Woman denies murder

A woman has pleaded not guilty to murdering her partner, whose body was found buried in his backyard. Kitchen hand Rena Maloney appeared in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday charged with murdering Martin Orme Berry, 55, on December 29. His body was found in the backyard of his property on Main North Rd, Papanui. Maloney, 56, entered a not guilty plea through her lawyer, Richard Peters. Justice Cameron Mander said two health reports had confirmed Maloney’s fitness to stand trial.