New jurors empanelled for Phillip Field trial

Taito Phillip Field faces 35 charges. File photo / Dean Purcell

Seven new jurors were empanelled today for the three-month trial of former MP Taito Phillip Field on 35 criminal charges.

The new members were empanelled at the High Court in Auckland today after seven of the original 12 were excused by Justice Rodney Hansen yesterday.

Justice Hansen today asked all potential jurors to speak to him before they headed for the jury bench to see if there was any reason why they could not sit on the jury.

Four women and three men were empanelled today, meaning there will be six men and six women on the jury.

Field, formerly MP for Mangere, is on trial on 12 bribery and corruption charges and 23 of wilfully perverting the course of justice.

The bribery and corruption charges were laid after Field allegedly had Thai nationals carry out work on his properties in New Zealand and Samoa in return for immigration assistance between November 2002 and October 2005.

The charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice were laid after Field allegedly made false statements to an inquiry carried out by Noel Ingram QC and after he allegedly had false documents procured and encouraged others to make false statements to the Ingram inquiry.

Originally a Labour MP who rose to be a cabinet minister, Field was expelled from the Labour Party in 2007. He continued to represent Mangere as an independent MP before losing the seat to Labour at last year's election.

- NZPA