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

Chinese national Tingjun Cao's '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.

Ansell says the Crown argues he lured Bao to a Trevor Street property, and assaulted her.