Man charged with smashing Winston Peter’s window appears in court, pleads not guilty

A man charged with burglary after allegedly smashing a window at Winston Peters' home appeared in Auckland District Court, where he pleaded not guilty. Photo / Corey Fleming

The man charged after allegedly smashing the window of Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ Auckland home with a crowbar has appeared in court.

A 29-year-old Sandringham man pleaded not guilty to burglary through defence lawyer Jonathan Hudson when he appeared before Judge Claire Ryan in Auckland District Court this morning.

He also asked for a trial by jury.

The man sought interim name suppression, but reasons for seeking suppression cannot be reported. The judge cleared the courtroom of everyone but lawyers, media and supporters of the defendant as submissions were heard.

Police prosecutor Darcel Andrews did not oppose temporary suppression so that the defence can have time to provide further documents to the court.

Judge Ryan allowed suppression to stay in place until his next hearing in February, at which point more fulsome submissions will be needed if suppression is to remain in place.

Judge Ryan allowed the defendant to remain on bail, but with conditions that included no contact with Peters and his partner and not to go within 1km of Peters’ home.

Police charged the man earlier this week with burglary of a residential building, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. Judge Ryan noted that the alleged victims were “of high political and public prominence”.

Police were called on Monday evening after a front window of Peters’ home he shares with partner Jan Trotman was smashed and a note was left on the door.

Before the damage, pro-Palestinian protesters had targeted the residence, gathering in front of the home chanting and writing slogans on the footpath.