ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 June 1930, Page 5

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

IMPROPER STATEMENTS

PUBLISHED

{By Telegraph—Per Press Association.'

WELLINGTON, June. 6

Attorney General, Sir T. K. Sidey, has issued a statement saying his attention lias been drawn to reports in the press oi' the circumstances of a recent serious criminal charge. The headings of the report, to which liis attention was particularly addressed, were framed in sensational language and amounted to a comment on the nature and circumstances of the crime. In addition to this in very many papers throughout the Dominion a cablegram from England was published purporting to give particulars of the previous history of the accused, and circumstanc'es that appeared adverse to his character.

A person charged with an offence against the law is entitled to a fair trial befor the courts, having jurisdiction, says Sir T. Tv. Sidey, who goes on to speak of it being his duty to consider whether steps should !>e taken to bring the persons responsible before the Court to answer for their action in oases in which the law may have been broken by wrongful publicity, but be adds that he did not propose to take that action on the present occasion. He desired, however, to make public the legal l position and felt confident that this intimation would he sufficient to ensure that the greatest care is taken in future that nothing is pnjv lislied that will interfere with a failtrial in open Court, without prejudice and without influence by any extraneous consideration.