Serial rapist Malcolm Rewa has returned to court as his lawyers try to block a third trial for the murder of Susan Burdett.
Malcolm Rewa in the dock at the High Court in Auckland in December 2017. Photo: RNZ / Edward Gay
Ms Burdett, 39, was found raped and bludgeoned to death in her home in 1992.
Rewa was eventually sentenced to 22 years in prison for the rape of more than 20 women, but two juries could not decide whether he was guilty of murdering Ms Burdett and a stay of proceedings was issued.
Another man, Teina Pora, was convicted for the crime but his convictions were quashed by the Privy Council in 2015.
Rewa is due to stand trial again in February next year after the deputy Solicitor General sought to remove the stay.
However that has been challenged in a judicial review.
In a hearing at the High Court in Auckland this morning, Rewa's lawyer Paul Chambers said there was no explicit law allowing the stay to be reversed.
Chief High Court Judge Justice Venning has reserved his decision.