PUBLICATION OF EVIDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1928, Page 8

PUBLICATION OF EVIDENCE

LEGAL PRACTITIONERS' VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, April 12. The Legal 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 capital cases; (2) to restrict the publication of evidence in divorce cases to the names of the parties, the grounds of the petition, and result.” In support of (1), Mr. Gresson submitted that the publication of the evidence in capital cases before the Supreme Court stage was reached, though intended for the protection of accused, operated to his disadvantage, as it was impossible to expect jurymen not to have been influenced by the case for the prosecution when there was no cross-examination of witnesses. As to (2). he considered there was no moral purpose served in giving detail of divorce proceedings.

The first portion of Mr. Gressoa’s motion was withdrawn, and the following, by Mr. M. Myers, carried: “That the practice that has grown up, in recent years only, of the 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 the Attorney-General be requested to direct the cessation of the practice.”