A man accused of attempting to influence a juror in the Antonie Dixon murder trial was today refused bail and had his name suppression lifted.
Andre Mail, 28, unemployed of Howick, appeared in Auckland District Court facing a charge of attempting to influence the male juror by corrupt
means.
Mail allegedly turned up at the juror's home on July 17 during the Dixon trial.
On July 17 the juror was discharged. Justice Hugh Williams told the High Court at Auckland he did not intend to give any reason for discharging the man.
The remaining 11 jurors on Friday found Dixon guilty of murdering James Te Aute of Auckland and causing grievous bodily harm to Renee Gunbie and Simonne Butler.
Dixon shot dead Mr Te Aute while on the run from police after attacking the two women with a samurai sword in January 2003.
He was found guilty of the same offences in March 2005 but the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions and ordered a retrial after the trial judge was found to have erred in her summing up.
Dixon was remanded for sentence.
Judge Nicola Mathers today lifted interim name suppression of Mail, but declined media applications to photograph or film him, saying his identification could be prejudicial to his case.
Judge Mathers declined a defence application for bail, saying she was not satisfied Mail would meet the conditions proposed.
Defence lawyer Mary-Anne Lowe told the court she had written to the solicitor-general asking for an inquiry into articles written by two Sunday newspapers at the weekend which she said breached existing suppression orders.
Ms Lowe said it appeared the papers had been provided with the alleged victim's statement.
"There is no justification for the breach."
Mail was remanded in custody until September 2.
- NZPA
