A jury has heard graphic details of how Kim Richmond's body was discovered in a lake nearly one year after she disappeared.
Ms Richmond was last seen at her Arohena home, near Te Awamutu, on July 31, 2016.
Her body was discovered nearly one year later in Lake Arapuni following a second search near a popular boat ramp.
Her partner, Colin Scott Jefferies, has gone on trial for her murder at the High Court at Hamilton.
Jefferies is accused of murdering his partner Kim Richmond.
In his opening address, Crown Prosecutor Ross Douch told the court Ms Richmond had begun a "romantic" relationship with a neighbour, which the "community as a whole was aware of".
The Crown alleges while at a gathering at the Arapuni Hall, Mr Jefferies told the neighbour, "I just want to f**ing kill the b****".
When asked whether he meant it, Mr Jefferies replied, "I do - I want her gone".
Her body was later found in her Ford Ranger in six metres of water on June 14, 2017.
The Jury was told her badly decomposed body was pulled from the vehicle and, despite her clothes being "askew", there were no visible of signs of any other injuries.
The cause of death was unable to be determined.
Mr Jefferies' lawyer Thomas Sutcliffe told the court his client and Ms Richmond had been having some difficulties.
Mr Sutcliffe said Mr Jefferies "accepts he is guilty of manslaughter", but says his client denies the murder charge.
Kim Richomond's mother gives evidence
Ms Richmond’s mother, Raywynne Richmond, also gave evidence today.
She told the court that during a music festival in Taupo the pair had fought and Jefferies told her, her daughter was having an affair.
Jefferies told Ms Richmond’s mother he "can't lose the children, he can’t lose the children".
When Mrs Richmond confronted her daughter she denied the affair, but showed her mother bruises from a previous altercation.
Under cross examination Mrs Richmond told the court when she told police her daughter was missing she didn’t mention the bruises because she didn't think Jefferies "had killed Kim".
Alleged affair
The neighbour at the centre of the affair has also given evidence in court.
Alfons Te Brake told the court that he was having a relationship with Ms Richmond before her death.
When asked by Mr Sutcliffe whether Mr Te Brake had "kissed and cuddled" the 42-year-old he responded "yes, correct".
He told Jefferies that he was trying hard not to have "an affair" with his partner.
Mr Te Brake told the court Jefferies had said he wanted Ms Richmond "gone" on a number of occasions.
"And, I’m pretty sure he said he wanted to kill her," he said.
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