CEDH · PRESS;HEARINGS;ENG — 27 juin 2002

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .s5FFF0A77 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:1pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s903B0117 { margin-top:0pt; margin-left:70.9pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:-70.9pt; text-align:justify } .sB54F21D0 { width:1.54pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .sCFE25540 { width:12.2pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .sB853CD26 { font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block }   EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     340   27.6.2002   Press release issued by the Registrar   CHAMBER HEARING ON THE ADMISSIBILITY AND MERITS   IN THE CASE OF PEDERSEN AND BAADSGAARD v. DENMARK   Thursday 27 June 2002 at 9.00 a.m.   The applicants   Jørgen Pedersen and Sten Kristian Baadsgaard (who died in 1999), both journalists and Danish nationals, were born in 1939 and 1942 respectively. Mr Pedersen lives in Copenhagen.   Summary of the facts   The case concerns a television programme produced by the applicants for Danmarks Radio (one of Denmark’s two national television stations) concerning an alleged miscarriage of justice. The programme, called “The Blind Eye of the Police” ( Politiets blinde øje ), broadcast at 8pm on 22 April 1991, dealt with the investigation and trial of X, who was convicted of murdering his wife on 12   November 1982 and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. During the programme a taxi driver explained that the police had interviewed her and that she had told them that she had seen X at the time when the murder was supposed to have taken place. The programme alleges that a named Chief Superintendent had suppressed this information,   a criminal offence. X’s case was subsequently reopened and, on 13 April 1992, he was acquitted.   On 19 January 1993 the applicants were charged with defamation of the Chief Superintendent. The proceedings ended on 28   October 1998 when the Supreme Court sentenced them to 20 day-fines of 400 Danish kroner (DKK) (or 20 days’ imprisonment) and ordered them to pay compensation to the estate of the deceased Chief Superintendent of DKK 100,000 in non-pecuniary damages. The proceedings therefore lasted at least five years and nine months.   Complaints   The applicants complain that criminal charges which were brought against them violated   Article   10   (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights and that the criminal proceedings were not determined within a reasonable time, in breach of Article 6 § 1.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on 30 December 1998.   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber composed as follows:   Christos Rozakis (Greek), President , Giovanni Bonello (Maltese), Peer Lorenzen (Danish), Nina Vajić (Croatian), Anatoly Kovler (Russian), Vladimiro Zagrebelsky (Italian), Elisabeth Steiner (Austrian), judges , Françoise Tulkens (Belgian), Egils Levits (Latvian), substitute judges ,   and also Erik Fribergh , Section Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Hans Klingenberg , Agent , Nina Holst-Christensen, Co-Agent Jon Fridrik Kjølbro , Kristina Miskowiak Beckvard, Anne Fode , Advisers ;   Applicants:   Tyge Trier, Jørgen Jacobsen, Counsel, Preben Wilhjelm, Merethe Eckhardt , Advisers.   Jørgen Pedersen will also attend the hearing.   ***   After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. A decision on admissibility will be delivered at a later date.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court.