One of the men charged with invading the home of prominent Rotorua businessman Peter Bentley has pleaded guilty.

Ronald Hira has admitted entering the Bentleys' rural property last August, with the intention of committing a crime.

It follows the earlier guilty plea of Hopihona Ephia, who was accused with two other men of this crime, plus a second invasion of the property two months later.

In the second invasion Mr Bentley was brutally attacked.

One of Ephia's co-accused, Mano Tamati, has asked for a two-week adjournment of his case while he consults with his family about how to plead.

A depositions hearing into the case against the third man, Desmond Eru, was this afternoon about to begin in the Rotorua District Court.

- NEWSTALK ZB