KEY POINTS:
A well-known Whakatane man who was to have defended a charge of assaulting a woman has had his case adjourned in the Tauranga District Court.
The reasons were not disclosed in court yesterday, when the defendant's lawyer, Paul Mabey, QC, told Judge Patrick Mahony: "Nothing can happen today and, indeed, it is quite proper it has not."
He said dates had to be found for a two-day fixture. Because local judges had declined to preside, it would need to be before a visiting judge or be transferred to another court.
The man, who denied the charge when he first appeared in Tauranga in mid-August, has continued interim suppression of his name and occupation.
He allegedly committed the assault on June 30.
Mr Mabey asked that the case be adjourned to a nominal date, by which time a suitable fixture time would have been arranged.
He also requested variation of one of his client's bail conditions so the defendant could see his children - a right he had already been granted in another jurisdiction, the lawyer said.
There was no objection from the Crown and Judge Mahony agreed to suitable access arrangements being made.
The judge remanded the defendant on bail until October 29.
- NZPA
