Cold case accused pleads not guilty
A woman accused of murdering Angela Blackmoore nearly 25 years ago has pleaded not guilty – and it will be more than a year before a trial.
The 47-year-old and her coaccused, a 45-year-old man who is yet to enter a plea, have name suppression. Blackmoore, 21, was 10 weeks pregnant when she was stabbed 39 times in her home in the east Christchurch suburb of Wainoni on August 17, 1995.
A Stuff investigation – Dark Secret – revealed new details about the cold case in May, including the names of several people who were persons of interest. Police offered a $100,000 reward for information and launched a tip line.
The 47-year-old woman and the 45-year-old man were charged with Blackmoore’s murder on October 25.
They appeared in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday.
The man appeared via video link from prison, while the woman appeared in person.
The public gallery was packed with Blackmoore’s family.
Lawyer Andrew Bailey, representing the woman, entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf. An application for her release on bail will be made at a hearing on November 21.
Lawyer Donald Matthews, representing the man, said he was waiting for further information from police and his client would enter a plea at a hearing on December 13.
Justice Cameron Mander said suppression of the pair’s names would be argued at a special hearing on December 5, when the man would apply for bail.
The Crown indicated it would oppose continuation of their name suppression.
The accused pair were remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court on December 13.
A trial date of February 2021 has been allocated for the case. That will be confirmed in the new year.
The $100,000 reward – the largest police had offered for information leading to the conviction of a killer – was sparked by The Homicide Report, a Stuff investigation examining why New Zealanders kill.
It’s understood police received nearly 50 tips about the cold case in the weeks after announcing the reward.