- Mike Antunovic
-
Mike Antunovic Born Ivan Michael Antunovic Alma mater Victoria University, Faculty of Law Occupation Criminal Defence Lawyer Website www.AntunovicLaw.co.nz Mike Antunovic, is a New Zealand criminal defence lawyer. Antunovic is one of New Zealand's most experienced jury trial lawyers, and has appeared in many of New Zealand's most high profile criminal cases.
Contents
High Profile Cases
The Olivia Hope and Ben Smart Murder Mystery
He is best known for co-counselling[1] the 13 week trial of Scott Watson, who was charged with the double murder of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on New Year's Eve 1997. Watson was found guilty of the murders. Mike Antunovic and Greg King subsequently appealed the case to the Privy Council. The case remains one of New Zealand's most famous and longest murder trials.[2]
The Death of Janet Moses By Family Members Using Exorcism
In 2007, 22 year old Janet Moses died after members of her family poured water into her eyes and down her throat at a Wainuiomata flat. Six women and three men plead not guilty in the High Court at Wellington to the manslaughter of 22-year-old Janet Moses. Mike Antunovic's argued that instead of trying to commit a criminal offence, the defendants were in reality trying to help Janet Moses. After 17 hours of deliberation on 12 June 2009, the jury returned guilty of manslaughter verdicts for five of the family members.[3]
Other Notable Trials
- Mike Antunovic successfully defended murder accused David Bourke, accused of murdering his brother,[4]
- Mike Antunovic defended Stephen Hudson in an unusual murder trail as it was one of New Zealand's few murder trials where no body has ever been found.[5]
- Mike Autunovic is also one of the last New Zealand lawyers to run the partial defence of provocation.[6]
National Name Suppression Controversy
Antunovic has also become embroiled in the national debate over name suppression law reform and enforcement. In March 2009, a police recruit was accused of rape of a women, and the media published the police recruit's identity. The case was thrown out the court by the Judge, citing that the woman's testimony was unreliable. Antunovic, who was the police recruit's lawyer, called for a reform of the name suppression laws.[7]
Further name suppression controversy occurred when centre-right blogger Cameron Slater repeatedly defied court orders by illegally identifying several high profile New Zealanders protected by name suppression orders. Antunovic spoke to the national media and condemned Slater's actions.[8] On 14 September 2010 Cameron was convicted of eight counts of breaching name suppression orders and one count of identifying a victim in a sex case.[9]
Independence of Lawyers
In 2011 Antunovic was asked to comment by the national media about the New Zealand Government's new cost cutting criminal law firms. Antunovic voiced concerns about the state run law firm, saying that the independence of the client-lawyer relationship was threatened by Government lawyers being employed by the Ministry of Justice.[10]
Current Practise
Antunovic continues to run a criminal law practice out of Wellington, New Zealand.
References
- ^ crime.co.nz The powerhouse legal teams involved in the trial of Scott Watson Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ crime.co.nz Operation TAM - One of NZ's highest profile investigations Retrieved 4 June 2011
- ^ "Anger over manslaughter verdicts". One News / NZPA. 12 June 2009. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/anger-over-manslaughter-verdicts-2782057. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ Marcus Lush Mike Autunovic successfully defended David Bourke against murder - Radio Interview 10 November 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2011
- ^ "Defence urges jury not to convict out of pity". Television New Zealand. NZPA. 24 November 2009. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/defence-urges-jury-not-convict-pity-3177981. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ "Man guilty of wife's murder". Television New Zealand. NZPA. 6 May 2010. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/man-guilty-wife-s-murder-3530318. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ "Calls for name suppression for rape accused". One News. 26 March 2009. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/calls-name-suppression-rape-accused-2591384. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ "Blogger breaks suppression order - again". Stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 25 May 2010. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3736270/Blogger-breaks-suppression-order-again. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ Francis, Clio (14 September 2010). "Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater guilty". Stuff.co.nz. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/4127070/Whale-Oil-blogger-Cameron-Slater-guilty. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ Morris, Deborah (18 June 2011). "Public defenders or private: battle lines are drawn". The Dominion Post. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5160855/Public-defenders-or-private-battle-lines-are-drawn/. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
Categories:- Living people
- New Zealand lawyers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
