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Broadcaster fined for naming sex assault defendant

The Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) has been fined in for naming a defendant in a sexual assault case.Appearing on the broadcaster’s behalf, BBC CEO Rick Richardson pleaded guilty at Magistrates’ Court to the January 14 offence.Company lawyer Richard Horseman told the court that the offending detail had been reported on the air by mistake.According to Crown counsel Garrett Byrne, the ZBM nightly news named the man and listed charges which included sexual assault.Naming the defendant in such cases is an offence liable to a $5,000 fine, unless the person charged has pleaded guilty or has been convicted.Apologising to the defendant, Mr Horseman said there had been various charges listed.“The one with the sexual aspect slipped in by accident — it was brought to the company’s attention immediately after the 7pm broadcast, and it was immediately pulled,” he added.Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined the BBC $4,000.