Dom Post Editorial gets it wrong
August 29th, 2005 at 8:27 am by David FarrarI am amazed that an actual editorial in the Dominion Post can make such a huge error.
The editorial says in reference to the hammer road rage case “Incredibly, he was given name suppression because a close relative was alleged to have an important weekend sports fixture. Oh, and his father was not well.
This is absolutely incorrect. Judge Harvey denied name suppression as seen in this article where he is quoted as saying “he would not be prepared to grant suppression”.
The defendant is appealing Judge Harvey’s decision, and hence this has triggered temporary name suppression until the High Court hears the issue. Temporary name suppression has to be given otherwise an appeal is pointless.
One expects the odd mistake in stories written with the rush of a deadline, but for an editorial to have such a massive mistake in it is very rare.
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August 29th, 2005 at 8:36 am
The internet has introduced mass communication of an efficiency that we have never before seen. Name suppression in this context is useless except for a few special cases, where victims have to be protected. The BIG problem with name supression is that it creates victims from innocent people who are wrongly accused by the internet rumour mill. It is basically a cowards way out and makes victims of others. It should not be available to a District Court Judge unless the application is not opposed by the Police.
Vote:August 29th, 2005 at 9:38 am
I agree Tim.
Vote:Name supression in a small country is the most ridiculous thing as everyone knows who the guilty are within hours or days.
The power of the internet, and the effectiveness of media communication means that you can cross boundaries that you never could before.
There should be very few cases where name supression is granted anymore.
If you inflict physical violence on another person
there should be no choice but for you to face up to your actions in public.
August 29th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Not only the DomPost but also TV1 news stuffed this one up – it’s an easy mistake to make.
But in the interest weeding out “absolute” inaccuracies, I should point out that an appeal against a refusal to grant name suppression *does not* trigger temporary name suppression until the high court hears the issue.
Vote: