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Kim Dotcom wants extradition appeal to be live streamed

Author
Gia Garrick ,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Aug 2016, 10:43AM
Dotcom's Lawyer Ron Mansfield was first to address the court, saying a live stream is the only way for a fair hearing to go ahead (Getty Images)

Kim Dotcom wants extradition appeal to be live streamed

Author
Gia Garrick ,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Aug 2016, 10:43AM

LISTEN ABOVE: Reporter Gia Garrick joins Larry Williams to discuss Dotcoms appearance in Auckland's High Court. 

UPDATED 3.11PM: Kim Dotcom's appeal of his extradition to the United States has begun at Auckland's High Court, and his lawyer is hoping to have it live streamed.

Dotcom's Lawyer Ron Mansfield was first to address the court, saying a live stream is the only way for a fair hearing to go ahead as the majority of those interested are overseas and this would allow them the same access already granted to the New Zealand public.

He said the case “raises unprecedented issues of public and international interest” and it would not be a fair hearing without it.

Mr Mansfield pointed to the "complexity of the issues and time constraints of traditional media” as reasons as to why the hearing should be live streamed. 

He said it is a case for the internet age, that's attracted interest all over the world, saying many of those who would like to be privy to all the facts of the case, could not be in New Zealand for the full six weeks.

Kim Dotcom said over seven-thousand people have voted on social media for a live stream of his High Court appeal to be allowed.

The United States has filed a memorandum against having a live stream of the hearing.

The lawyer for two of Dotcom's Mega Upload associates who are also appealing their extradition to the US, says his clients have not been properly heard in court.

Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk's lawyer, Grant Illingworth QC, argues the arrest of his clients was done amidst unlawful spying by the police, the GCSB and the United States' Five Eyes network.

He said warrants for his clients' arrests, and the seizure of all of their assets was granted outside of usual police process - and all of this was covered up by the same authorities in the District Court extradition trial.

Mr Illingworth wants his clients to at the very least, be able to use their own money to fund a proper defence in a New Zealand court, before a decision is made about whether they can fairly be extradited to the United States.

A poll he conducted on Twitter received 7,239 responses - with 91 percent saying they would like the hearing live streamed. 

 

 

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