There are four complainants involved in the case. The offending is alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2021.<\/p>\n
Johnston could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charges. <\/p>\n
Cole Johnston, seen playing Jack in a Puff the Magic Dragon production about a decade ago, will go on trial next year, accused of sexually abusing four girls.<\/p>\n
Judge Sinclair said the role of NZME was to be the \u201ceyes and ears\u201d of the public in the courtroom during Johnston\u2019s 2027 Auckland District Court<\/a> trial. <\/p>\n \u201cImportantly, whether this application is granted or not, NZME is not prohibited from reporting on the trial and further publishing photographs,\u201d Judge Sinclair wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are already images of Mr Johnston in the public sphere, and (absent suppression orders) the law does not prevent the media taking visual images of those who enter and exit courts.\u201d<\/p>\n The Crown, she said, was neutral about NZME\u2019s bid to use cameras in court. But two of the complainants did not oppose the application, while the other two had not provided their views.<\/p>\n The judge noted that Johnston was also concerned about the public commentary on social media, which \u201ccould be well founded\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cHowever, I consider \u2018fair and accurate\u2019 coverage of the trial by accredited media would go some way to address these concerns and help mitigate any potentially inaccurate and abusive commentary that can take place on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n She said that made it \u201call the more important\u201d that accredited news media organisations were able to report on the trial. <\/p>\n \u201cI am not satisfied that the matters raised by Mr Johnston are sufficiently compelling to rebut the presumption of openness or to otherwise prevail against the public interest in favour of publication.<\/p>\n \u201cI grant the application. NZME is permitted to capture photographs, sound and vision for publication.\u201d<\/p>\n Fears actor\u2019s career could be impacted by \u2018damaging\u2019 photos<\/p>\nJudge Pippa Sinclair. Photo \/ Sarah Ivey<\/p>\n