The 33-year-old entered early guilty pleas at an unscheduled appearance before Judge Graeme Noble in the Christchurch District Court today.
He admitted the murder of his wife, Rebecca Sara Somerville, on August 30 this year, and the murder of Tisha Cecelia Lowry, a near neighbour who disappeared almost a year earlier, in September 2008.
The women's bodies were found buried beneath the house in Wainoni Road two months ago, and Somerville's case was proceeding through the court process with a post-committal conference planned for later this week.
Because he has not yet been committed for trial, the guilty plea was able to be entered in the district court.
Judge Noble remanded Somerville in custody until November 27 for a pre-sentence report.
The house has been the subject of repeated arson attacks since the discovery of the women's bodies.
