Auckland bar and restaurant owner Philip David Sturm was committed for trial in the High Court at Auckland on drugs and sexual offending charges today following a week-long depositions hearing in Auckland District Court.
Sturm, 47, owner of Cibo, Otto's and Coast is facing 10 sexual assault charges involving four men.
Other
charges include eight of supplying the drugs speed or ecstasy, one of kidnapping and one of attempted sexual violation.
Sturm pleaded not guilty to all the charges today after defence lawyer Paul Davison, QC, called no evidence for the defence when the crown ended its case.
The charges were not put individually to Sturm after Judge Lindsay Moore asked him if he was content that not guilty pleas be entered against him.
Sturm responded: "I am."
During the hearing, the court was told of allegations of drug-taking in premises used by Sturm, including an office in the Metropolis Hotel building, rides given to men in his Porsche and alleged sexual activity, sometimes following drug-taking.
The hearing was set down to last two weeks. Sturm was remanded on bail to appear at the High Court in Auckland in July.
- NZPA
