11.30AM: A second bail application by Hungarian tourist Ferdinand Ambach, accused of the late December killing of gay Onehunga man Ron Brown, was delayed this morning pending defence examination of new evidence in an extensive police investigation. Ron Brown Ambach, 29, who appeared agitated in the Auckland District Court and spoke with his lawyer James Falauto through an interpreter, faces three charges: murder, intentional damage, and assault on Brown. Ambach was again remanded in custody until a new court hearing on 11 March. The police prosecutor requested that assembled media not be allowed to take photographs of Ambach in court, saying publication of his likeness could prejudice a trial. Outside the courtroom, defence lawyer Falauto reiterated that his client's plea is still "not guilty". He told media that it had so far been "frustrating and expensive" communicating with Ambach through in interpreter. "His head's spinning around," Falauto explained, "as he finds our legal system hard to understand." He said he is in constant communication with Ambach's family in Hungary who are "hoping for the best." Falauto says he has studied the almost 800-page long police report on the case, which includes witness reports from the Onehunga bar where Brown met Ambach on the night Brown was attacked, and will visit Ambach in prison this week to talk through the new evidence with him.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 15th January 2008 - 11:27am