A Tauranga man awaiting sentence for kidnapping and sexually violating a French female hitchhiker has been sternly warned by a judge after the matter had to be deferred today.
Stuart Maru Harris, 28, was initially scheduled to be sentenced in Rotorua District Court this morning.
Harris was earlier found guiltyby a jury of violating the 23-year-old woman between Napier and Taupo last year.
But the court heard today that Harris told a probation officer in March that he intended to appeal his conviction, and no pre-sentence report was prepared for Judge Weir.
Judge Weir delayed sentencing until July 12, telling Harris he could only appeal a conviction after sentence.
