Justice Nicholson wants to silence Darcy Freeman, who was thrown off the bridge and he use to speak out against child abuse...

Media Criticized over bridge death coverage	PRINT FRIENDLY	EMAIL STORY
The World Today - Friday, 30 January , 2009  12:45:00 Reporter: Simon Lauder ELIZABETH JACKSON: The allegation that a Melbourne man murdered his four-year-old daughter by throwing her off a bridge has shocked Australians. Detectives told the Melbourne Magistrate's Court the father was suffering acute psychiatric distress and was in no state to be interviewed yesterday. This morning questions are being asked about the media's decision to identify the man and his children who have recently been through the Family Law Courts. The former chief justice of the Family Court Alastair Nicholson says the media has gone too far and more needs to be done to enforce contempt laws. Simon Lauder reports. SIMON LAUDER: The little girl survived the 60 metre fall into the Yarra River but died in hospital nearly five hours later. This morning on Southern Cross Radio callers vented their shock.  TALKBACK CALLER 1: We travel over the bridge quite a bit. My daughter was crying yesterday. At bedtime I had to go and sit with her and try to explain to her. TALKBACK CALLER 2: Teenagers are having one minute silence. They are sending messages. SIMON LAUDER: The 35-year-old Hawthorn man charged with throwing his four-year-old daughter off the West Gate Bridge has been remanded in custody to reappear in court in May. Detectives told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday the man was suicidal.  Victoria's Premier John Brumby has joined the chorus of dismay as details of the case are revealed.  JOHN BRUMBY: You know all Victorians' hearts go out to the families and the surviving children. SIMON LAUDER: This morning newspaper coverage of the story has been extensive. The Herald Sun dedicates five pages to the story, including photos of the accused father and his family home and the names of family members. The accused man was involved in a Family Law hearing earlier this week.  This morning ABC local radio's Jon Faine used his show to raise a point of order with his colleagues in the media. The former lawyer asked the Premier John Brumby if he thought the media coverage was acceptable.  JON FAINE: Why won't you criticise the media? Are you so afraid of them that you won't say they are wrong? JOHN BRUMBY: No, because we are talking about the issue now. JON FAINE: Yet but you're not, I mean if these newspapers, all of these newspapers, the websites and even some of the television news have gone and done something that I just think is appalling. And I don't think there is anything wrong, I'm saying I think my colleagues' judgement I think here has been completely wrong.  Yes, there is a community appetite for this sort of thing but if you went and beheaded someone in Federation Square there would be a community appetite for that too. It doesn't mean you do it. JOHN BRUMBY: Oh, no, I'm not sure about that. I'm not sure about that. SIMON LAUDER: The former chief justice of the Family Court Alastair Nicholson says the media has gone too far.  ALASTAIR NICHOLSON: It has been reported in a sensational manner, probably in breach of the law of contempt, in relation to showing photographs of the accused man and recounting what the evidence is supposed to be other than the evidence that was given before the court. SIMON LAUDER: Justice Nicholson says in general he'd like to see more prosecutions for contempt of court. ALASTAIR NICHOLSON: The law relating to disclosure of Family Court proceedings and identification of parties is breached quite often and I know that myself and my colleagues in the Family Court actually got sick of referring matters for breaches of that sort to the Attorney-General, the DPP and other authorities because nothing ever happened and I think that has really invited the media to behave in this way. SIMON LAUDER: Adding to the case against the media and its decision to identify the accused man and his family is the Deputy Chief Justice of the Family Court John Faulks who rang the ABC to join the discussion.  JOHN FAULKS: The effect it must be having on the other members of the family and on the brothers, the siblings, even the little siblings of the poor little mite that went off the bridge is just terrible and I can't understand why people would want to do, to put the surviving family through this trauma. The act prohibits so far as Family Court and Federal Magistrate Court proceedings are concerned, the publication of anything that would enable the identification of people who are involved in family law proceedings.  In some cases this is regarded by some elements of the press as being restrictive and secretive. I believe it has a place to protect the privacy and the common decencies of people who are involved in these matters, particularly children. SIMON LAUDER: Justice Faulks says it's up to the Commonwealth Attorney-General to prosecute any breach of contempt laws. To get the case in favour of publishing personal details, The World Today contacted the Herald Sun newspaper and requested an interview with the editor Simon Pristel but has not heard back. ELIZABETH JACKSON: Simon Lauder with that report.