Stephen Findlay (59) was charged with murder after the body of 54-year-old Sharon Diane Comerford was found at her Coast Rd home early on March 8 this year. Ms Comerford had been shot.
Findlay was found seriously injured in the nearby Truby King Reserve and charged on April 6 at a bedside hearing in Dunedin Public Hospital.
He appeared before Justice Wylie by audio visual link in the High Court at Dunedin today.
Counsel Judith Ablett-Kerr, QC, confirmed that Findlay had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Wylie said a definite trial date could not be given at this stage but the case could possibly be heard after another trial scheduled for February 13.
Mrs Ablett-Kerr said she had a trial in Wellington in mid-March but did not think that would interfere with the Findlay trial.
Findlay was remanded in custody for a formal callover of the case on August 23 this year.