Porirua’s alleged bigamist fit for trial, lawyer says, was granted name suppression

An accused bigamist is in a position to stand trial, says his lawyer.

The 48-year-old man from Porirua was granted provisional name suppression in Porirua District Court in an earlier appearance in November, for reasons that were also suppressed.

It appeared in court today, where the removal of the name was supposed to be fully argued, but the argument was postponed for a third time to allow more time for evidence to be gathered in support of the removal.

The argument will focus on the defendant’s possible risk of suicide and the difficulties for his daughter in the form of bullying.

He has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of bigamy and obtaining by deception.

The complainant also has provisional name deletion.

The man’s attorney said today that two psychiatric reports had been completed and his client was deemed fit to stand trial.

However, she still hadn’t been able to discuss the pleas with him.

The man was referred to appear again in court in March, where he will present arguments and the suppression of the name will be argued.

According to Rainey Collins Lawyers, bigamy carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and is a crime because it is considered to pose a threat to public morals and compromise the institution of marriage.

“When a person who is already married marries another, both parties to the second marriage are committing a crime, regardless of where in the world the second marriage took place,” they said in a post on their website.

“The only defense to the crime of bigamy is if the first spouse has been absent for seven years and is believed to be dead.”