Mike Antunovic | |
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Born | Ivan Michael Antunovic |
Alma mater | Victoria University, Faculty of Law |
Occupation | Criminal Defence Lawyer |
Website | |
www.AntunovicLaw.co.nz |
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.
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He is best known for co-counselling[1] the 13 week trial of Scott Watson, 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.[2]
In 2007, 22 year old Janet Moses 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.[3]
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.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
Antunovic continues to run a criminal law practice out of Wellington, New Zealand.