CASE NUMBER: 43/2004 – WALKERS FRUIT FARMS ASSOCIATIONS AND WATCH VS etv – COMMENT

Complaint against “3^rd Degree” programme by Respondent in which reference is made to squatter camps, crime and poverty in Walkerville.  The programme was actually about the murder of Bond University student Leigh Matthews. Of the total time that the programme lasted, viz. 18 minutes and 5 seconds, only 1½ minutes was devoted to Walkerville, the place where the body of the murdered girl was found.  Complaint treated as one falling under paragraph 35 of the Code pertaining to comment on an event of public importance. Even though there were some factual errors, these should be judged in context.  Errors, judged in context, not of such nature that Tribunal could find that the programme was not an honest expression of opinion and that it was not made on facts truly stated or fairly indicated and referred to.  Complaint dismissed.