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A man alleged to have gouged the eyes and bitten off part of the ear of a newspaper reporter will stand trial in February.
Leua Antonio Teki was excused from appearing at a callover in the Napier High Court at the request of mental health authorities.
But his lawyer, Philip Jensen, and crown prosecutor, Russell Collins, agreed the trial would last three days.
Justice Christopher Allan set the trial date for February 25.
Teki faces charges of burglary, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assaulting police and resisting police.
He will remain in custody at Porirua Hospital under the Mental Health Act until his trial begins.
It is alleged on March 16 Teki broke through the door of the home of Hawke's Bay Today journalist Doug Laing and attacked him trying to gouge his eyes and then biting a piece of his ear off.
- NZPA
