Deb Webber
Encyclopedia
Debra Webber is a psychic detective
on the New Zealand television series Sensing Murder
.
and other techniques used by entertainers like Derren Brown
. She also has an article in the womans day which is sold in Australia.
broadcast a show called "Caught on Hidden Camera", in which they asked Deb Webber to give readings to three people. The three asked to contact deceased relatives that did not exist. Deb Webber claimed she was able to 'contact' these people.
This was later screened in New Zealand on the show Eating Media Lunch
as "Sensing Bullshit".
The family of missing child Aisling Symes were introduced to Sensing Murder
medium Deb Webber by state broadcaster Television New Zealand
(TVNZ), a move which was criticised in the media due to Aisling only having disappeared two days previously.
One policeman said when questioned if the New Zealand police would use comments made by Webber on television show Breakfast: "I'm totally aghast - it seems like a totally commercial play".
TVNZ responded with the following statement: "We're not trying to push a psychic message to make money and get ratings". Hundreds of e-mails were sent to the station.
Psychic detective
A psychic detective is defined as a person who investigates crimes by using their claimed paranormal psychic abilities. A number of people claim they have psychic abilities that have allowed them to assist police in solving kidnapping and murder cases, or locating a corpse...
on the New Zealand television series Sensing Murder
Sensing Murder
Sensing Murder is a television series in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, in which alleged psychics are asked to act as psychic detectives to help solve famous unsolved murder cases in each country. The psychics have not managed to solve any of the cases.-Format:Each episode included...
.
Controversy
Critics have pointed out her show uses cold readingCold reading
Cold reading is a series of techniques used by mentalists, psychics, fortune-tellers, illusionists, and con artists to determine or express details about another person, often in order to convince them that the reader knows much more about a subject than they actually do...
and other techniques used by entertainers like Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
. She also has an article in the womans day which is sold in Australia.
Caught on Hidden Camera
On 13 August 2004 Australian Channel 7Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
broadcast a show called "Caught on Hidden Camera", in which they asked Deb Webber to give readings to three people. The three asked to contact deceased relatives that did not exist. Deb Webber claimed she was able to 'contact' these people.
This was later screened in New Zealand on the show Eating Media Lunch
Eating Media Lunch
Eating Media Lunch was a satirical New Zealand news show hosted by Jeremy Wells. It aired on TV 2 and online on from 2003 to 2008. The show was frequently controversial during its run.- Notable episodes :...
as "Sensing Bullshit".
TVNZ psychic disagreement
Deb Webber was involved in controversy regarding a high-profile missing child case in New Zealand in October 2009.The family of missing child Aisling Symes were introduced to Sensing Murder
Sensing Murder
Sensing Murder is a television series in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, in which alleged psychics are asked to act as psychic detectives to help solve famous unsolved murder cases in each country. The psychics have not managed to solve any of the cases.-Format:Each episode included...
medium Deb Webber by state broadcaster Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
(TVNZ), a move which was criticised in the media due to Aisling only having disappeared two days previously.
One policeman said when questioned if the New Zealand police would use comments made by Webber on television show Breakfast: "I'm totally aghast - it seems like a totally commercial play".
TVNZ responded with the following statement: "We're not trying to push a psychic message to make money and get ratings". Hundreds of e-mails were sent to the station.