2SM Radio host Marcus Paul slammed for Charlise Mutten quiz question

A Sydney radio host has apologised for a “completely inappropriate” giveaway quiz which featured alleged murder victim Charlise Mutten. Listen to the bizarre audio.

A Sydney radio station has been slammed for a “completely inappropriate” radio segment where alleged murder victim Charlise Mutten was used in a giveaway quiz.

Nine-year-old Charlise went missing in The Blue Mountains last Friday, sparking a five-day search before her body was found in a barrel dumped on the banks of the Colo River.

Her stepfather, 31-year-old Justin Stein, has been charged with her murder and remains before the courts.

But on Thursday, 2SM radio host Marcus Paul announced a giveaway quiz for listeners with a focus on Charlise.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO IN THE VIDEO PLAYER

Marcus Paul in his 2SM Radio studio.

Paul gave away a CD as part of the quiz.

About 8.40am, Paul told listeners they could win a prize pack of singer Adele’s new CD – if they could tell him the correct school Charlise attended before her death.

“The beautiful young girl who was allegedly tragically murdered this week, Charlise Mutten, went to school in which NSW suburb,” Paul asked a listener on air.

He added when the male listener was stumped: “Can’t remember the name, do you want to have a guess, time’s ticking.”

“Give us a call if you happen to have the answer to that question … if you get it correct, you get the goodies.”

A number of other listeners called in to suggest answers, with a loud buzzer sounding for each wrong answer, before a final caller answered correctly, winning the CD and earning congratulations from Paul.

“Mate, thank you for playing and well done to you,” he said on air.

Nine-year-old Charlise Mutten’s body was found in a barrel dumped on the banks of the Colo River.

On Friday, the 2SM host admitted he “shouldn't” have included Charlise in the quiz, revealing he had received angry emails from several listeners.

“Well I did ask what school she went to, but you've got to remember the quiz is about the day's news and the question specifically related to where the vigil for her was held.”

He went on: “Maybe in hindsight, I shouldn't have included the question … and yeah, lesson learnt from me, I just wanted to clear that up.”

Paul was slammed further when he tried to defend himself on his public Facebook page, Marcus Paul In The Morning.

His statement read: “The question related to a vigil held for a young girl who tragically lost her life, and was the lead story on media outlets during the morning. The question asked callers to name the child’s school, which at the time was public knowledge.”

Paul claimed he was not contacted by The Daily Telegraph but this newspaper contacted his representatives, including station owner Bill Caralis, who did not officially comment.

Further in his statement he said: “However Marcus acknowledges the question was inappropriate and ill-thought, and the program does apologise unreservedly to anyone who might have been offended.”

Veteran victims of crime advocate Howard Brown slammed the segment as “disappointing and very disrespectful”.

Locals drop off a floral tribute at Tweed Heads Public school for Charlise Mutten. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The death of Charlise is a complete and utter tragedy … holding competitions relating to what school went to is completely inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mr Brown said.

“The people who arranged this competition have clearly never walked a day in the footsteps of victims. I feel so much for the custodians of Charlise, her grandmother and grandfather … it is just so disrespectful.”

A victim of crime himself, Mr Brown has supported other victims for more than 30 years, and called for 2SM and Paul to publicly apologise.

“I think they should be asked to apologise, and realise how disappointing this is … there are ways to deal with victims of crime empathetically and with understanding and this was not,” he said.

“These people need to stop and think before they do things, instead of shooting from the hip … but it doesn’t matter how many retractions or formal apologies are put up, the damage has been done.”

Bruce Morcombe, father of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, pictured at the offices of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, has slammed the radio segment. Photo: Dan Peled

The father of QLD teenager Daniel Morcombe, who was abducted and murdered in 2003, also slammed the radio segment and Paul himself.

Daniel Morcombe was 13 when he was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered on the Sunshine Coast in 2003. Picture: Supplied

Daniel Morcombe Foundation co-founder Bruce Morcombe told The Daily Telegraph: “His comments are totally insensitive, he needs to take a good look at himself.”

“We lost Daniel 18 years ago, and honestly I take (the incident) personally, he's elected to trivialise something which is a horrendous act … it's disgraceful,” Mr Morcombe said.

“An on-air apology is needed and I think he needs to spend some time volunteering at a victims' advocacy organisation to try and understand the depth of what he has said and the lifelong impact things like homicide have on the families of victims.”

NSW Deputy Premier and Police Minister Paul Toole also condemned the on-air incident at 2SM.

“I'm appalled by what I heard, and I'd strongly encourage them to reflect on their choice of questions, which it appears they have,” Mr Toole said.

“There is a family and broader community grieving.”

Station representatives said it was too early to say if disciplinary action would be taken and if in fact, there had been a breach of any radio conduct protocols.