Pre-trial date set for Tindall clip charges

A pre-trial date was set for nightclub bouncer Jonathan Dixon when bail was renewed at a postcommittal conference in Queenstown District Court yesterday.

Dixon generated international media attention when footage of England captain Mike Tindall was posted on the internet during the pool game stage of the Rugby World Cup.

Dixon, 41, appeared before a registrar on a charge of dishonestly accessing a computer on September 13, after electing trial by jury before Judge Dominic Flatley in November.

A registrar renewed bail conditions: to live at an address in Fernhill, not to go within 100 metres of Altitude unless attending a gym and not to apply for a passport.

He was remanded for a pre-trial callover in Invercargill District Court on April 27.

Dixon, who has been granted legal aid, is accused of breaking into the Altitude Bar’s CCTV system and releasing footage that showed Tindall flirting with an exgirlfriend, just six weeks after he had married the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips.

The charge was laid after a video clip appeared on Youtube showing footage of the bouncer interspersed with closed-circuit television images from Altitude club in Queenstown.

Earlier this week, Dixon ap- peared for an unrelated procedural hearing before Judge John Clapham in Queenstown, charged with wounding with reckless disregard and causing grievous bodily harm to Jordan Sinke and assaulting Thomas Beatson.

The charges were laid after a week-long police investigation and information gathered from about a dozen witnesses to an early morn- ing incident in Subculture club on January 21. Mr Sinke, 26, was in an induced coma for five days after the nightclub incident.

Dixon has indicated he intends to plead not guilty to the assault charges. He was remanded without plea to appear again for a postcommittal conference in Queenstown on March 27.