KEY POINTS:
The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has rejected a complaint from the Children's Commissioner that photos shown on One News of a child who had been beaten to death by his parents were unnecessary, "graphic and disturbing".
Dr Kiro first made a complaint to Television New Zealand (TVNZ) after autopsy photos of the child were shown in a news item last August.
Dr Kiro said the photos had not been necessary, were "graphic and disturbing", and the child deserved privacy.
The photos had been released by the High Court after TVNZ had requested them following the trial of the child's parents.
TVNZ said the photos were used to illustrate "the sickening level of this abuse".
After her concerns were rejected by TVNZ, Dr Kiro took her complaint to BSA.
The authority said there had been sufficient warning the images would be disturbing, and that TVNZ had used appropriate judgement and discretion in deciding the degree of graphic detail to include.
It said the photos were relevant to the item and the broadcaster had upheld the court's orders to not show the child's genitals or face.
The authority said the photos were not shown until two minutes into the item and gave parents and caregivers ample opportunity to exercise discretion if children were watching.
It also said Dr Kiro's complaint about the child's privacy could not be upheld because the privacy standard did not apply to deceased individuals.
In response to the decision, Dr Kiro said she had hoped her complaint would highlight children's rights in the media.
She said she was not sure it was ever appropriate to show dead bodies in news images.
She felt the photos breached the dead child's rights.
- NZPA
