The judge in the trial of Liam Reid has told the High Court in Christchurch it was fortunate he did not have to end the trial - after footage of the accused was screened on TV3 this week.
Mr Reid is charged with murdering deaf woman Emma Agnew on 15 November last year and raping a woman in Dunedin nine days later.
Justice Chisholm said a 3 News broadcast breached a court order because identification of the defendant is an issue in the case.
The judge said he had advised television stations a day before not to screen historical footage of Mr Reid.
Justice Chisholm says he has accepted TV3's apology.
