Webmaster's porn defence fails

A court decision yesterday sets an important precedent so internet criminals cannot hide behind a spurious "where is the internet" defence, says the Department of Internal Affairs.

Webmaster (website manager) Philip Carlton Batty was sentenced in the Auckland District Court on 22 charges of possessing and distributing videos and pictures of children being sexually abused, women being raped and bestiality.

Internal Affairs spokesman Vince Cholewa said Batty claimed New Zealand courts had no jurisdiction because the website he administered was based in the United States.

But Judge Thomas Everitt said it was against "the intention of Parliament that a person such as Mr Batty can escape the court's jurisdiction" by using an overseas internet server.

Batty, 33, pleaded guilty to 13 possession charges but defended the four distribution charges and five remaining possession charges. He was ordered to pay $6440 in fines and costs and must do 100 hours of community work.