Greg King to talk at Wintec Press Club

Greg King, the defence lawyer who acted for Ewen Macdonald in the Scott Guy murder trial, will discuss the controversial case in Hamilton this month.
King is guest speaker at the next Wintec Press Club event held on August 31 at the Ferrybank Conference and Convention Centre in downtown Hamilton.

About 100 guests are expected at the invite-only lunchtime engagement, including well-known names in politics, media, sport, law and business.
King accepted the invitation to speak from Wintec editor in residence Steve Braunias.
“The ongoing interest in the murder of Scott Guy trial has been fuelled by the media – and that’s something Greg King wants to tackle head-on in his speech,” says Braunias.
“He’s already told the Sunday TV programme that he felt the media played up the trial because the people involved were white and good-looking.
“That partly explains why he wants TV cameras banned from courtrooms. It’s a crazy idea, but he’s passionate about it, and he’s dead keen to share all his views about the way the media shape the public perception of the clients he’s represented over the years.”
King has acted for Clayton Weatherston, as well as a South Auckland liquor store owner arrested for taking a hockey stick to two youths who he believed were trying to rob him; and the oldest man to be charged with murder in New Zealand. The man was 90. King’s defence work kept the man out of jail.
The Wintec Press Club, administered by the School of Media Arts, stages  three public events each year. The previous speaker this year was New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, and former speakers have included Paul Holmes, Te Radar, John Campbell and Michael Laws.
Braunias, who writes for  Metro magazine, and is a columnist with the Waikato Times, says the aim is to invite guest speakers who will challenge and entertain Wintec’s journalism students.
In the past, the guest list has included Sir Colin Meads, Sir Patrick Hogan, Joe Karam, radio host Mark Bunting, politicians David Shearer and Simon Bridges, TV3 political editor Patrick Gower, lawyers, entrepreneurs, models, numerous newspaper editors, and other high achievers.
“It’s good to discuss media issues with interesting people over food and a few drinks,” says Braunias.
“I’m delighted that Greg King has agreed to appear. He’s very accomplished and persuasive at speaking in public, but this time he won’t be defending anyone – except, perhaps, himself.”