Charge against newspaper editor 'dropped'

Police have decided not to prosecute the editor of The Press for a story which allegedly breached a suppression order.

But publisher Fairfax Media and reporter John Henzell remain charged with publishing a report that breached the automatic name suppression granted to an alleged victim of sexual assault.

The Press reported today that its lawyer, Robert Stewart, said police had indicated they would withdraw the charge against editor Paul Thompson when the case was called in Christchurch District Court on June 2.

Thompson said he was pleased the charge against him had been dropped but was deeply concerned that a reporter was still being singled out.

"This is unfair. John Henzell was simply doing his job when he wrote the story. He should not be targeted in this way. The Press will support John in every way we can and will provide him with independent legal advice," he said.

Last month, the country's other major newspaper publisher, APN New Zealand, was fined $600 over an article in Hawke's Bay Today that was found to be likely to identify the victim of a sex crime. Charges against the reporter and editor were dropped and APN, which also owns the Herald, pleaded guilty.

- NZPA