A man accused of a leaving a fake bomb at Dunedin Airport in the days following the Christchurch mosque attacks will stand trial this week.
Preetam Prakash Maid, 32, has pleaded not guilty to a charge under the Aviation Crimes Act and a jury of eight women and four men has been empanelled before the High Court at Dunedin this morning.
The defendant – a former employee of the airport - is charged with taking an imitation explosive device into a security-enhanced area on March 17 last year, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
After the item was found, the airport was closed, an international flight was turned back to Australia and domestic flights were diverted.
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Advertise with NZME.Defence Force personnel from Christchurch "neutralised" the device.
Judge Michael Crosbie told the jury that the Crown would not be calling witnesses who saw Maid – then a member of the Aviation Security Service - commit the alleged crime.
The case, he said, was circumstantial and prosecutors would seek to weave together pieces of evidence to form a case against the defendant.
Crown prosecutor Robin Bates will soon address the jury before defence counsel Deborah Henderson makes a brief opening statement.
The trial before Judge Crosbie is expected to last at least two weeks.
