Dotcom trial: Co-accused want to pay for defence

Bram Van der Kolk, Kim Dotcom, Mathias Ortmann and Finn Batato. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The lawyer for two men facing an extradition hearing alongside Kim Dotcom is asking an Auckland court to allow his clients to use their own money to defend themselves.

Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk had their funds frozen in the United States - as did Dotcom - but a New Zealand court has allowed them to use some funds here, to pay their lawyers.

Defence lawyer Grant Illingworth said that was all well and good, but they needed to pay overseas expert witnesses if they were to defend their case against US prosecution.

He said they were not like Oliver Twist - coming along to ask for more.

The court has to decide whether four men, including Dotcom, will be extradited to the US to face copyright violation, money laundering and racketeering charges over the website Megaupload.

The hearing was supposed to end last week.