KEY POINTS:
The two men accused of stealing 96 war medals, including 9 Victoria Crosses, from the Waiouru Army Museum appeared in court this afternoon.
The pair - a 39 year old from Waimauku and a 37 year-old from Te Atatu - cannot be named for legal reasons and have
been remanded in custody.
Much of today's appearance was taken up with exchanges between lawyers and Judge Eddie Paul as they discussed the issue of image suppression.
A lawyer for TVNZ and TV3, Ms Baigent, argued that the media was the eyes and ears for the public who could not be in the Auckland District Court today.
Lawyer for the police, Ross Burns, said usually the police remains neutral when it comes to issues of suppression but this case was different.
"Due to the nature of the offending, it would not be an exaggeration to say that every member of the public is a victim," Mr Burns said.
Lawyer for one of the accused, Jesse Soondram, said the television media may have already broken suppression orders in a news broadcast when they filmed his client's address and car.
Jeremy Bioletti, a lawyer for the other accused, said the chances of his client getting a fair trial could be hampered.
Mr Soondram said one of the accused could be identified, even in a pixalated image, because of his "unique body shape".
Mr Bioletti said television had already showed footage of his client walking which was potentially recognisable.
He said police had not yet disclosed their evidence against his client and part of that evidence could relate to the way his client walks. He said this could cause problems with evidence further down the track.
"If there is going to be media coverage, I don't want footage of my client standing up," Mr Bioletti said.
But Judge Paul said there was significant public interest in the case and ruled in the media's favour.
"In line with the public interest, it seems to me, my decision must fall on the side of open justice," Judge Paul said.
He allowed the media to film and photograph the pair while they were seated in the dock but ordered that the images had to be pixellated.
He also continued their name suppression.
The pair have been remanded in custody and will next appear in the Wanganui District Court on October 30.
The medals were returned to the Waiouru Army Museum in a public ceremony on Tuesday.