Tonkin case adjourned

A criminal case against Heather Tonkin, who once had an affair with Princess Anne's husband, has been adjourned until next year because her lawyer did not receive important information about the case until late last week.

Tonkin is charged with making a false statement to police on 22 July last year after she dialled 111 and claimed that a former lover, Jason Fowell, was following her and watching her home in Whitford, South Auckland.

Police went to her home but Mr Fowell was allegedly in Dunedin on the day concerned.

Prosecutor John Haigh, QC, told the Otahuhu District Court yesterday that the call had wasted police time and that there was a long history of complaints made by Tonkin, aged 48, against Mr Fowell, including stalking, harassment and attempted murder.

But documents relating to those complaints were not given to defence lawyer Barry Hart until last Friday morning as he and Mr Haigh, QC, had been unable to find time to meet.

Mr Hart tried to have the charge thrown out of court as a result of the delay but was instead granted an adjournment until next March by Judge Patrick Toomey, who said the prosecution had not deliberately withheld the information.

Mr Hart said the documents were vital to the defence case as they proved that Mr Fowell had once driven past Tonkin's home after their relationship ended in November 1996.

He had previously claimed that he had never returned to the address.

Mr Hart said a private investigator would now have to interview further witnesses.

Tonkin and Captain Mark Phillips have a daughter, Felicity, who is half-sister to the Princess Royal's children, Peter and Zara Phillips.