Murder-acquitted in court on assault charges

A man acquitted of an 11-year-old murder was back in court today after spitting blood at police 12 hours after being set free last Friday.

Noel Clement Rogers, 32, pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court to assaulting three police officers, disorderly behaviour, and resisting arresting arrest at a house in St Heliers on Saturday.

Judge Josephine Bouchier sentenced Rogers to 75 hours of community work.

The High Court at Auckland found Rogers not guilty last Friday afternoon of the murder of 23-year-old Katherine Sheffield whose body was found in Mangonui, Northland, in September, 1994.

Rogers' uncle, Lawrence Lloyd, served seven years of an 11-year sentence for Ms Sheffield's manslaughter. The Court of Appeal overturned Mr Lloyd's conviction last year.

- NZPA