The man charged with murdering a woman and attacking three others with an axe last December has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Retimana Nicholls faces four charges after Sandra Guerin was killed in her Upper Hutt home.

Two others were also attacked, and a woman assaulted.

Nick Walker was in court where there was a lot of tension from a full public gallery.

"With each not guilty plea the reaction from the public got more and more intense. A lot of tears.

"He was once called a coward by one woman one one occasion."

Nicholls has been remanded in custody and is due to face trial in August.