As for all the media speculation surrounding the circumstances of his death and what was/ or wasn’t reported – I think this all best left until after the coroner’s report has been released.

Personally I think Horton has misunderstood who he hired.

OTOH maybe he knew exactly who he’d hired.

Interesting, either way.

Some people assess wins and loses on criteria other than “outrage” Nostaliga.

People aren’t outraged Reid, so how can it be a massive win in any direction? Stupid to pump up a no-end story. It might have made a potentially ‘nice’ start for The Truth, but the point is when to drop it. Flogging a dead horse and all that jazz.

Rex, good point.

However, I beleive when a person is dead do not carry on attacking them in most case. Greg at worst according to the allegations claimed more hours than he was entitled to. The exception is it the person was totally evil like the pedophile in the UK.

The coroner’s report is not in yet so i do not think possible cases should be discussed at this time. I support the Dominion in not responding.

The media’s job is to hold those who lapse in duty of care to account, even if, as in Murdoch’s case, it involves your own profession.

They won’t stop the bleeding any other way now.

I’m surprised Matthew Horton authorised such a provocative feature story as the first cab off the rank. It’s either a massive win (as in “Truth beats Dom Post”) or a massive loss (as in “Truth exploits …”), depending on what happens next.

I take your point above but bear in mind that while the DomPost isn’t a person its staff are and in particular its Investigations Editor Phil Kitchin. It was he who worked hardest of any of his colleagues on the Spencer Trust story, amongst other things, so we as readers and taxpayers and voters owe him a debt of gratitude. And I personally know him to be a man of integrity and personal kindness.

As I said to Cam over at WO as a journalist and editor you frequently have to weigh up the effect of the story you’re investigating, or about to run, on the subject and sometimes their family. Unless the person is a single, friendless utter scoundrel someone somewhere is likely to be hurt. Then a whole lot of other, inevitably subjective, factors come in to play. It is an unpleasant business and a side of journalism that often shocks the young idealists who join the profession assuming life is like a movie and the bad guys are easy to pick by their black hats.

Having said that, I do think the DomPost needs to respond, and answer Truth’s questions, so that we might judge the propriety of whatever actions they may have taken. They won’t stop the bleeding any other way now.

Yes I know which I think is a stretch and I don’t personally see the point of the Truth story as neither do you I suspect but as to having a right to publish, certainly Cam has that IMO because it is a story, of the type that get published every day. Also the Dominion is not a person, with feelings, so it can be attacked and so what if it is being. I don’t see that being personal.

Personally I don’t think Greg ever did try to claim extra hours, I mean if you were going to do that would you do it for a lousy $1500 and King didn’t seem at all the type. He was not interested in admin. I think it was FES who said if it wasn’t for his staff doing the billing he wouldn’t have ever been paid. If it was anything it was just a minor office glitch. Had to be. So why was the Dom Post getting so excited about it. That’s the story, as I see it.

Certainly it’s unseemly to do it at this time, personally I wouldn’t have.

Of course he is not attacking Greg. It is trying to blame the Dominion for tipping Greg over edge. Many of his persistent nasty attacks on others would have at times could easily done the same.

“However beyond the family, if the Dom Post did do what is alleged then is it a story or not? Does it deserve to be told?”

I would say probably not. Suppose there is lot of evidence to say Greg might have claimed a few extra hours at the Dominion think he may have. If the Dominion try to defend their actions do you think Slater will let things drop. Greg is dead now if and I say IF he claimed a few extra hours what benefit is there in debating it. I say let sleeping dogs lie unless Greg’s family approached the Truth in which I am quite wrong.

Of course it does. So what’s the hold up?

Chuck in this case I don’t see he’s attacking Greg at all so I don’t see how what he’s done here relates to Cam making personal attacks.

If the Truth had a strong case for their investigation is it going to help Greg’s family by engaging in a debate about the strength of their case.

You mean the Dom Post I assume. Yeah fair point, any recent death is touchy. However beyond the family, if the Dom Post did do what is alleged then is it a story or not? Does it deserve to be told?

Criticising the Dominion for something that may have been the final straw for Greg considering the number of relentless personal attacks Slater has made on people including a 15 year old boy.

If the Truth had a strong case for their investigation is it going to help Greg’s family by engaging in a debate about the strength of their case.

I wonder if Greg King’s family are happy and supportive of Slater’s article and promised follow up?

It’s Greg’s kids and wife I keep coming back to on this. He wouldn’t have done what he did to them, over something as trivial as this. Poor guy, that he wouldn’t let anyone in.

To say Slater is hypocritical would be an understatement

What’s hypocritical about it Chuck?

No-one is going to blame them for King taking his own life, but they will lose a lot of goodwill by pretending that nothing happened.

Good point KS.

What they have done wrong is to deny that there was ever a front page story planned, and that they contacted King and his wife and business partner. No-one is going to blame them for King taking his own life, but they will lose a lot of goodwill by pretending that nothing happened.

I am far from impressed with Cam Slater pursuing this. To say Slater is hypocritical would be an understatement considering his relentless attacks on many people including minors. The decent thing for Stater to do is follow the lead of the Dominion and let the matter drop.

Greg was apparently not only a great lawyer but so insightful he knew, with absolute certainty before hearing any prosecution witnesses, that his clients were guilty. [That's IRONY if someone is stupid enough to think I mean it literally]

tistanb: Oh dear me…READ the post…then read it again….slowly…then perhaps you will get it…Pay particular attention to the para beginning “I am not saying the Dominion did anything wrong….”

Is it wrong to phone someone up or to ask difficult questions in case that person later commits suicide?

[DPF: No. But we don't know exactly what did happen. All I am wanting is for the Dom Post to be open about their interactions, and what they were - just as Christine Rankin did]