Former New Zealand First candidate Rex Widerstrom is expected to plead to a series of sex charges involving a 14-year-old girl when he makes his next court appearance in Western Australia next week.
The case is on the West Australian District Court list for next Monday, when Widerstrom will be asked
to enter pleas.
His lawyer, Malcolm Hall, said he could not comment on how Widerstrom would plead. In February, Mr Hall had said his client would plead not guilty.
Widerstrom, a 39-year-old father of four, is charged with seven counts of sexual penetration and five of indecent dealing.
The offences are alleged to have occurred in East Perth in June and July 2000. He and the girl initially came in contact through an internet chatroom.
Widerstrom made a first court appearance in Perth on February 23 after being extradited from New Zealand. He was given bail four days later.
Widerstrom quit as NZ First candidate for Ohariu-Belmont in 1996 in protest over the party's list selection process.
He won an out-of-court settlement after taking a personal grievance case against the party, which dismissed him from its parliamentary office.
He went on to work for Act and then started a political consultancy.
- NZPA
