The man accused of murdering Bellevue resident Sandra Brown believes the High Court does not have the authority to hear the case, although a trial date is set.
Tamati Mason appeared in the High Court in Rotorua on Thursday for a pre-trial application where he again protested the court's authority.
Tamati Mason at an earlier court appearance in the judicial process held against him following his arrest for the murder of Sandra Brown.
At each court appearance, Mason has argued Maori never agreed to give sovereignty to the Crown, rendering New Zealand's justice system powerless over him.
The 41-year-old is represented by the lawyer Annette Sykes – an advocate for controversial Tuhoe members such as Tame Iti.
The pair was instructed by the court on Thursday to define their argument before the case goes to trial on August 27.
A further hearing to determine if the trial is to proceed is scheduled for May.
Mason is accused of murdering Sandra Brown, and attempting to murder her daughter, Katie, in their home on February 2 last year.
8 comments
To explain the obvious . . .
Posted on 03-02-2012 09:14 | By bigted
In the unlikely event that this man should win his case on these shakey grounds, it will then be legal to murder others, based on your ethnicity! I sure hope not.
Another...
Posted on 03-02-2012 12:44 | By tmc
who thinks he can use his ethnicity to do whatever the hell he wants. I'm sure the Maori race is hugely ashamed that this man is part of their whanau, I know I would be.
so
Posted on 03-02-2012 13:52 | By earlybird
I guess it works both ways Mr Mason. If, as you claim, you are not subject to NZ justice that means someone can shoot you and not be charged because surely under NZ law that would make you a non person. Am I understanding you correctly? So just lock the ******** up and throw away the key. Who would he appeal to? No doubt this is all happening at taxpayers expense via legal aid, is he paying to defend himself due to his beliefs? Yeah right.
Traditional punishment
Posted on 03-02-2012 14:12 | By Murray.Guy
What was the traditional (pre-European) Maori punishment for the killing of an innocent woman? I'm guessing it wasn't a few years in a 4 star hotel with bars on the windows!
When It Suits
Posted on 03-02-2012 15:14 | By Thoughtful
It seems that this argument of sovereignty only applies when it suits. I bet Mr Mason is accessing legal aid to argue his case, yet legal aid is only available as a result of sovereign legislation. Similarly I bet he has been happy in the past to reap the benefits of other aspects of our benefit system.
Two Standards
Posted on 03-02-2012 15:33 | By Shagrat
I don't see him wearing a grass skirt with feathers in his hair and a bone through his nose!!
Two Words..........
Posted on 03-02-2012 18:10 | By Tony
Legal Aid
Is Mason a Maori name?
Posted on 04-02-2012 09:37 | By dave83
His surname is Mason which surely means he has pakeha ancestry . . . So just imprison his pakeha bits!
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