Mike Antunovic
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
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.
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. 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.
, New Zealand
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Criminal defense lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defenders. For a much more...
. Antunovic is one of New Zealand's most experienced jury trial
Jury trial
A jury trial is a legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact which are then applied by a judge...
lawyers, and has appeared in many of New Zealand's most high profile criminal cases.
The Olivia Hope and Ben Smart Murder Mystery
He is best known for co-counselling the 13 week trial of Scott WatsonScott Watson
Scott Watson is a New Zealander who was convicted in May 1999 after an 11-week trial of the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on his boat Blade on 1 January 1998.The bodies of Smart and Hope have never been found...
, 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
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. The case remains one of New Zealand's most famous and longest murder trials.
The Death of Janet Moses By Family Members Using Exorcism
In 2007, 22 year old Janet MosesWainuiomata Mākutu Lifting
During an October 2007 mākutu lifting in the Wellington, New Zealand suburb of Wainuiomata, 22-year-old Janet Moses died and a 14-year-old female relation was injured...
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.
Other Notable Trials
- Mike Antunovic successfully defended murder accused David Bourke, accused of murdering his brother,
- 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.
- Mike Autunovic is also one of the last New Zealand lawyers to run the partial defence of provocationProvocationProvocation and provoke may refer to:* Provocation , a type of legal defense in court which claims the "victim" provoked the accused's actions...
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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.Further name suppression controversy occurred when centre-right blogger Cameron Slater
Cameron Slater
Cameron Slater is a controversial New Zealand based Internet blogger who is best known for publishing the Whale Oil Beef Hooked blog. Slater is the son of former National Party President John 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. 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.
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.Current Practise
Antunovic continues to run a criminal law practice out of WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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