TV3 News

Confusing Election Verdict – Voluntary Euthanasia – Wairarapa Toddler – Lange Defamation – Ticketec Told Off – Toot Missing

- CONFUSING ELECTION VERDICT: America’s Supreme Court has finally ruled, but who has won? The presidential election has turned from confusion to custard – instead of issuing a ruling it sent the case on whether disputed ballots should be hand counted back to the Florida Supreme Court. The Bush Camp said they were pleased that seven of the judges agreed there were constitutional problems with recounting the disputed Florida votes. The Gore campaign have yet to respond to the decision but hope to study it overnight and issue a statement tomorrow. Political analyst who have gone through the 34 pages of legalese issued by the court say they don’t see any legal avenues for left for Democrat Al Gore, and the protracted election may be over, with George W. Bush the victor.

- VOLUNTARY EUTHANSIA: New Zealanders want the right to die – a poll conducted for TV3 shows a three quarter majority of New Zealanders are in favour of voluntary euthanasia. Last month the Dutch parliament voted to allow voluntary euthanasia. The New Zealand medical association says it is not in favour of voluntary euthanasia.

- WAIRARAPA TODDLER: The Mother of the killed Wairarapa toddler known as Lillybing told a depositions hearing she didn’t know how her daughter died. She said she went to collect Lillybing the night before she died from Rachel Namana’s house but was persuaded to leave her there. Ms Namana is charged with the manslaughter of Lillybing. Lillybing’s mother was told Ms Namana was toilet training the toddler. The toddler died from cerebral injuries consistent with being shaken, but also had severe genital injuries, bruising, and scalding from hot compresses applied to a bruise.

- LANGE DEFAMATION: Former Prime Minister David Lange has brought an end to his long running defamation battle against the Publishers of North and South Magazine.

- TICKETEC TOLD OFF: Ticketec has been rapped over the knuckles by the Commerce Commission. The purchase price for a Barbara Streisand Concert was in Australian dollars, not New Zealand Dollars, but this was not specified in advertising or by Ticketec staff. The Commerce Commission said ticketing outlets need to specify what currency tickets are advertised in.

- TOOT MISSING: Toot, the dog sentenced to death for killing Suzie the cat, has mysteriously vanished. The owners have until tomorrow to hand him over to the Wellington City Council. Toot’s owner says he has no idea who has dognapped Toot.

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