A Rotorua man alleged to have knocked out a rugby coach after calling him "useless" during a rugby match has been given more time to vacate an earlier guilty plea.
Sales manager Lee Shaun Uerata, 39, appeared in Rotorua District Court today.
He had earlier pleading guilty to assaulting the Marist St Michael's coach in front of spectators during the team's match against Whakarewarewa, in Rotorua, on April 2.
He has told the court he wants to change his plea to not guilty. Judge Phillip Cooper granted Uerata a final adjournment to make an application to change his plea and he was remanded on bail until October 10.
Uerata is still to be sentenced on drugs charges which were laid after police searched his home on June 30 and discovered between $2500 and $3000 worth of cannabis.
