Checkpoint FOR MONDAY 16 MAY 2011
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Harrowing details of the final moments of some of those who died in February's devastating earthquake have been spelled out at a coroner's inquest in Christchurch. The coroner has now confirmed that the nine people whose bodies cannot be identified, were all killed in the CTV building on February 22nd. Judge Neil MacLean started the inquest by acknowledging the family and relatives of the victims, and the difficult situation faced by all. CUT The inquest used circumstantial evidence to determine if the people had in fact been in the CTV building at the time of its collapse. There was evidence that graphically illustrated the last moments of some of the victims. Detective Inspector Paul Kench told the inquest that Rhea Mae Sumalpong (su-mal-pong), a Filipino national, was studying English at King's Education in the CTV building. Detective Kench outlined a call received by a friend of Ms Sumalpong about two hours after the quake hit. CUT The inquest also heard of the multiple text messages sent to CTV production manager Shawn Lucas in the hours following the earthquake. CUT Our reporter Rachel Graham has been at the inquest and joins us now. Rachel, tell us more about today's evidence? Q&A
Police Inspector Mark Harrison has been at the inquest today and joins us now. LIVE
In Fiji - the hunt is on for those who helped a senior military commander escape sedition charges and flee to Tonga. Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara has fallen foul of the 2006 coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama after calling him morally and intellectually bankrupt and using oppression to stifle the country. Our correspondent Philippa Tolley is in Suva. Q&A
New Zealand politicians are watching the tension between Fiji and Tonga very closely, but the Government has no plans to help resolve the dispute. It centres on a high ranked Fijian Military officer Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, charged with sedition, who has fled to Tonga. An arrest warrant has been issued for Ratu Tevita in Fiji, and the Tongan Prime Minister has today indicated his country will not interfere with the court process. Here's our political reporter Clare Pasley. PKG
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Amy Williams
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A naked man wanted by police had them searching for much of the day today after he climbed into the ceiling at Auckland City Hospital. The 25 year old man forced the evacuation of more than 40 patients from the emergency department. Natalie Mankelow was at the hospital. PKG
A former Rimutaka Prison manager has admitted growing cannabis and being part of a conspiracy to sell it . Jeffrey Reid, who is 45, was due to go to trial today in the Wellington District Court, but instead pleaded guilty to two of three charges . Our Court reporter, Ann Marie May was at the hearing. Q&A
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17.30 HEADLINES
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A court appearance by the head of the International Monetary Fund has been postponed so he can undergo a medical examination tonight after being accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York at the weekend but is denying the accusations against him. Our correspondent in New York Graham Usher has more. PRE-REC
President Obama, is warning of global financial chaos if America's 14-trillion dollar debt ceiling is not raised soon. Mr Obama says any signal that the US might default on even some of its debt could spook financial markets and plunge the nation into another recession. Here's the ABC's business editor, Peter Ryan. PKG
David Bain has agreed to his first outing as a public speaker since he was cleared of the murder of his family. He'll appear as "VIP keynote speaker" at a conference in Perth next March alongside others who've served time in prison for crimes they were later acquitted of. They include Lindy Chamberlain, who said a dingo stole her baby, and Gerry Conlon, one of the Guilford Four. Estelle Blackburn is a spokesperson for the International Justice Conference. She's aware the Bain case still divides opinion here. PRE-REC
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17.45 WAATEA
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The Airline Pilots' Association is going to Court to try and stop the Civil Aviation Authority carrying out what it calls secretive background checks. The Union's President, Mark Rammell says the CAA wants to check on the pilots previous convictions without telling them their information has been accessed. The CAA says the checks are needed to make sure the pilots are telling the truth about any drug and alcohol convictions. But Mr Rammell says it's an invasion of the pilots privacy. He joins me now. LIVE
Two Auckland paediatricians say children are dying in road crashes because the Government's pussy-footing around with seatbelt safety. The latest transport action plan, released last week, says New Zealand has fallen behind international best practice in child seatbelt use - but it makes no commitment to changing the law. Will Hine reports. PKG
People in the Swiss region of Zurich, which has become known as a hub for so called death tourism, have voted against plans to restrict assisted suicide. The vote was defeated 218-thousand votes to 60-thousand. And as the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from the Swiss capital, Berne, they also rejected a national ban on assisted suicide. PKG