The High Court has ordered a hearing into claims by a Whangarei man that he was coerced into pleading guilty to a charge relating to sending a threatening email to a District Court judge.
Former diplomat John Colman, 63, pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court in February to a reduced charge of criminal harassment and was sentenced to 12 months' good behaviour bond.
Police initially charged him with threatening to kill after he called the judge, who cannot be named, a "liar" who deserved to die for his "judicial hypocrisy" in a letter Colman wrote to Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae in August 2013.
Colman also sent threatening emails to chief judges in which he said they might be assassinated for perceived injustices.
He's been involved in a protracted legal battle with police and courts since 2008 when he was convicted and fined for using insulting language.