Cory Jefferies, who is accused of murdering his partner Kim Richmond, has denied ever beating her, saying she was "too beautiful to touch".

Jefferies, 46, is on trial in the High Court in Hamilton for the murder of Ms Richmond, who was 42.

He has admitted to causing her death, but denies the charge of murder.

She went missing in July 2016 and her body was discovered in Lake Arapuni in June the following year.

Kim Louise Richmond. Photo: Supplied.

A police interview conducted just over two weeks after Ms Richmond was reported missing was shown in court today.

In it, Jefferies is seen telling police he had never threatened or beaten her because he was not that sort of person.

When told that other people reported he had threatened her, Jefferies said that it was not true.

He said she was "too beautiful to touch" and told the officer he had not done anything to hurt Ms Richmond and he needed her back.

Jefferies told police she drove off in their ute shortly after they arrived home from a social function.

He said he saw her turn at the end of the drive and that was the last he ever saw of her.

He said he started texting her from the next morning but got no reply.

A forensic pathologist who examined Ms Richmond said that due to the decomposition of her body he was unable to determine the cause of death.

Rexson Tse said there was no detectable sign of violence, fractures, or any blunt force injury.

Dr Tse said there might have been a couple of probabilities on the cause of death, such as head injury or neck compression.

He said he could not rule out suffocation or strangulation.

Earlier, a police officer who oversaw the recovery of Ms Richmond's body from her vehicle once it was lifted out of the lake told the court that her chest and stomach were free from any clothing.

Detective Constable James Walker said clothing was pulled tightly across the back of her neck.

He said there was an empty plastic shopping bag near her head and torso.

- RNZ