CHBC Television has been fined $2-thousand dollars for breaching a publication ban in a Kelowna murder trial. The local TV station aired video footage of the back of an undercover police officer, despite a media ban prohibiting any broadcast showing the attire and likeness of the officer. CHBC News Director Derek Hinchliffe says he's pleased the judge accepted their apology. The first degree murder trial for 39 year old Ronda Black resumes at the Kelowna courthouse on Monday. Contempt of court fine CHBC
After admitting to breaching a court order in a local murder trial, CHBC Television has been fined $2,000. The breach involved the broadcast of an undercover police officer at the trial of Ronda Black who's accused of killing her husband.
Even though it didn't show her face, the footage was in violation of a ban preventing the media from showing anything that may publicly identify the officer. CHBC News Director Derek Hinchliffe says the television station takes full responsibility for the mistake adding it thought it was complying with the court order. He says the station took immediate steps to mitigate the mistake. "In her ruling, the judge said that CHBC does not need to be punished but she does need to send a message to other media that this is a serious matter, so she imposed the $2,000 fine". The Crown was asking for a fine up to $4,000. A contempt charge against the reporter involved, Blaine Gaffney, was set aside. The Ronda Black murder trial was set to resume on Monday but has been delayed by a week because her lawyer has a serious lung infection.
Even though it didn't show her face, the footage was in violation of a ban preventing the media from showing anything that may publicly identify the officer. CHBC News Director Derek Hinchliffe says the television station takes full responsibility for the mistake adding it thought it was complying with the court order. He says the station took immediate steps to mitigate the mistake. "In her ruling, the judge said that CHBC does not need to be punished but she does need to send a message to other media that this is a serious matter, so she imposed the $2,000 fine". The Crown was asking for a fine up to $4,000. A contempt charge against the reporter involved, Blaine Gaffney, was set aside. The Ronda Black murder trial was set to resume on Monday but has been delayed by a week because her lawyer has a serious lung infection. 
No comments:
Post a Comment