Tristan Barker. Photo / Kerry Grant
Name suppression has expired for the Rotorua 18-year-old
accused of assaulting an Australian TV reporter.
Tristan Barker - whose father Michael is a former drummer for
Split Enz - appeared briefly in the Rotorua District Court
today but did not enter a plea to the charge.
He is accused of assaulting Today Tonight's Dave Eccelston in
Rotorua earlier this month, after the reporter came to New
Zealand to interview Barker about his online activity.
Barker's lawyer Bill Lawson asked for the case to be
adjourned until next month so he could talk to police about
diversion.
The teenager was remanded on bail until April 3.
Barker has drawn attention in Australia for his online posts,
where he appears to have posted material that has upset many
people.
Barker has hundreds of thousands of teenage "fans" who read
his rants on Facebook and Twitter.
Michael Barker has previously defended his son, saying the
teenager had a talent for being satirical, that he had been
misquoted and his comments taken out of context many times.
"He says things I think a lot of people would like to say but
probably wouldn't say."
- Katie Holland of the Rotorua Daily Post
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