Blogger retreats over contempt worry

One of New Zealand's most-read bloggers has removed comments about the Sophie Elliott trial from his site following concerns they breached contempt of court laws.

The Solicitor General's office is investigating online material, including David Farrar's Kiwiblog site and a Facebook group with anti-Clayton Weatherston sentiments.

The Facebook group, which had more than 200 members, appears to have been closed, while Farrar said he would not make further comments until the end of the trial.

Former Otago University economics lecturer Clayton Robert Weatherston, 33, is charged with the murder of 22-year-old former student and girlfriend Sophie Elliott in January last year.

Weatherston admits manslaughter but denies murder. The trial, at Christchurch High Court, is due to end this week.

A spokeswoman for the Solicitor General's office said on Friday there was "nothing further to report".

Farrar said the office had not contacted him but he had removed comments about Weatherston anyway.

"I hope my having removed any information will show them I was aware of their comments," he said. Feedback about the removal had been mixed.

"There are some people who want to see me prosecuted and some who think the office is going too far."

Farrar has also been removing comments from his personal Facebook page, which is visible only to his friends.

"A couple of people have said things on my page expressing their opinion ... to be ultra careful I have removed them."

Farrar said most bloggers did not know media law well, which could get them in trouble.

"I would actually like to meet with the Solicitor General's office, not to discuss the Weatherston case but to see if there is a way ... to understand the law better.

"Is there some common-sense guidelines about what we should avoid? It would be a win-win situation."

Meanwhile TVNZ has apologised for broadcasting the F word during trial footage on Tuesday night's One News.

Spokeswoman Andi Brotherston said the footage was not edited. The news manager responsible had apologised.

"We didn't intentionally do it, and I understand why people were upset and disgusted."