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The Press
August 5, 2003
Reports may have affected trial
Reports in The Press about the case of Justin Todd
Richardson -- charged with making a false complaint of sexual abuse -- may
have prejudiced the chances of a fair trial, the defence alleged in the Christchurch
District Court.
The claim in a memorandum to the court led Judge Brian Callaghan to sound a
warning about publicity on cases before pleas have been entered.
Richardson's
defence counsel, Gerald Lascelles, also asked the judge to refer the matter
to the Solicitor-General as a possible contempt of court.
He referred to "reported statements of the police to The Press".
"Comments made about this case have raised issues which may have a
significant bearing on the conduct of any defence," said Mr Lascelles.
However, Judge Callaghan said he did not wish to refer the matter to the
Solicitor-General straight away, because the police and The Press had to be
served with the documents and given time to respond.
Richardson, a 34-year-old foundry worker, has not yet entered pleas to
charges of making a false complaint, and obtaining a $95,000 "pastoral
gesture" from St John of God by a false pretence -- alleging that he had
been sexually abused while at Marylands
School.
He was yesterday further remanded on bail for 11 days.
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