However, a counsel will likely still be made available to Tarrant to ensure there is a fair trial, Bridgette Toy-Cronin, a University of Otago academic who has extensively researched self-represented litigants, said. The court endorsed the exceptional use of ''standby counsel'' for a defendant in cases where a fair trial would not be achieved if the defendant was self-represented. Dr Toy-Cronin said if Tarrant continued with his plans to represent himself, standby counsel would almost certainly be appointed. ''The standby counsel will assist with things like court procedure, arrange access to witnesses, and how to run a defence.'' ''The court will do everything it can to ensure a fair trial, and a standby counsel is a mechanism to make that happen.''

Source: Otago Daily Times March 18, 2019 15:33 UTC