octaviar boss keen for trial to start

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/11/07/461278_crime-and-court-news.html
Octaviar boss keen for trial to start

| 06:17am November 7, 2013

MICHAEL King wants his day in court.

The one-time boss of failed Gold Coast group Octaviar hopes the Supreme Court will allow the start of a trial on charges of corporate malfeasance.

Mr King's barrister, Peter Davis, told the court in Brisbane yesterday the case should "proceed to its finality" and avoid "the prejudice of delay" brought on by a request for a stay.

Mr Davis said his client would accept a delay if it protected the privilege rights of co-defendants David Anderson and Craig White to avoid self-incrimination.

The two men, both former Octaviar executives, have applied to halt the Australian civil trial after New Zealand regulators filed criminal charges against them last Friday.

Justice George Fryberg reserved his decision yesterday.

Mr Davis opposed splitting the trial, whereby the case against Mr King and two other defendants would proceed regardless of what happens in New Zealand.

The court heard an the Australian trial delay could blow out legal and court costs by $10 million.