Three men accused of damaging a protective dome over a satellite dish at the Waihopai spy base in April were committed for trial today.
Dominican friar Peter Murnane and farmers Adrian Leason and Samuel Land are jointly charged with intentional damage to property and entry with intent to commit a crime.
They entered not guilty pleas in Blenheim District Court today and were remanded on bail for trial, but it is not likely to be heard before next year.
Calling themselves the Anzac Ploughshares, the men allegedly broke into the spy base on April 30 and used sickles to deflate one of the distinctive orbs at the Waihopai satellite communications interception station, near Blenheim.
Damage to the base was estimated at more than $1 million.
