National Radio Midday Report

Middleton Convicted – Construction Receivership – Vet Strikes – NSW Storms – Lockerbie Bombing – Indian Earthquake – Wahid Corruption Allegations – Call Centre – SH1 – Dalton’s Catamaran – John Ashcroft Confirmed – Missile Dialogue

- MIDDLETON CONVICTED: Mark Middleton has been found guilty on three counts of threatening to kill the murderer of his stepdaughter, Karla Cardnow. Mr Middleton was acquitted on two other charges. The defence had argued that Mr Middleton didn’t really intend to kill, but was reacting emotionally. Mr Middleton is likely to spend some time in prison. The maximum sentence for threatening to kill is seven years.

- CONSTRUCTION RECEIVERSHIP: The receivers of one of the country’s largest construction firms, Hartner Construction, are being grilled by angry subcontractors, who arrived at work on a major project to find themselves locked out this morning. Hartner Construction called in receivers Price Waterhouse Cooper this morning. Associate Commerce Minister Laila Harre says the collapse is another example of why greater protection is needed for subcontractors.

- VET STRIKES: The Ministry of Agriculture has told the employment court that the proposed strike by Ministry of Agriculture vets is illegal. The vet’s union has given four weeks notice of strikes, but MAF are a seeking a restraining injunction to prevent the strikes.

- NSW STORMS: Storms in northern New South Wales have caused widespread damage and more is on the way on the coast and in the West.

- LOCKERBIE BOMBING: The Libyan acquitted of the Lockerbie bombing has arrived home in Tripoli to a hero’s welcome. Another Libyan was convicted of the bombing, but Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has promised to produce fresh evidence that will prove he is innocent.

- INDIAN EARTHQUAKE: Aid groups are warning that disease could add to the death toll of last week’s earthquake in the Gudjarat district of India.

- WAHID CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS: The Indonesian parliament has censured President Wahid after accepting a report linking him to two corruption scandals. The report, which President Wahid is not accepting, could lead to his impeachment.

- CALL CENTRE: A small telephone call centre in Taranaki says it will be creating 100 new jobs over the next five years after winning a major help-line contract with a United States company.

- SH1: A traffic engineer has told a Wellington coroner that an accident prone stretch of State Highway 1 north of Wellington between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki is particularly unforgiving of any driver error.

- DALTON’S CATAMARAN: Grant Dalton’s catamaran, Club Med is about to enter the Cook Strait, the unofficial half way point in a round the world yachting regatta know simply as the race.

- JOHN ASHCROFT CONFIRMED: The United States Senate has confirmed President George W. Bush’s nominee for Attorney General, John Ashcroft, a hard-line conservative and hero of the religious right, despite widespread opposition.

- MISSILE DIALOGUE: The Russian Foreign Minister is calling for an active dialogue with the United States president on his plan for a national missile defence system.

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