Diversion offer for court reporter

A court reporter for the Press in Christchurch has been offered diversion in a prosecution for an alleged breach of a court suppression order.

The police laid the charge after a complaint by a woman who said a court report in the newspaper had effectively identified her when she was a complainant in a sex offence hearing.

The newspaper's publisher was also prosecuted. Fairfax Media pleaded guilty to the charge on July 21 and was ordered to pay $500 to the woman for emotional harm.

At a status hearing yesterday for the reporter, John Arthur Henzell, defence counsel James Rapley said the Crown had agreed to offer diversion.