Man learns of family death through TV News report

A Sydney man learned of the murder of his mother because of a news report on Nine, before he had been contacted by authorities.

On June 6th a Mornings news update reported, “A woman has been found stabbed to death on the Gold Coast. A man was also found at the home with serious injuries.”

But as ABC’s Media Watch reported last night, Sydney resident Jason Staveley recognised police cars and ambulance outside his mother’s house, from the vision.

“I can’t imagine a worse way to find out your mother has been murdered than on national television,” he said later.

Beth Staveley was stabbed to death by her partner Dennis Wakefield on 6 June at their home in Southport, on the Gold Coast.

Two hours later Seven ran a longer report with pictures, while the Gold Coast Bulletin had earlier identified the street.

But Queensland Police Media, who confirmed that Nine and other media had been in touch on the morning, told them that next of kin had not been advised of the incident.

Despite helicopter footage of the scene, Police had not released names, ages or the street number of where the incident occurred.

Jason Staveley, an announcer with WSFM, told Media Watch, via email, “The impact on our family has been devastating, especially given there are young grandchildren to protect. Personally, I’m now on medication to sleep, anti-depressants and seeing a psychotherapist.”

Media Watch claims Nine did not follow the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice:

must take all reasonable steps to ensure that murder or accident victims are not identified directly or, where practicable, indirectly before their immediate families are notified by the authorities;