Radio station broadcast suppressed name

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 6

Radio station broadcast suppressed name

Broadcasting the suppressed name of a man jailed for indecencies involving a girl, aged eight, and details of the case likely to have led to their identity, resulted in Radio Avon, Ltd, being convicted and fined $6OO by Judge Frampton in the District Court yesterday. The radio station, its news editor, David Di Somma, and a reporter, Clifford John Joiner, admitted the offence, which took place on September 5.

Di Somma and Joiner were discharged without conviction, but each was

ordered to pay $2OO towards the cost of the prosecutions. Sergeant Kevin Morrison said the man accused of the indecencies on his adopted daughter was sent to prison for two years. On sentencing, and on the accused’s previous court appearances, his name had been suppressed. In subsequent reports broadcast by Radio Avon, the accused was referred to by name three times. As a result, the matter was brought to the attention of the girl’s mother,

said Sergeant Morrison. The radio station had apologised for the breach of the court order. There was no dispute with the facts, said counsel, Mr Paul Mortlock, who added that the company deeply regretted what had happened. It was, he said, the first occasion the company had been prosecuted for such an offence since it was established in Christchurch 15 years ago.

The matter had been discussed by its directors and steps had been taken to see that there was no repetition.