KEY POINTS:
Sentencing of a prominent Canterbury man on historic sex charges has been delayed until the new year.
Instead, the man, who has interim suppression of his name, age, locations of the offending and all details of his career, will seek a permanent suppression order at a High Court hearing in Christchurch tomorrow - the day he was due to be sentenced.
Fairfax Media, representing The Press newspaper, had asked for leave to appear at the hearing to argue against any continued suppression, but the request was turned down by Justice Graham Panckhurst.
After a 10-day trial, a jury found the man guilty on two charges of inducing a girl under 12 to do an indecent act, three counts of indecent assault, one of sodomy and one of rape committed more than 30 years ago, beginning when the complainant was eight and continuing into her teenage years.
They returned not guilty verdicts on four charges of rape.
The victim, now in her 40s, wants the man named.
After the jury returned its verdict on December 7, the man's lawyer, Jonathan Eaton, presented three letters from family members concerned about the effect that publication of his name could have on other ventures.
Counsel for other family members may be heard at tomorrow's sitting.
- NZPA
