TVNZ murder 'confession' case taken to Supreme Court

A Northland man is to ask the Supreme Court to permanently ban Television New Zealand screening his apparent murder confession.

Noel Clement Rogers was filmed by police "confessing" to the 1994 murder of Northland woman Kathleen Sheffield.

Rogers was found not guilty of murdering Ms Sheffield by a High Court jury last December.

The tape leaked to TVNZ was suppressed by the High Court but the company took the case to the Court of Appeal, which announced yesterday the footage could be screened.

But last night Rogers' lawyer Michael Corry obtained a stay preventing the tape being broadcast.

He said today he hoped the Supreme Court would hear his appeal on the Court of Appeal ruling within three months.

"It is sought that stay remain in place until the Supreme Court appeal is heard," Mr Corry said. "It could be before the end of the year, I would hope in the next two or three months."

Mr Corry said Mr Rogers was highly distressed by the latest developments.

"He is attempting to re-establish himself in the community and get on with his life. All of this is very upsetting for him."

He said if TVNZ was allowed to broadcast the confession, it would set him back a long way. "It would affect him very badly and he is attempting ... to get on with his life again."

Mr Rogers was the second man charged over the death of Katherine Sheffield in Northland in 1994.

In 1995 his uncle, Lawrence Lloyd, was convicted of her manslaughter and served seven years of an 11-year sentence.

His conviction was overturned in the Court of Appeal in 2004.

Mr Rogers was arrested in 2004.

- NZPA