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A Rotorua man accused of blackmail is still to seek legal advice after he sacked his lawyer.
Douglas Morris, 30, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua today. He is accused of trying to extort money for the return of a $64,000 Mercedes Benz, stolen with human ashes in a special container in the boot.
He is also charged with burglary, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Morris was due to stand trial in the High Court at Hamilton earlier this month but the trial could not go ahead after he sacked his lawyer.
Another Rotorua man, 48-year-old William Leathers, has pleaded guilty to blackmail and is due to be sentenced on November 1.
Morris told the court today he was having trouble contacting his new lawyer.
Justice Christopher Allan remanded Morris in custody to a callover on November 22.
- NZPA
