24hr wait on Underbelly
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Justice Betty King has given prosecution and defence lawyers just 24 hours to view all 13 episodes of Underbelly and return to court tomorrow.
Lawyers acting for Nine today handed over DVD copies after a subpoena was issued on Friday against the station’s general manager, Jeffrey Browne.
Anthony Brand, solicitor for an accused murderer who cannot be named, applied to adjourn the trial for three months. Yesterday The Age suggested a behind the scenes deal had been reached for an adjournment, pathing the way for the series to air.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Jeremy Rapke, QC, was prepared to agree to an adjournment. Senior prosecutor Geoffrey Horgan, SC, said that concession would be withdrawn unless Mr Brand agreed not to make a permanent stay application.
But Mr Brand could not guarantee that with a later trial he would not apply for a permanent stay of the prosecution against his client on the grounds of possible prejudicial material in Underbelly.
Justice King, who said she would try to view some herself, consequently ordered the parties to reappear at 9am tomorrow.
As this site theorised on Saturday, time is against the players finding common ground.
If the outcome of the court proceedings directs Nine not to screen Underbelly, it could still screen interstate.
Source: The Age
3 Responses
Um, Jack. How the hell is it Nine’s fault?? It’s the prosecutors fault for saying now that it doesn’t want it to be screened. We’ve known for months that Underbelly was coming in February, they should’ve said something earlier. Anyway I hope it gets to air here in Vic because we’re all dying to see it.
See, they all just want to see it before the rest of us … get them all to do a commentary on the DVDs!!!
Why did NINE not get this sorted out months ago??? very poor effort!
Jack!
So what does nine air on Wednesday night between 8:30pm and 10:30pm in Melbourne if is not Underbelly? Surely they must know that as soon as the program has aired everywhere else, someone is going to put it on the net for everyone to download(obviously nowhere near the numbers who would of tuned in on Nine who are going to be doing this), but enough for people to comment about.
Are they also going to try and block the dvd release(which is already up for pre-order at Ezydvd, http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/798574)
In this state?