An Auckland male escort accused of using a knife to threaten a Nelson man to pay him $500 for his services doubts he'll get a fair trial when he appears in the High Court this week. Travis Vrhovnik, 27, appeared in the Nelson District Court last July pleading not guilty to a charge of blackmail. While on holiday in Nelson last April, the alleged victim had arranged Vrhovnik's services for a friend, and booked airline tickets and a motel for the sex worker. But when Vrhovnik arrived late from a delayed flight, and the friend had left the motel destination, he demanded payment and became aggressive, threatening the complainant with a kitchen knife, the court was told. Speaking to the Truth newspaper ahead of his trial, Vrhovnik denies threatening the client. "He was trying to get out of paying me. I was fitted up," he claims. He added that he has had to give up his escort work until the blackmail charge is resolved.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Saturday, 7th February 2009 - 4:55pm