Comedian Mike King fights driving charge

Comedian Mike King. Photo / APN

Comedian Mike King is vowing to fight a charge alleging that he rode a motorbike while his licence was suspended.

He also claims that police didnot read him his rights at thetime.

King was stopped on June 21 last year while allegedly riding a Harley-Davidson while suspended.

He appeared briefly at a defended hearing at the Auckland District Court yesterday. He had appeared in court in August last year when he pleaded not guilty.

His agent said at the time that the incident did not involve alcohol or road rage.

Dressed in a black suit yesterday, King sat nervously for several minutes outside the courtroom with his head down, texting.

Inside, his lawyer asked if a new date could be set.

The judge replied: "This case has been going for a long time."

King's lawyer said his client totally opposed the charge and claimed that police failed to read him his rights at the time of the incident.

The judge said: "I don't understand how that relates to the originalcharge.

"If he was stopped and was being detained, then no matter what the charge ... there was an obligation [for police to carry out their duty]."

King's lawyer was offered a date to reappear - in early October - but when she walked over to discuss it with King, he told her: "I'm in Australia the whole of October."

When given several new dates, King asked the judge, "Can I just check?" before scrolling through his cellphone for 30 seconds.

"November 5, yep. Thank you, sir," he said.

Before leaving, the judge reminded King that because of who he was in the community, he should expect several media organisations to be present next time.

Outside court, King told the Herald he would not give up fighting the charge.

"I'll just be back on November 5 to defend the charge - that's all."