The man accused of murdering Brazilian Cecilia Haddad in Sydney says his trip to Rio de Janeiro about the same time her body was found had been planned in advance.
Ms Haddad's ex-boyfriend Mario Marcelo Santoro, 40, appeared in court in Rio de Janeiro on Monday (local time).
Santoro did not answer questions put to him by prosecutors and the judge.
Brazilian woman Cecilia Haddad was scared of her ex-boyfriend now accused of her murder in Sydney. Source: AAP
He did, however, answer questions posed by his own defence lawyers.
Santoro stands accused of killing Ms Haddad, 38, in Sydney in April and disposing of her body in the Lane Cove River.
He flew back to Rio the same weekend Ms Haddad's body was discovered.
Santoro said on Monday his trip had been planned in advance to see his parents and children.
