Radio Host Fined for Breaching Suppression Order
Friday 18 October 2013 @ 11.30 a.m.
Former Melbourne radio host Derryn Hinch has been fined $100,000 by the Victorian Supreme Court but avoids a gaol sentence after being convicted of contempt of court.
Hinch was charged with publishing details of the past of Jill Meagher’s killer, Adrian Ernest Bayley, on his Human Headline blog and failing to remove said publication after a non-publication court order was issued. Hinch claimed that he was not aware of the non-publication order but Justice Stephen Kaye found that Hinch’s repeated comments on twitter showed he strongly disagreed with the order and would deliberately defy it.
Calling the breach "particularly serious," Justice Kaye said it is not up to reporters to pick and choose which orders they adhere to because it would make the justice system unworkable. Justice Kaye went on to criticise Hinch’s attempts at victimising himself by claiming to be a scapegoat and whipping boy.
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