Supreme Court bid over 'Tindallgate'

Jonathan Dixon
Jonathan Dixon
Former Queenstown doorman Jonathan Dixon hopes to take his case all the way to the Supreme Court.

But the clock is ticking for the so-called ''Tindallgate'' bouncer, today's Mountain Scene reveals.

Dixon (42) had his conviction over a bar CCTV footage scandal during the Rugby World Cup quashed in the Court of Appeal on July 17 - and replaced with another one.

''I've 20 days from the ruling to make a submission to the Supreme Court and 10 of them are now gone,'' Dixon said.

''It's difficult to even find a Supreme Court lawyer that will take on my case. After ringing everyone in Dunedin, I've had to go to Wellington.

''I want to it to go back to district court so as I can defend myself, no lawyer, no defence council, just me. I want the chance to clear my name.''

Despite his original conviction being quashed, he was convicted of another charge and his sentence remained as it stood - four months' community detention, including a night-time curfew and 300 hours' community work.

Dixon began the sentence in Dunedin last Monday.

Dixon obtained footage of English rugby star Mike Tindall, who is married to royal Zara Phillips, cavorting with a former girlfriend at Queenstown's Altitude Bar, where Dixon was employed as a bouncer, in September 2011.

He tried to sell it to a British newspaper and later uploaded it to YouTube.

The Appeal Court quashed his conviction on the basis digital footage was not property. Instead, it convicted him of obtaining a benefit - the chance to sell the footage.

Dixon was acquitted when he represented himself at a trial in 2013 over two unrelated assault charges.

paul.taylor@scene.co.nz

 

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