Judicial review over murderer's 'porn' mag

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A murderer appeared in the High Court in Wellington today, seeking a judicial review of a decision by staff at Rimutaka Prison to remove and destroy a magazine, which they deemed pornographic, from his cell.

Stephen Hudson is serving life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 16 years for murdering Nicholas Pike, who disappeared in March 2002. His body has never been found.

Hudson had his cell searched on June 24, 2008 and among items that were recovered, was a Cosmopolitan magazine and two hand drawn pictures - one of a woman in her underwear and another depicting a Celtic cross.

The Cosmopolitan depicted images of a woman's breasts in a story comparing natural breasts with fake breasts.

All three items were subsequently destroyed, the High Court was told.

Hudson's counsel Michael Bolt today argued the images were neither objectionable nor pornographic and should not have been destroyed.

Hudson seeks a declaration that destroying the images breached the Corrections Act.

Mr Bolt also argued that destroying the items without allowing for a review went against "natural justice".

The Crown, while admitting that procedures were not followed, said the images could be deemed objectionable within a prison setting.

- NZPA