Convicted abductor Dick Headley has been knocked back in his efforts to be granted legal aid.
In December Headley, of Hamilton, and his daughter, Kay Skelton, 38, were sentenced in the same court.
Skelton was ordered to complete nine months' home detention and 300 hours' community work, while Headley was ordered to serve 12 months' home detention.
The pair had earlier admitted a charge of abducting the son of Skelton and Hamilton man Chris Jones.
In late 2006 and early 2007, Headley and Skelton flouted Family Court rulings and took the boy into hiding in Northland bush for five months.
In August 2007, seven months after Headley was charged with abducting a child, he set up a family trust to protect his assets, including a $1.1 million house and $500,000 holiday home.
The trust was established in August 2007 seven months after Headley was charged with abducting a child.
The Waikato Times reported that the timing of the trust establishment was considered a key factor in a High Court judge's dismissal of an appeal by Headley, who had fought a decision by the Legal Services Agency to deny him legal aid.
Headley had said he had "insufficient funds" to fight an initial charge of kidnapping.
Headley argued there was "improper focus" on the family trust. But Justice Pamela Andrews has released a written decision dismissing the appeal.
Justice Andrews agreed with an earlier decision which stated: "Without doubt, the applicant has access to funds which are more than enough to meet the legal costs he is likely to incur."
The review panel also said: "We have paid particular attention to the manner and timing of the creation of the trust."
The court said Headley could have forced the trustees, fellow family members, to sell one of the two properties to free up cash.
