International Law

Alan Jones loses his appeal

From The Australian:

RADIO host Alan Jones has lost his challenge against a conviction for broadcasting the name of a juvenile involved in a murder trial.

In the NSW District Court today, Judge Michael Finnane accepted Jones had an honest belief that he could broadcast the name, but found this belief was not reasonable.

Jones named the juvenile on his morning program on Sydney radio station 2GB in July 2005.

Last April, a magistrate found he had breached the Childrens' Proceedings Act when he read out an article published in the Daily Telegraph that day, which named the teenager.

Jones was fined $1,000 and placed on a nine-month good behaviour bond.

His lawyers told the judge today they would be challenging the penalty at a future date.

2GB's licensee, Harbour Radio, and the Daily Telegraph's publisher, Nationwide News - which were fined $3,000 and $4,000 respectively - also lost their conviction appeals.

Read more here.

Full post as published by Freedom to Differ on February 11, 2008 (boomark / email).