David Charles Benbow, 51, has pleaded not guilty in the Christchurch District Court this morning - where his lawyer entered the plea.
The man is charged with the murder of Michael McGrath - who was last seen at his Halswell home in May 2017.
Judge Raoul Neave remanded Benbow in custody until later this afternoon, for a bail application hearing.
The defendant kept his eyes to the front of the courtroom, remaining expressionless.
Commenting on the man's application for name suppression Judge Raoul Neave said: "The horse has bolted, his picture and name was in the paper this morning and I think it's disgraceful."
Police arrested Benbow at a property on Halswell Rd on Monday afternoon, more than two years after Michael McGrath, 49, went missing on May 21, 2017.
Mr McGrath was last seen at his Checketts Ave home in Halswell. After months of investigation police and McGrath's family conceded he was dead.
The public gallery in the courtroom was full for the court appearance, with Mr McGrath's family present.
An application for bail was made by Benbow's lawyer Margaret Sewell and it will be decided later on Monday.
The man next appears in the High Court on October 18.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Renovation as Mr McGrath was doing up his house when he went missing, saw police scouring the Kate Valley Landfill in North Canterbury for clues.
With NZ Herald
