Louise Nicholas supporters deny charges

Two protesters alleged to have handed out leaflets that breached suppression orders in the Louise Nicholas rape trial have pleaded not guilty in the Christchurch District Court.

Daniel Peter Rae, 30, of the Christchurch suburb of New Brighton, and Frances Hilary Martin, 22, of Lyttelton, were remanded at large for a status hearing on August 3 by Judge Colin Doherty.

They have been charged with breaching an order under the Criminal Justice Act at Christchurch on April 5.

The two protesters and their supporters mounted a vigil outside the Court House before their appearance today.

After entering their not guilty pleas, Rae said outside the building that they had taken a moral and political decision to breach the order.

"Pleading guilty would negate the reasons why we did it," he explained.

Three current and former police officers were cleared at a trial in March of charges of raping Mrs Nicholas.

- NZPA