Niesewand’s appeal

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33213, 1 May 1973, Page 13

Niesewand’s appeal

(N.Z P A -Reuter—Copyright > SALISBURY, April 30. The appeal by the Rhodesian journalist, Peter Niesewand, against his conviction and a hard-labour prison sentence will be resumed in camera today, but the appeal hearing has already thrown some light on the secrecy surrounding his trial on charges under the country’s Official Secrets Act.

The Presiding Judge (Chief Justice Sir Hugh Beadle) | ruled on Friday that edited

(Versions of the charges, and [of the Magistrate’s judgment, handed down on April 6 after a secret trial, should be made public. These disclosed that Niesewand, who worked for a 'number of international news 'organisations, was imprisoned (because he sent out three ireports last November deal-; ing with Rhodesian security force operations against terrorists. Niesewand, who had been jin detention since February 20 under Rhodesia’s Emergency Powers regulations, [was sentenced to two years with hard labour, half of that term suspended. The secrecy of the trial and the sentence provoked international condemnation.

The trial Magistrate (Mr J. E. T. Hamilton) said in his judgment that it was the clear duty of the Court to make certain that “nothing is done which will ever prejudice the safety of (Rhodesian) forces operating in the field.” Niesewand’s notice of appeal, also published in edited form, alleged that the Magistrate had “misconceived the duties of the Court" in making such a comment. The appeal hearing is thought likely to end today, but judgment is not expected ’for about a week. A special tribunal will review the detention order, but not until after the end of the appeal hearing, i