The High Court has ruled a Hawke's Bay man who was charged with murder only to have the case thrown out on the first day of his trial can go ahead with his court action against the police.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Zion King is accusing the police of negligence after they charged him with the killing of his neighbour in 2008.
Mr King ended up spending 16 months in prison and a further seven months on bail while he waited for his trial.
But it never went ahead, because lawyers discovered there was no evidence to place him at the scene of the crime.
Mr King is accusing the police of negligent investigation, and the High Court has ruled the part of his civil suit that relates to the period after he was charged, can go to trial.
He is seeking $600,000 in damages.
