Radio host and publisher served writs of contempt

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33779, 27 February 1975, Page 1

Radio host and publisher served writs of contempt

(Kew Zealand Prtsi Association)

WELLINGTON, February 26.

Two men involved in the alleged radio disclosure of the identity of a Security Intelligence Service witness in the Sutch trial last week were today served with writs for contempt of court.

The Radio Windy talkback host, Dr Brian Edwards, and his guest on Monday morning’s show, the publisher, Alister Taylor, were ordered to appear in the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Friday morning.

The ground for the writs was that the publication constituted a breach of an order of the court. Security agents were identified at the trial by letters of the alphabet. Mr Justice Beattie cautioned members of the press at the beginning of the trial against publishing information which could lead to the identification of the agents.

Dr Edwards and Mr Taylor each received a second writ “abridging time." This enables the contempt complaints to be dealt with quickly. Both men will appear in the Supreme Court at 10 a.m.

Dr Edwards and Mr Taylor both refused to comment on the writs tonight. Radio Windy’s station man-

ager (Mr B. M. Swift) said today that he had no comment on the issue, as it involved an alleged contempt of the Supreme Court, and he would not want to prejudice inquiries in any way.

He said that Radio Windv was holding discussions with its legal advisers.

Mr Taylor and Dr Edwards were interviewed yesterday by two senior Wellington detectives, the head [of the Wellington C. 1.8 [(Detective Chief Inspector A. W. Baker) and Detective Senior-Sergeant C. W. Lines, both of whom were police witnesses in the trial of Dr W. B. Sutch.

A jury in Wellington last Friday found Dr Sutch not guilty of charges under the Official Secrets Act.