Townsville Bulletin and ABC denied entry to Children’s Court matter

Media were denied entry to the Townsville High Risk Youth Court on Thursday despite arguing youth crime was of significant interest to the community

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The Townsville Bulletin was denied entry to a Childrens Court matter yesterday involving an 11-year-old boy.

The Bulletin understands the boy was charged with three offences: two counts of stealing and one count of entering premises and committing an offence.

Both the Bulletin and the ABC made applications to be present in the court but the boy’s legal representative Merinda Greenwood opposed the applications on the basis there was too great a risk the boy could be identified through media coverage. Queensland Childrens Court matters can on occasion operate in a closed court, however media representatives are able to apply to be present during proceedings in the Childrens Court providing the identity of the child is not revealed in any way. Magistrate Steven Mosch denied the Bulletin’s and ABC’s applications leaving the media unable to report on the court’s proceedings.

Originally published as Townsville Bulletin and ABC denied entry to Children’s Court matter