On day one of a murder trial in the capital, a court's heard how the victim kept bags of money containing thousands of dollars hidden around her house

The woman's alleged to have stolen from her mother, 79-year-old Helen Gregory, before fatally attacking her and staging the scene to make it look like she'd suffered a fall.

The High Court in Wellington heard yesterday how Gregory distrusted banks.

One bag containing 50-thousand dollars was being stored in her freezer.

Gregory was killed at her Khandallah home.

The Crown's case is yet to lay out a firm motive.