Members of the public and police got Lisa Welford, 49, of Malton, out of the River Derwent at Malton shortly before midnight on April 24 and gave her CPR.
Paramedics from Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended and took her to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Vincent Joseph Morgan, 47, of Chandler's Wharf, Castlegate, Malton, was charged with murder over the weekend and sent in custody to York Magistrates' Court where he appeared shortly after 10am this morning.
He is alleged to have killed Ms Welford on April 24. He also faces two charges of causing actual bodily harm to Ms Welford between February 1 and February 29 this year.
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