A television news crew has been denied permission to film at the depositions hearing for the Hungarian tourist accused of killing gay Onehunga man Ron Brown.

Ferdinand Ambach faces charges of murder, intentional damage and assault, following Brown's death in late December last year. He appeared in court briefly today for his depositions hearing date to be set.

A TVNZ news crew had applied to film at the hearing, where detailed police investigations of the night Brown died will be brought to light, and a decision made on whether the police case is strong enough for Ambach to face a jury trial.

However, this morning an Auckland judge rejected TVNZ's application, citing a Christchurch High Court judge's decision earlier this month not to allow cameras to film or take photographs at the double murder trial of Lipine Sila, who allegedly drove his car through partygoers on the city's Edgeware Road last May. "Broadcasting and publishing photos of any accused while on trial is often a public humiliation, akin to the ancient punishment of pillory," Justice Fogarty ruled.