High Court Judge, Justice Salesi Temo has today ruled that the names of all the victims in the Josua Colanaudolu rape and murder trial be suppressed.
Assistant DPP Lee Burney made an application in court this morning that the names of all the victims in the case not be reported in the media on the grounds of privacy.
Fijivillage had also raised the issue with the DPP this morning after the Fiji Sun had highlighted the name of the 14-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Deuba.
The headline at the top of the front page of the newspaper on Saturday had the girl’s name saying that her rape trial had started.
The story also contained the 14 year old girl’s name.
According to the Media Code of Ethics and Practice in the Media Industry Development Decree, media organisations must not identify victims of sexual assaults or publish or broadcast material likely to contribute to their identification even when free by law to do so.
The code also states that media organisations shall not identify children either as victims or witnesses in cases alleging sexual offences.
