Ex-fugitive Paul James Bennett faces new CAA charges

  • 09/06/2016
 Paul James Bennett and his wife Simone Anne Wright (Newshub.)
Paul James Bennett and his wife Simone Anne Wright (Newshub.)

Ex-fugitive Paul James Bennett has appeared in Christchurch District Court this morning facing new charges laid by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Bennett, 53, was deported from Australia in May. He faces 48 charges, including fraud and theft totalling thousands of dollars, indecent assaults and supplying illegal drugs.

He appeared by video-link from Christchurch Men's Prison on Thursday morning, as the 12 new CAA charges were laid. Bennett allegedly flew a Eurocopter without a private pilot's licence and without a current medical certificate.

All the offending is alleged to have taken place in 2014 in Christchurch, Hamilton, Upper Hutt and Paraparaumu.

Bennett also goes by the name of David Kite or Dennis Kite, and his wife Simone Anne Wright.

He was on the run until February last year, when he was arrested near Sydney aboard a $140,000, 14-metre yacht stolen from Northland.

Bennett was remanded in custody without plea on all charges.

Court News / Newshub.