Bob Jones files writs for damages

Press, 13 July 1985, Page 8

Bob Jones files writs for damages

PA Wellington Writs for damages were filed in the High Court in Wellington yesterday on behalf of the New Zealand Party leader, Mr Bob Jones, naming two journalists as first defendants. Mr Jones has claimed $250,000 in damages and court action costs from an Auckland television journalist, Rodney Vaughan, first defendant, an Auckland television photographer, Peter Mayo, second defendant, and the Broadcasting Corporation, third defendant and employer of the first two defendants. He has also claimed $lOO,OOO plus court action costs from an Auckland reporter, Colin James, first defendant, an Auckland photographer, Murray Job, second defedant, the Auckland Star, Ltd, third defend-

ant and employer of the other defendants. The statement of claim against television alleged that the journalist and photographer had harassed, hounded, and invaded Mr Jones’s privacy by hunting him by helicopter in the Tongariro River area on Tuesday, July 9. The statement of claim against the “Auckland Star” said the damages were claimed because the defendants’ actions were “a private nuisance of watching and besetting the plaintiffs property with the intent of interviewing him when he did not wish to be interviewed,” detention of Mr Jones’s hat, and an invasion of his and his wife’s privacy. Both claims said the journalists had been told by Mr Jones’s wife that he did not wish to speak to them.