Twitter is buzzing this morning as British journalist Gareth Davies live-tweets defense lawyers arguing to have him banned from the courtroom. Free press on trial, all being covered in real-time at the speed of Twitter!
Reporter @Gareth_Davies09 live tweeting lawyers discussing whether or not to exclude him from court. Interesting.
— Cara Sulieman (@carasulieman) November 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/rhysdgriffiths/status/271222754903220225
If you care about press freedom you should read the tweets of @Gareth_Davies09 and RT
— Kevin O'Sullivan (@kevinthehack) November 21, 2012
Indeed. Mr. Davies live-tweets this unprecedented, and potentially dangerous precedent-setting, turn of events.
Listening to a submission from defence to have me excluded from being in court on request of a witness
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Defence claim my "heavy reporting" of defendants previous cases "intimidates" witness #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Prosecution said: "Leveson hasn't reported yet so we still live in a country with a free press." #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Pretty unprecedented that court would consider barring specific journalist from being in court
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Bench has retired to consider. Was shown front page of @CroydonAd with pic of defendant giving photographer the middle finger
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Witness has even refused to give evidence behind a screen if im in court #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Basically trying to exclude me because I've written about defendant before #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Recommended
It was suggested I sit outside be given a summary of witnesses evidence instead. No chance. Already sat through half of trial.
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Defence case needs to be reported accurately. Cannot happen if Im barred and given a summary #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
This is the key defence witness which obviously complicates the issue #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Difficult to watch defence brandish copies of our stories and claim we are "persecuting" him yet I've not be given the chance to speak
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
@rhysdgriffiths Not barred yet. They are considering the application
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
We have had to interrupt another case to do this. Counsel in that one thinks this is outrageous #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Enjoying the prosecution's 'is this pre-empting Leveson' comments #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Note: This is not a reporting restriction. Its just me who should be excluded while key defence witness gives evidence
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Considering whether 1998 case where press/public were excluded on request of witness felt "uncomfortable" is relevant #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Case is Queen against Richards (1998) #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Pros counsel from other case joining in now. "Can you find precedent? let's Google it" #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Counsel: "If I type in 'In Camera' it will come up with Kodak" #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
I've not yet been given the chance to make my case. Some suggestion I won't get to #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Randall (sp?) Richards case refers to public exclusion, not specific to press #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Court 10 at Croydon Mags has ground to a halt #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Defence counsel inisists she has a case to exclude me in interest of justice #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Bench back in…
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
I've been told Im not allowed to make a submission on potentially being excluded from court #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Application is to bar all press not just me, apparently, even though witness issue is with me #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Asked what if I got another reporter to.court, clerk says no #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
The problem with me refusing to leave is this case has been moved to another court so judge is prejudiced by this argument
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Worth noting that def hasn't turned up to court today. which is v. interesting issue in itself #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Apparently Im not allowed to make submission because I'm not party to the case. I've insisted – nothing #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
@leowhitlock Their argument is that it's not reporting restriction, but exclusion
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Update: Clerk now saying they are checking whether I can make a submission #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Update: I will get opportunity to make submission if they are minded to exclude me. They are still considering
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
If this gets thrown out, everyones going to be disappointed the actual trial isn't as interesting
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Defence: The right thing is to do is here from journalist and then grant the application #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
However defence thinks they will reject because it is "easier"
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Updates: It has now been adjourned until 2pm. This could take a while #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Spoken to lawyers and they are sending advice. #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Supporters of Davies, and of free press, weigh in.
Some pretty scary press-freedom stuff going down in Croydon Mags this morning. I am not a hpapy bunny. Follow @gareth_davies09
— Holly Bourne (@holly_bourneYA) November 21, 2012
Enthralling twitter updates from @gareth_davies09. Will Croydon Mags throw him out of court? Keep it up, mate.
— Mole Valley Sport (@MoleValleySport) November 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/julesmattsson/status/271239101091557376
@Gareth_Davies09 Astonished. Take it none of your previous reporting considered prejudicial? Dangerous precedent. Good luck
— Gareth Rose (@Gareth_Rose) November 21, 2012
Incredible timeline of @Gareth_Davies09 who appears to be facing exclusion from open magistrates court hearing on the request of a witness
— Richard Woodward (@WoodwardRJ) November 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/SirDanWilson/status/271239210210578432
It has made for a more interesting morning for Twitter users, too.
@Gareth_Davies09 Good luck; keep fighting
— David Johns (ITV) (@DavidJohns_ITV) November 21, 2012
Keep the updates coming, Mr. Davies! The world is watching.
Update:
Recap: Defence trying to exclude me from hearing witness ev because she feels "persecuted" by my coverage of her son (defendant)
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Court at lunch now. At 2pm Ill go back to here bench decision #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Mr. Davies’ live-tweeting is continuing.
This is what you get for reporting the news. Or at least trying to…
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
@fleetstreetfox @Gareth_Davies09 @DBanksy Strange, because in R v Richards (Randall) [1999] Crim LR 764 the press remained in court…
— Daniel Hoadley ⚫️ (@DanHLawReporter) November 21, 2012
Good point just made by Twitter. The case law put forward saw public not press excluded #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Going back into court in the next few minutes #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Ok. This is getting ridiculous. case moved back to first court, which is underground with no signal #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Legal argument going on as to whether initial judge should hear application #journalism
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) November 21, 2012
Follow his live updates at @Gareth_Davies09.
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