Earlier today, former state coroner John Abernethy and Former Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery spoke to Fairfax Media to express their reservations at the prospect that survivors of the Sydney Siege should appear in paid interviews with commercial broadcasters that are scheduled to go to air soon, due to the risk that future evidence presented in court might be tainted and coloured, thus weakening the coronial process.
You can read more about that here.
Regardless, it looks as if Seven in particular are going ahead with their interviews with first hand witnesses to the events of that tragic day, having this evening unveiled a teaser of sorts for their ~exclusive~ coverage.
Defending against notions that airing these interviews would interfere with due process, a Seven spokeswoman has released a statement which reads as follows, via SMH:
[Seven would never wish to] “interfere with the conduct of a proper inquiry. But these are intensely personal stories which go beyond the witness box and it’s a bit beyond the pale to accuse people of colouring accounts of what would have been an horrific and harrowing ordeal.”
The NSW Coroner’s Court has said that it’s monitoring the effect of media coverage on the inquest into the siege, which is slated to begin on January 29th. Seven’s interviews are scheduled to “air soon”.
Photo by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images
