An Agape Ministries member accused of possessing 22,000 bullets wants to move to New Zealand, a court has heard.
Kevin Andrew Moore, 51, appeared in the Supreme Court today for a bail variation application.
Moore is standing trial after pleading not guilty to seven weapons and ammunition-related charges.
Today the court heard Moore intends to move to Woodend, 25km outside of Christchurch, to be with his dying father and extended family a move prosecutors oppose.
Jemma Lister, prosecuting, said the Crown would not support the bail condition allowing Moore to travel until the trial was finalised in November.
"We oppose on the basis that the respondent is a real flight risk," she said.
"In my submission, this is an unusually serious example of this kind of offending.
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"Police formed a view that the amount of ammunition was in excess of what this person could reasonably use in a year."
She said Moore had liquidated all of his assets in anticipation of moving.
Cormac McCarron, for Moore, said this liquidation occurred soon after the charges were first laid and at that point his client had already shown intent to move back to his birth country.
Moore is currently renting the original premises of the Agape Ministry at Oakden.
The Advertiser has previously reported cult leader Rocco Leo has vanished overseas. A warrant has been issued for his arrest on assault charges.
Mr McCarron said Moore had been perfectly compliant with his bail conditions since first arrest, which initially included reporting to police three-times weekly and has now been discontinued.
"There have been concerns about a doomsday cult and the stockpiling of weapons," Mr McCarron said.
"There is no doomsday cult, no stockpiling of weapons and no evidence produced to suggest that."
He said his client was a member of the Southern Vale shooting club, and his family were all registered gun users.
Mr McCarron said that justified the weapons and ammunition on the property.
Justice Kevin Duggan adjourned the matter until Thursday.
