Christchurch real estate agent, Yanfei Bao reportedly knew the man accused of murdering her.

Chinese national Tingjun Cao's trial began today - he's accused of killing the 44-year-old in July last year.

Her body was found in a shallow grave on a farm, just over a year after she disappeared.

Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell is at the High Court.

She says Cao was new to the country, and it appears Bao was helping him find a job.

"And the Crown viewed that Cao had potentially lured Bao to a house for sale on Trevor Street - and it was there the Crown says she was assaulted." 

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