Kate Middleton prank radio station 'broke law'
The radio station that broadcast a hoax call to the hospital treating Kate Middleton during her first pregnancy broke the law, Australia’s High Court has ruled.
DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian aired the call, in which they were transferred to a nurse at the King Edward VII Hospital in London and given details of Kate’s condition, on Sydney’s Today FM station in 2012.
Jacintha Saldanha answered the call and, believing it to be from the Queen, transferred the presenters to a nurse. Ms Saldanha was found dead just days later.
The mother-of-two’s inquest last year heard she blamed herself for the incident and bore responsibility, despite the hospital’s support. The coroner returned a suicide verdict.
An initial investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority ruled that Today FM had breached its licence by not obtaining the consent of those involved before broadcasting the call.
Today’s High Court ruling upholds that finding, which had previously been overturned by the Federal Court, confirming the Authority does have the power to decide whether a criminal offence has been committed for the purpose of determining whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Services Act.
Ms Greig apologised for her role in the incident at Mrs Saldanha’s inquest last year, and has spoken of her horror and disgust at the part she played in the prank.
