It's been an emotionally charged day at Coroner's Court in Christchurch, as a joint inquest into a 2018 murder and sudden death got underway.
The ashes of 27-year-old Nicole Tuxford, who was brutally raped and murdered in her own home by Paul Tainui, were brought into court by her mother.
Tainui was on life parole for the rape and murder of 21-year-old Kimberley Schroder, 24 years earlier, when he killed for the second time.
Niva Chittock was in court.
