The trial of euthanasia campaigner Sean Davison (49) will begin in Dunedin tomorrow.
Davison was arrested and charged with attempted murder in 2009 after confirming he gave his dying mother, Dr Patricia Ferguson (85), a lethal dose of morphine before her death in Dunedin in 2006.
He was given bail and allowed to leave the country and work in Cape Town, South Africa.
His employment contract required that he would return to New Zealand for trial.
He is the head of the forensic DNA laboratory at the University of the Western Cape.
In an article in London's The Guardian newspaper last month, Davison talked about how he supplied the morphine to his mother.
The article said that, in the years since his mother died, Davison had transformed from a quiet, doting son to a campaigner for the legalisation of euthanasia.
Earlier last month he addressed the launch of Dignity South Africa, which will campaign for legalising euthanasia there.
He said on his arrival in New Zealand several weeks ago that he would not discuss the case, but welcomed discussion of the euthanasia issue.
His trial in the High Court at Dunedin is expected to last several weeks.
