Three candidates from last year's General Election will stand trial for failing to declare their election expenses on time.

Two of them are now sitting politicians who could lose their seats if convicted.

Deputies Hugh Raymond, Scott Wickenden and unsuccessful candidate Bernie Manning all appeared before a packed court this morning.

Image: Bernie Manning, Deputy Hugh Raymond and Deputy Scott Wickenden.

In brief hearing, Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told the men a pre-trial review would be held on Thursday the 31st of January.

If they're found to have broken the law, all three men could be fined - and the elected deputies would automatically be removed from office.

That would trigger by-elections, but the law would allow the men ousted to stand in to reclaim their seats in the States.

Defence lawyer, Advocate Hiren Mistry, is representing both of the sitting Deputies.

He says there are no allegations being made of impropriety, and the charges relate solely to the late filing of paperwork:

"Both Deputies Hugh Raymond and Scott Wickenden today entered not guilty pleas to the charge put to them, and during the course of these proceedings, they will seek to show that they have a valid defence under the Law.“