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A former employee of a post-production film company has denied three charges of stealing a pre-release copy of the film Sione's Wedding.

Frederick Junior Higgins, 38, denied two charges of theft and one of criminal breach of copyright when he appeared in Auckland District Court today.

Higgins was charged with stealing a DVD copy of the film between September and October from Digital Post, and a DVD valued at $2.50.

He is also charged with being in possession of a pirated copy of Sione's Wedding and either distributing it or causing the distribution of it.

Higgins' lawyer, Kahu Barron-Afeaki, said outside the court that there were parts of the evidence against his client that did not match up. He believed other people were involved.

Higgins was remanded to reappear in Auckland District Court on August 30.

- NZPA