Checkpoint. 2003-09-02

1700 to 1707 NEWS
The crown this afternoon began its response in the Court of Appeal to the assertion that the trial of David Bain was a miscarriage of justice. Bain is in prison for killing his parents, two sisters and a brother in Dunedin in 1994. His lawyer Colin Withnall QC has told the court Bain's father Robin Bain was more likely to have committed the murders as he was mentally deranged at the time. And that Robin Bain's daughter Laniet had claimed to several people that her father was committing incest with her. Our reporter Liz Banas was at the hearing and she joins us now. LIVE WITH DROPINS
The Crown has opened its case in the trial of the men accused of being involved in two murders and a string of armed robberies in South Auckland saying the [illegible] men were heavy users of the drug P. William Johansson, Pago Savaiinaea and Joseph Samoa are accused of killing ASB bank teller John Vaughan in May last year.
Samoa and Johansson are also charged with the murder of the pizza worker Marcus Doig. Both John Vaughan and Marcus Doig were fatally shot during armed hold ups in Auckland in May last year. Ese Junior Falealii has been jailed for nearly 18 years after pleading guilty to murdering the two men. Our reporter Brad Markham has been following today's proceedings at the High Court in Auckland. PREREC WITH DROPINS
Hundreds of supporters of the militant Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir have gathered outside a Jakarta courtroom to find out whether he will be found guilty of treason. The panel of five judges are not expected to announce the verdict for another few hours. The ABC's Jakarta correspondent Tim Palmer who's outside the courtroom told me that Abu Bakkar Bashir has a great deal of support. PREREC
1719 BUSINESS NEWS WITH JOHN DRAPER
The pressure was on the Prime Minister and the Environment Minister in the House again today as the corngate debate continues to dominate Parliament. Opposition MPs have tabled more memos from the stack of papers already released by the Government on corngate.
Debate has centred on the Prime Minister's role in the controversy, and the meaning of tolerance levels for GE contamination. Clare Pasley reports. PKGE
The SPCA has released a graphic list of animal torture and neglect in another bid to get judges to hand out tougher sentences for animal cruelty. The Society's so-called List of Shame details 30 incidents between January and July - Chief Executive Peter Blomkamp says the numbers are about a third up from what they'd normally expect.
Cases include animals being shot with air rifles, beaten and stabbed. In one case a kitten was hanged - the perpertrator leaving a message for the owner describing the animal's painful death. Peter Blomkamp, says in another incident SPCA staff found a dog left in chronic pain for several weeks with a missing back paw and a bleeding stump. PREREC
Meanwhile an international authority on criminal behaviour is warning that animal cruelty needs to be taken seriously. Dr Lockward Randall is a psychologist and vice president in charge of research for the the Humane Society in the United States. PREREC
1730 HEADLINES
SPORTS NEWS WITH STEPHEN HEWSON
The National Distribution Union wants urgent talks with Feltex Carpets, to discuss a claim that it would rather move its Christchurch plant offshore than anywhere else in the city. It would mean the loss of more than 300 jobs. The comments were made by the head of the company's New Zealand operations at a resource consent hearing, which is considering Feltex's application to fuel the plant with coal.
Coal burning has been attributed as a cause of the city's major smog problems, and there are moves to have it banned. John MacDonald explains. PKGE
[illegible] access to the Government-sponsored hui on the foreshore and seabed is to be restricted but the Hui organiser is confident the media will still be able to provide full coverage. The first hui is being held near Gisborne this Thursday, and the media will not be allowed to take cameras and other recording equipment into the meeting house when the main talks are held. Wira Gardiner who has been appointed to facilitate the hui, is with us now.... LIVE
The mayor of Manukau has been meeting with police this afternoon to clarify whether they intend enforcing a council liquor ban in the South Auckland town centre of Mangere. Police asked for the ban in an effort to clamp down on Friday and Saturday night public drinking sessions in a large car park. The fatal bashing of 43 year old Sam Tua last week, has raised questions about how the ban is being enforced with the police saying they can't do anything until the council puts up public warning signs. Last night on Checkpoint, Detective Sergeant Neil Grimstone said he hadn't seen any. CUT
Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis told me the District Police Superintendent has acknowledged that the liquor ban is in place. PREREC
The Wellington Coroner's Court has heard how hospital staff couldn't wait to [illegible] rid of a patient with meningicoccal disease. The sister of a woman, who died of the disease, has told the coroner she was considered a low priority by hospital staff. The inquest is hearing evidence about the death of Nileema Sharan in June after waiting several hours at Wellington hospital. Reporter Merle Nowland was at the inquest. LIVE
Obesity experts say urgent action is needed to to curb the steadily increasing problem of obese children throughout the country. Dr Anne Thea McGill says parents shouldn't be looking for the more traditional eating disorders in their children like annorexia and bulemia, but binge and over eating instead. Several hundred Food industry representatives and health professionals have been attending a symposium about the issue in Auckland today. Our reporter Sally Wenley was there. PKGE
Businesses in central Wellington could be in line for compensation from the local council for the disruptions caused by a major stormwater upgrade. The Wellington City Council has agreed to consider compensating the retailers in Bond Street, in the central city, who say the 3 point 9 million dollar project is drastically hurting foot-traffic and their bottom line. If it does, it'll be a first for the city, and it would set a precedent that retailers say should be followed around the country. Catherine Wilson reports. PKGE
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