Injunction for inquiry

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 4

In junction for inquiry

PA Wellington An interim judgment restricting the scope of the commission of inquiry into allegations of impropriety in the administration of the District Court at Wellington was granted yesterday by Mr Justice Barker in a judgment delivered in the High Court. The commission is due to begin sittings on Tuesday and four assistant deputyregistrars of the District Court, who are facing charges of conspiring to prevent or defeat the course of

justice by interfering with proper court procedures in relation to minor offence notices, sought to have the commission’s hearing prohibited until after the criminal charges are finally resolved. The applicants are Linda Anne McQuade. David John Thompson, aged 26. Michael Peter Waluszewski. aged 26. and Kevin Joseph McGlinchey. aged 24. The terms of the interim injunction are: @ That the applicants should not be called to give evi-

dence before the commission. ® The applicants should not be required to reveal their defence to the criminal charges in any way especially- by cross-examination of witnesses before the commission who are also witnesses in the criminal trial. © The commission should sit in private if any matter arises in the course of the hearing which could, in the view of the chairman of the commission, prejudice the applicants’ right to a fair trial.