Court appearance on sabotage charges
Taupō man Graham Philip in court again
An anti-vaccination campaigner who this year became the first person ever accused of breaching New Zealand’s sabotage laws has again appeared in court.
Taupō man Graham Philip was charged with seven counts of sabotage in May, relating to an alleged attack on New Zealand infrastructure late last year. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The exact details of what the Crown alleges remain suppressed until trial, due to what Open Justice understands is a fear of copycat offending.
Graham appeared via audio-visual link in the High Court at Rotorua last week, sitting calmly in the booth as his lawyer addressed Justice Graham Lang.
His previous lawyer, Matthew Hague from Taupō, has withdrawn from the case, with Graham now represented by experienced Tauranga lawyer Bill Nabney.
Graham is currently held at Waikeria Prison in Waikato after his bail application was denied earlier
this year.
A planned Court of Appeal challenge to the bail decision has been abandoned and Graham will remain in prison until his trial, tentatively set down for late next year.