Dotcom case: Hearing to decide on evidence

Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom. Photo / Richard Robinson

A hearing in the High Court today about evidence in the Kim Dotcom extradition case will decide if it is too confidential to be released to the millionaire's defence team.

The evidence in question is considered so sensitive that lawyers for the Megaupload founder are not even allowed in the court.

Instead, David Jones QC has been appointed amicus to represent the Dotcom team during the two-day hearing before Justice Helen Winkelmann.

Today is the second day of the hearing.

It is understood police do not believe the evidence is important to the case but lawyers for Dotcom have not been able to make a judgement because it has been withheld due to its confidential nature.

Justice Winkelmann is expected to make a ruling as to whether the evidence is too confidential to be kept from the defence lawyers or whether it should be released as part of the police disclosure.

The evidence may eventually make up part of the defence case in the extradition hearing later this year, initiated by US authorities to have Dotcom and three associates stand trial on criminal allegations including copyright piracy and racketeering.

The next major hearing in the Dotcom case will be in mid-April where evidence about the raid on his Coatesville mansion last January will be debated.

The extradition hearing is expected to be held in August.