New Zealand blogger challenges judges' name suppression

Jan 5, 2010, 0:30 GMT

Wellington - An internet blogger who has challenged the readiness of New Zealand judges to suppress the names of famous people charged with serious offences appeared in court Tuesday in the country's first prosecution of its kind.

Cameron Slater told reporters he would fight five charges of breaching name suppression orders after appearing in the Auckland District Court. He faces fines of up to 1,000 New Zealand dollars (730 US dollars) on each charge.

Prosecutors allege that he posted pictures on his blog of a well- known entertainer and a former Olympic athlete charged with sex offences after judges ordered their names should not be published.

Slater told reporters that people charged with criminal offences in the United States were always identified and that name suppression was very rare in Britain.

'I'd say about 1 per cent of cases deserve name suppression, and that's those involving sex crimes against minors, so that the victims are not identified,' he said outside the court, the New Zealand Press Association reported.

He was remanded on bail.

The same court on Tuesday suppressed the name of a well-known comedian charged with unlawful sexual connection with a child under 12 years of age, who was remanded on bail until February 17.