THE CAPITAL CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 19839, 12 April 1928, Page 9

THE CAPITAL CHARGE

LOWER COURT EVIDENCE PREJUDICIAL PUBLICATION SHOULD BE PROHIBITED [Pbb United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, April 12. The Lawyers’ Conference to-day discussed a motion by Mr M. J. Gresson —“That it is desirable that the law should be amended (1) to forbid the publication of evidence in the lower court in all capita} cases; (2) to restrict the publication of evidence in divorce cases to the names of the parties, the grounds of the petition, and the result.” fn support of the first, Mr Gresson submitted that the publication of evidence in capital cases before the Supreme Court stage was reached, though in fended for the protection of the accused, operated to bis disadvantage ns it was impossible to expect a juryman not to have been influenced by the case for the prosecution when there was no cross-examination of witnesses. As to No. 2, ho considered flint there was no moral purpose served in giving the details of divorce. The first portion of Mr Grosson’s motion was withdrawn, and the following, by Mr G. Myers, was earned: “That' the practice that has grown up in recent years only of Crown and police prosecutors in certain places making an opening address in the lower court in indictable cases, is, in the opinion of the conference, wrong and not in the interests of justice; and that the Atorncy-General be requested to direct the cessation of this practice.” .