Musician pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges

11:29 am on 28 January 2021

A musician facing charges of sexual offending has pleaded not guilty and elected trial by jury.

18072016 Photo: Rebekah Parsons-King. Wellington High Court.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The 23-year-old was arrested last year as part of Operation Emerald - a police investigation into complaints a group of musicians had assaulted and drugged a number of men and women.

The man has name suppression and appeared in the Wellington District Court this morning.

His lawyer entered not guilty pleas and elected trial by jury.

A case review hearing will be held in March.

The judge declined media applications for photos, filming and recording today because of the suppression and the fact there are a number of complainants.