As part of my university modules, I had to take broadcasting journalism, for which the final coursework comprised of a live newsday reporting, consisting of 6 stories written and researched by the presenters and including one voice clip and one vox pop; a radio package on an ongoing story with at least 3 people speaking, besides myself; a court report from a Crown or a Magistrates court on a case that I have witnessed.
I visited Crown Court and was present at three cases. The first one was a preliminary hearing, the second was part of a trial with a witness on the stand and the third was the sentencing I reported on. John Callinan and Ryan Marsh for the charges of violent disorder, after they attacked a man outside his home in the middle of the night.
Doing a court report was fairly easy, since I was already familiar with Crown Court law and what things I was allowed to broadcast, depending on the specific case. Writing the script for it was a little more difficult, but I received assistance from Marcos and Annie Othen, which was very helpful. Recording the court report was somewhat of a hassle, because I was never quite satisfied with the quality of it, so I recorded 5-6 takes before I was happy enough with the outcome.
Overall, witnessing actual people receiving their sentences was really exciting and it was also a valuable experience to observe actual court procedures.
CUE: Two men from Coventry appeared in Crown court today on charges of violent disorder. John Callinan and Ryan Marsh were found guilty after being accused of attacking Owen Dellaghi in front of his house in the middle of the night last year.
Antoniya Petkova was in court:
John Callinan and Ryan Marsh were both sentenced by Recorder Farley today and were each ordered to pay a thousand pounds compensation to Owen Dellaghi after they attacked him outside his own home last year.
The victim received a number of serious injuries to his face, arms and legs as a result of the attack.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in December last year on the charges of violent disorder.
John Callinan received full credit for his guilty plea, which reduced his eighteen month sentence to a year. The two-hundred and nineteen days he spent in custody were also deducted from his sentence.
Ryan Marsh received a sentence of fifty one weeks imprisonment which was suspended for a year’s probationary period.
Antoniya Petkova reporting.
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