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This article shows why respecting contempt of court laws is so important.
These men were eventually found guilty.
Contemptuous “reporting” nearly derailed the whole trial.
Guilty men nearly walked free. Victims were nearly failed.
These men were eventually found guilty.
Contemptuous “reporting” nearly derailed the whole trial.
Guilty men nearly walked free. Victims were nearly failed.
One thing I imagine everybody on all sides of the political divide agrees upon is that people who commit serious criminal offences should be tried fairly and held to account for what they have done.
Breaking reporting restrictions risks such people escaping justice.
Breaking reporting restrictions risks such people escaping justice.
I understand (although don’t agree with) the argument that we should be able to freely report anything in court without restriction, as happens in the US.
But that’s not our system. And as long as we have contempt laws, we simply must obey them. Otherwise trials will collapse.
But that’s not our system. And as long as we have contempt laws, we simply must obey them. Otherwise trials will collapse.
If you really want to help victims of crime as a reporter, it seems to me there are two main things you can do:
1. Bring to public attention cases which the authorities are not already pursuing;
2. Ensure you don’t jeopardise trials once charges have been brought.
1. Bring to public attention cases which the authorities are not already pursuing;
2. Ensure you don’t jeopardise trials once charges have been brought.
