Murder trial halted over TV coverage

The trial of a Co Kildare man accused of hacking an Australian to death collapsed yesterday in the Darwin Supreme Court.

The trial of a Co Kildare man accused of hacking an Australian to death collapsed yesterday in the Darwin Supreme Court.

The judge ruled that Australian television coverage meant that Mr Trevor Stokes (26), of Naas, could not get a fair trial. A new trial will begin on Monday.

An artist's impression of the alleged killer, drawn soon after the June 1999 killing of Mr Greg Bebensee (20), was screened by northern Australia's Channel 8 last Wednesday. The judge had ruled earlier in the day that the jury should not be shown the drawing.