A retired highway police patrol sergeant will stand trial next year for driving an unregistered vehicle while disqualified.
Anthony Dale Bridgman, who has pleaded not guilty, was excused by Judge Tony Zohrab from attending a hearing in Blenheim District Court today.
The charges relate to an incident in Alabama Road Blenheim on September 21.
They follow a high-profile court case in May this year, when he was found guilty on two charges of dangerous driving causing injury. Two motorcyclists received serious head injuries when they collided with Bridgman's vehicle in the Buller Gorge near Nelson in December 2007. Bridgman had made a three-point turn round a bend on the narrow road to chase another motorcyclist who had passed him doing 125kmh.
He was disqualified from driving for a year and was required to pay $60,000 to the two victims, as well as do 100 hours of community service. Judge Zohrab elected not to preside at the next hearing, nominally set for February 15, and excused Bridgman's attendance provided his lawyer was present.
