Dotcom wants to livestream extradition hearing

  • 29/08/2016
Kim Dotcom (Getty)
Kim Dotcom (Getty)

Kim Dotcom has asked the judge presiding over his fight against extradition to let him livestream the hearing over the internet.

A judge ruled last year there was overwhelming evidence that Dotcom and his three co-accused had criminal charges to face in the US relating to website Megaupload, which allegedly paid people to illegally upload copyright files like movies.

Defence lawyer Ron Mansfield told the High Court in Auckland on Monday that conventional media reporting was unlikely to cover all aspects of the case and could be "unbalanced".

He said it was used successfully in the David Bain case and the inquiries into Pike River and the Christchurch quake, and should be for Dotcom's hearing.

As one of the largest copyright cases in history, Dotcom's hearing has attracted interest from all over the world and could set international legal precedents, Mr Mansfield added.

The judge has set aside the application while he hears from lawyers from TVNZ and MediaWorks on issues surrounding the sharing of material.

Normally only one camera is allowed in court, with the networks sharing the footage. Dotcom says he'd like his own cameraperson, but would be willing to piggyback on TVNZ and MediaWorks' feed and broadcast it on YouTube.

Newshub.