A promo featuring a serial killer cost TVNZ $2000 after incorrectly being classified as suitable for a general audience. The advertisement for Real Crime: Interview with a Serial Killer had footage of a serial killer saying he had snapped a woman’s neck. It was shown at 5.25 pm on a Wednesday, in a G (general) timeslot. A complainant said her child had been disturbed by the documentary promo. TVNZ said the promo did not contain any violent images. But the BSA found it contained violent themes which would have alarmed child viewers. Source NZPA (The Dominion Post 14/03/10).
Charges laid in 2009 with respect to offences under Companies Act 1993
In the 12 months ending December 2009, 143 charges were laid by the National Enforcement Unit against 24 defendants for offences they committed against the Companies Act 1993. Given that there are over 520,000 companies registered in New Zealand this number of offences would appear to be miniscule. However, the Society believes that these figures bear little relationship to the actual level of offending that is taking place, which we believe is very much higher. It finds it very odd that no one has ever been prosecuted under section 377 of the Companies Act which relates to the supplying of false information to the Companies Register. The Companies register is based upon good faith principles: that is the Registrar accepts all information provided at face value. The Society considers this approach flawed and It wants more checks and balances written into law to ensure full compliance with regard to the recording of basic information required,
Report On James Louis Mason v The Queen CA 481/2009
In Wellington before Court of Appeal Judges: Hon. Justice William Young (President), Hon. J. Grant Hammond and Hon. J. David Baragwanath. Tuesday 23 March 2010.
In the second case heard in Courtroom 2 before the Court of Appeal on Tuesday morning 23 March 2010, James Louis Mason, 51, Christchurch musician and father of six, defended himself against his 2009 conviction of assault against his 4-year-old son. His wife Ann was in attendance and assisted him. A Society representative who attended the court hearing spoke at some length with James and his wife before the case, during recess and after the case. The court hearing was filmed by TV3 and a number of the media were present.
Waihopai Vandalism and Burglary Acquittal Must be Appealed
The Society contends that Solicitor General, Dr David Collins, QC, should ensure that the Crown appeals the flawed decision of the jury that acquitted the three Waihopai spy base protestors on 17 March 2010 of charges of burglary and intentional damage (vandalism) to government property amounting to NZ $3.5 million. The men entered the base by cutting through the perimeter fence of the high-level security base in April 2008 and then slashed the dome over the satellite using sickles.
Protest song by Dr Jeff Simmonds PhD – inspired by attack or did it incite it?
Violent games make violent kids
Research published yesterday by the American Psychological Association, analysing 130 studies worldwide, has proved conclusively that exposure to violent computer games affects youth behaviour:
See: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/vvgeffects
The meta-analysis by psychology professor Dr Craig Anderson of Iowa State University was published in the 1 March 2010 edition of the Psychological Bulletin, a journal of the American Psychological Association.