Category: Contempt

The Crown has failed to have contempt charges brought against the Herald & Weekly Times and Herald Sun editor Peter Blunden over two court reports which were not fair, but which could not be proved to prejudice a fair trial ... more

ABC fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to four charges of contempt relating to reports of court proceedings in regional Victoria. Justice Harper finds the court was also at fault in failing to follow it’s own protocol ... more

The WA Court of Appeal has dismissed contempt proceedings against The West Australian and its editor Paul Armstrong over a letter to the editor. The letter had no tendency to prejudice a fair trial and the DPP provided insufficient evidence. Trial judge was too trigger happy in discharging the jury ... more

The NSW Bar Association’s attempt to prosecute Nationwide News for contempt over its coverage of former prosecutor Patrick Power’s sentencing has been adjourned. But not before its counsel, Bret walker SC, took a huge swing at The Daily Telegraph’s role as “self-appointed guardian of the need to prosecute a crime” ... more

Justice Victorian-style. Bernard Bongiorno’s contempt is David Harper’s “informed and balanced” editorial. Contempt charge against Sunday Herald Sun dismissed ... more

Supreme Court judge takes a swipe at the media for “interfering with the proper administration of justice”. Nevertheless, he grants Karen Brown, the security guard charged with murder, access to the “tainted” money she was paid by The Daily Telegraph and Channel Seven ... more

Finding of contempt against A Current Affair. Broadcast of a story suggesting the guilt of accused just after a hung jury was discharged. Potential to influence jury at a retrial (that was never held) ... more