Heath Eric Morris, of Woodend, initially denied murdering Oliver Johnston, whose body was found in a North Canterbury paddock in June 2018. (Video first published in September 2018)

Name suppression has lifted for a teen accused of killing a man whose body was found in a North Canterbury paddock up to five days after he died.

Heath Eric Morris, of Woodend Beach, denied the charge of murdering Oliver Johnston, 20, when he appeared by video-link from prison in the High Court at Christchurch on Friday.

He is charged with murdering Johnston between June 23 and June 28.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF Police were called to a property on Jelfs Road, Woodend, in June after reports a body was found.

Johnston's body was found on a property at Jelfs Rd, Woodend, after police spent the weekend of June 30 to July 1 searching the property.

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August 5, 2019, has been set as the date for the High Court murder trial.

FACEBOOK The body of 20-year-old Oliver Johnston was found at a property on Jelfs Rd, Woodend, in June last year.

Defence counsel Kerry Cook said no bail application had so far been made for Morris, but an application for his release on electronically-monitored bail would be made on October 4. That appearance will also be used for a pre-trial call-over.