayliss has been committed for trial.

Jeremy McLaughlin, 34, will stand trial at the High Court later this year to defend a charge that he murdered the 13-year-old last year.

He is also accused of burgling her home and setting fire to it on November 10.

The labourer from Waltham will remain in custody ahead of his appearance at a pre-trial conference in the city on May 25.

He also faces a criminal harassment charge relating to a separate incident involved the dead girl's mother.

Jade, a Cashmere High School student, was found dead in her burning house.

She had been at home that day because she was too ill to go to school.

Another Christchurch man, Jolon Sweeney, 40, has also been committed for trial on a charge of assisting McLaughlin to avoid arrest on the burglary charge.