Yanfei Bao's partner has told the High Court in Christchurch, the moment he realised something was wrong

53-year-old Tingjun Cao is accused of murdering the real-estate agent last year.

The court's heard the first evidence today.

Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell says Bao's partner, Paul Gooch, last saw her the morning she died, when he left home for work.

She says he texted Bao after-work, but returned to a dark and empty house.

Gooch reported Bao missing that night, when friends couldn't get hold of her, and she hadn't picked up her daughter from after-school care.