A Malaysian military man believed in black magic, including a spell that meant if he defecated outside a woman's house she would fall in love with him, a New Zealand court was told.

Crown prosecutor Grant Burston began cross-examining Muhammad Rizalman Ismail, 39, at the High Court in Wellington in a disputed facts hearing on Friday.

Rizalman had changed his plea on the morning of his trial on Monday on one charge of indecently assaulting Tania Billingsley on May 10, 2014 following the attack in her home in the Wellington suburb of Brooklyn.

Burston said: "It was the reason you took off your belt and lowered your trousers and underpants outside this young woman's front door on the patio.

"It was more about black magic than about having to go to the toilet in an emergency."

Rizalman said no, but admitted he believed in black magic and that a superior officer had put a spell on him.

Burston also asked about Rizalman about going into Cosmic Corner on Cuba St on May 2, and buying synthetic cannabis.

Rizalman admitted he had but would not admit he had used it.

He said he could not remember asking two women working there if they had boyfriends or wanting to go for a drink.

Burston asked him if he remembered one of the women asking him to leave her alone, and a male staff member having to usher him from the shop.

Rizalman said he did not.

The crown prosecutor then asked him about going to Mermaids bar in Courtenay Place twice when he felt under pressure.

Rizalman said he went to listen to music and release tension.

Another woman was followed by him in a car after she saw him staring at her through a shop window, only the day before he went to Billingsley's home.

Rizalman denied wanting to have sex with the shop assistants or the girls at Mermaids.

He left New Zealand without facing trial after Malaysia invoked diplomatic immunity, in the belief it did so with the blessing of the New Zealand government.

He returned to New Zealand escorted by police after extradition hearings were filed in Malaysia.

At the time of the attack he had been working at the Malaysian High Commission as a staff assistant to the Malaysian defence adviser.

Alleged victim Tania Billingsley waived her right to name suppression before a district court judge

Two other charges, of assault with intent to commit sexual violation and burglary, were discharged by Justice David Collins.

First overseas posting

Rizalman begun outlining his life, joining the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1994 and taking his first overseas posting to the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington in 2013.

He said he was married with three children. His job had been a staff assistant to the defence adviser.

A Crown summary of facts said Billingsley had been home alone watching a movie in her bedroom. Rizalman took off his trousers and underwear before going into the house through the closed but unlocked front door.

In the kitchen he then took off his jacket as well before knocking on her partially open bedroom door and pushing it open.

He asked her if he could come in.

Billingsley looked up and saw him wearing only a shirt and naked from the waist down. She screamed at him to leave. Rizalman put his hands on her shoulders but she managed to push him into the living room, then out of the flat before locking him out.

She then locked herself in the bathroom and called police. A flatmate's boyfriend arrived home and challenged Rizalman who was still outside the front door.

Rizalman began walking away but was stopped down the road by the police.

Crown prosecutor Grant Burston is to begin cross examining Rizalman shortly.

How the saga unfolded

2014

May 9: Rizalman follows Tania Billingsley from a shop to her home. After a struggle in the house he is arrested by police down the road.

May 10: Rizalman appears in court and his diplomatic status is considered.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is informed but Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade boss John Allen is left out of the loop.

May 12: An informal discussion between officials from Mfat and the Malaysian High Commission leads to Malaysia concluding that New Zealand "offered" an alternative option for Rizalman to be sent back to Malaysia to face charges.

May 21: Malaysian High Commission tells Mfat it will not waive Rizalman's immunity and asks for all charges to be dropped and all documents to be "sealed".

May 22: Rizalman leaves New Zealand and returns to Malaysia. He is hospitalised for psychiatric evaluation.

June 27: McCully hears for the first time that the Malaysians rejected the request for a waiver. Allen hears about the case for the first time.

June 29: The media reports that a diplomat has claimed immunity and left the country. Malaysian media soon report he was one of their diplomats.

June 30: Prime Minister John Key and McCully are adamant that New Zealand clearly opposed Rizalman leaving and wanted him tried, but on legal advice say they can't name him or the country. Malaysian High Commissioner called in for grilling by Allen; she reveals "ambiguity".

July 1: Fairfax Media lawyers succeed in getting court-ordered name suppression lifted so that Rizalman and the country he represents can be named in New Zealand. McCully releases May 10 and May 21 documents showing New Zealand's unambiguous request for a waiver, and Malaysia's refusal. Hours later McCully concedes informal discussions may have created the "ambiguity" about New Zealand's position. He says Malaysia acted in good faith.

July 2: McCully apologises to Key and Allen apologises to McCully but they both refuse to say if resignations were offered. Allen announces an independent review of Mfat's handling of the event. McCully also reveals that a junior staffer in his office was informed about Malaysia invoking diplomatic immunity but never opened the email.

July 9: A district court judge accepts Billingsley's application for her name suppression to be removed and she speaks to the media.

October: A formal request to extradite Rizalman to New Zealand is made. Rizalman waives the need for a formal extradition and agrees to return.

Oct 25: Rizalman returns to New Zealand and immediately faces a district court.

2015

Nov 27: A High Court judge is told the trial does not need to go ahead as Rizalman will plead to one of the charges.

Nov 30: Rizalman pleads guilty to indecent assault and is remanded for further court hearings.

- Stuff