A well known entertainer will defend a charge of sexually abusing a young girl when he reappears in an Auckland court on January 5.
The man, who has appeared in television comedy shows, and whose name is suppressed, appeared in Auckland District Court last week to face a single charge of unlawful sexual connection against a child under 12.
The alleged offending occurred earlier this month.
The Sunday Star-Times reported the man has hired top criminal barrister Marie Dyhrberg and will defend the charge on the grounds he "did not know" he was performing an indecent act on the girl.
The newspaper said the man had told friends he was drunk when he left a Christmas party before the incident allegedly took place.
