Witnesses unsure about accused

WITNESSES in the trial of five men accused of bashing a man outside an Ipswich pub may not have seen who was involved.

Five men are accused of bashing Michael Dodds, hitting him with metal bars and sticks outside the Coronation Hotel in West Ipswich on May 18, 2007.

But the accused - Bronson Terrence Stallan, 31; Wade Morris Douglas, 31; Shannon James Thompson, 34; Travis Michael Douglas, 28 and Craig Darren Thompson, 36 - have denied charges of committing a malicious act with intent or assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed in company.

Tabitha Kinman said she saw a group of 10 men hitting a man on the ground and that Wade Douglas had walked from this area and asked her for a weapon.

When Ms Kinman refused Douglas allegedly punched her in the face and when she washed her face, she realised it was not her blood. But when cross-examined by Wade Douglas' barrister Peter Sloane, Ms Kinman admitted she did not realise it was Douglas until her friend told her it was him.

Lawyer argues against televising court cases

AN IPSWICH criminal defence lawyer has backed the Chief Justice's assessment regarding television cameras in court rooms, saying it could trivialise the justice system.

Queensland Chief Justice Paul de Jersey cautioned against televising court cases, questioning whether broadcasting verdicts and sentencing would bring transparency to the legal system.

Simone Healy said televising court proceedings brought a risk of intimidating witnesses or encouraging others to “play up” to the cameras.

Televising of court proceedings is widespread in America and TV cameras are also allowed in some courts in New Zealand.