Derryn Hinch found guilty of contempt over Meagher murder case

Controversial broadcaster Derryn Hinch has been found guilty of breaching a court suppression order, and therefore found in contempt of court in the case of R v Hinch [2013] VSC 520, when he revealed on his blog that convicted rapist and murderer Adrian Bayley was on bail and on parole when he killed Melbourne woman Jill Meagher in September last year.

The material was published in April this year, shortly before Bayley pleaded guilty to Meagher's rape and murder.

The lawyer for Hinch's defense argued that the same information, and more, had been published by Melbourne daily papers; however, they had not been charged.

"I said from day one, I've been made a scapegoat and a whipping boy over this," said Hinch outside court.

"It angers and puzzles me as to why the Herald Sun and the Age both printed the fact that they expected Bayley to plead guilty to the murder of Jill Meagher and were not charged."

The Victorian Supreme Court subsequently lifted the suppression order breached by Hinch, allowing publication of the details of Bayley's criminal history.

TimeBase is an independent, privately owned Australian legal publisher specialising in the online delivery of accurate, comprehensive and innovative legislation research tools including LawOne and unique Point-in-Time Products.

The Guardian

R v Hinch [2013] VSC 520