British lawyer appears in court on kidnapping charges

A British lawyer has appeared in a New Zealand court charged with plotting to kidnap a prominent local businessman.

John Burrett is facing four charges related to his alleged role in a failed kidnapping attempt in central Wellington on Monday.

Two other British men are also facing similar charges.

Burrett is a high-profile lawyer involved in property development in the New Zealand capital. Before coming to New Zealand, the 52-year-old practised law in Kent.

Details of the case are sketchy and a motive for the kidnapping is not clear.

A court has ordered the names of the two other men, a builder, 34, and an unemployed man, 21, not be released and has barred the media from publishing the name of the intended victim, a high-profile business leader.

The men allegedly dug a grave-like bunker to hold their hostage in a remote area of Rimutaka Forest Park near Upper Hutt, a city 20 miles northeast of Wellington.

Council workers discovered the bunker in thick bush about 500 yards from a forest car park on July 10 and police launched an investigation which led to the three British suspects and their planned hostage, police said.

Officers found a note in the bunker which read: "This is your new home for days." Wine, beer and food were also found.

Defence lawyer Peter Richardson said Burrett would probably plead innocent to the charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.