Justice minister 'not convinced' by colleague's proposal to televise court

Justice Minister Jonathan Attard is "not convinced" that cameras should be allowed into courtrooms, following a suggestion by his party colleague.  Labour MP Glenn Bedingfield on Wednesday said elements of criminal cases should be broadcast and labeled current court reporting as "tedious".  He noted that the UK had recently adapted its law to allow the media to film the last stage of prosecution when a judge sentences a convicted criminal. However, Attard poured cold water on the idea of cameras being allowed inside the court.  "I am not convinced," he said. Jonathan Attard says Malta is too small for televised court sittings. Video: Jonathan Borg He argued that the right to a fair trial needs to be prioritised and that the Maltese context needs to be taken into account. “Malta is a small country which cannot be compared to bigger states”, he said. "More studies and research is needed before proposals on broadcasting court hearings can be considered,” he added. Bedingfield brought the issue to parliament during a debate on the justice ministry's budget estimates. “How many times have you watched the news, and when a court report comes up all you see is footage of empty...