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A former parliamentary candidate facing child pornography charges has been warned by a district court judge that he would have to "bite the bullet sooner or later".
In Rangiora District Court, Judge Stephen Erber said while he didn't want to prejudice any trial outcome it seemed the 59-year-old man, whose name is temporarily suppressed, was "batting for time".
The man earlier made guilty pleas to 28 charges when he represented himself in Queenstown District Court in March, but has now withdrawn them.
At the earlier hearing he had admitted 11 charges of making an objectionable publication and 17 charges of possessing objectionable material between 1999 and 2006.
Under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act, if found guilty the man would be liable for a prison term of up to 10 years for making an objectionable publication, and a term of up to five years for possessing one.
Judge Erber remanded the man on continued bail yesterday until February 21 for a depositions hearing scheduled for two days.
- NZPA
