Those dropped charges included a dozen sub judice contempt charges against the companies, and charges of contempt and breach of suppression order against the reporters and editors. Prosecutor Lisa Di Ferrari said given the acceptance of responsibility by the corporations, it was in the public interest to withdraw the remaining charges. In exchange, the remaining 58 charges, including 46 against individual reporters and editors have been dropped.Īmong those in the clear is former editor of The Age, Alex Lavelle, who last week told the court he had relied on the advice of experienced media lawyers in deciding to publish the stories. That means penalties are at the discretion of Justice John Dixon.Īs part of the agreement with prosecutors the companies have agreed to pay for the cost of the legal proceedings. While Victoria's Open Courts Act caps penalties for breaches of suppression orders at just shy of $500,000, the media companies have pleaded guilty to common law contempt by breaching the orders.
#Newslife media trial#
Lawyers for the media companies entered formal guilty pleas on behalf of companies including News Corp, Nine, former Fairfax publications, Mamamia and Radio 2GB.īreaches included reference to a guilty verdict in the trial of a high-profile Australian, appearing in print and online stories in the Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and reports on the Today Show and Sydney's 2GB radio. A contempt of court trial has been underway in Victoria's Supreme Court since November last year, beginning two years after charges were first laid.īut the case resolved on Monday after the 12 corporations agreed to plead guilty to 21 charges of breaching a suppression order made by County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd.
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