Napier private investigator Grace Haden denies breaching name suppression in court case

Former police prosecutor Grace Haden has pleaded not guilty in the Napier District Court to five counts of breaching a suppression order. Photo/Paul Taylor

A former police prosecutor turned private investigator has appeared in court and denied charges that she published a suppressed name several times.

Grace Haden, 64, appeared in the Napier District Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to five counts of breaching a name suppression order.

Representing herself, Haden elected a judge-alone trial before Judge Bridget Mackintosh, who said Haden had filed various applications to the court.

It is understood the breaches related to published articles on Haden's website in April and May this year.The maximum penalty each charge carries is $25,000.

The Napier woman last appeared on May 24 when she was bailed on the condition that she not further breach suppression orders.

Yesterday Haden raised concerns over the bail imposed with the Judge but police prosecutor Malcolm Lochrie opposed it.

It was noted the bail application had been made to prevent Haden from further offending which had since occurred; the fifth breach of suppression charge arising out of offending alleged to have occurred after her first appearance.

Judge Mackintosh told Haden if she chose to run the risk and further offend she would just "amp" the situation up and recommended she avoid further publication.

Haden was remanded at large to appear again on July 14.