Auckland school threat accused to represent himself in trial

A man accused of threatening to carry out attacks on schools will represent himself in a trial that is already half-way completed.

Tiedan Huo faces a raft of charges in the Manukau District Court, relating to a manifesto he allegedly distributed which threatened to kill people at two Auckland colleges and damage public buildings.

He is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and of explosives, and possession of objectionable material.

The charges stem from a manifesto, which it is alleged Huo distributed in another person's name early on the morning of 12 March last year.

Huo has denied the charges.

Judge Sanjay Patel has approved Huo's request to represent himself, appointing the defendant's lawyer Megan Jenkins as stand-by counsel, an independent role to assist the court.

The trial continues today, with Huo's mother giving evidence, but she is being questioned by Jenkins.