A gold medal-winning Olympian is going to trial facing charges of indecently assaulting young girls.
Arthur Parkin, one of New Zealand's most celebrated hockey players, went to the Olympics three times and was part of the 1976 team which claimed gold in Montreal.
It was from that same timeframe, between 1975 and 1976, that the alleged sex offending took place.
Parkin faces four charges coming from two complainants.
One set of charges is indecent assault on a child under 12 and another, indecent assault on a girl aged between 12 and 16.
Newshub met Parkin last year on a different story, where he showed us his medal.
Back then he spoke of his disappointment over two of his 1976 teammates missing out on medals because they didn't play in the final game.
"This is an injustice because of antiquated rule," he said at the time.
Parkin became a life member of New Zealand Hockey in 2003 and after retiring, helped put together a national coaching scholarship.
Parkin will next appear at the Auckland District Court in August, where his jury trial is set down for 10 days.
Newshub.
