PUBLICATION OF EVIDENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 April 1928, Page 4

PUBLICATION OF EVIDENCE

DISCUSSION* AT LEGAL CONFERENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. Tin* legal conference to-day discussed a motion by Mr M. J. Gresson "that it is desirable that the law should he amended (1) to forbid the puhlication of evidence in the Lower Court in all capital cases; (2) to restrict publication of evidence in divorce cases in names of parties, grounds of petition, and tin* result.” In support of (1) Mr Gresson submitted that publication of evidence in capital eases before the Supreme Court stage was reached, though intended for tin* protection of the accused, operated to his disadvantage, as it was impossible to expect jurymen not to have been inti noticed by the case for the prosecution when there was no cross-examination of witnesses. As to (2) lie considered there was no moral purpose served in giving details of divorce proceedings. The first portion of Mr flresson’s motion was withdrawn and the. following, hv Mr M. Mvers, carried: "That, the practice that lias grown up in recentyears only of Crown and police prosecutors in certain places making an opening address in the Lower Court in indictable cases is, in tho opinion of the conference, wrong, and not in the interests of justice, and that the AttorneyGeneral he requested to direct a cessation of the practice.”