Anger over ACA paying for interview in Max Sica case
A Current Affair is under fire for reportedly paying for an interview with the wife of a convicted murderer.
- Published by David Knox
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Just days after A Current Affair slammed Sunday Night for its “shoddy lie detector test and a costly TV deal” now Nine is under fire for reportedly paying for an interview with Shiv Sica, the wife of Max Sica.
Sica is now serving 35 years for murdering three children from the Singh family in their Bridgeman Downs home in 2003 – the longest jail sentence in Queensland history.
Their story raised the subject of “another killer” and questioned evidence used in court. There were suggestions that other witnesses were never called.
The Courier Mail reports Nine claims it did not pay Shiv Sica, but Brisbane public relations agent Lyall Mercer says he was paid for arranging the interview.
Mercer says any fee paid to him was “commercial in-confidence” but rumours of $50,000 were “out of the world.”
ACA bureau chief Amanda Paterson said no money had been paid directly to the Sica family but refused to comment on whether Mercer PR, or anyone else was paid.
“For the record, ACA has not paid Shiv Sica or the Sica family one cent,” Paterson said.
Today Tonight producer Rodney Lohse said he declined Mercer’s request for $50,000.
Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group have slammed the payment and the story.
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2 Responses
Its not like A Current Affair payed the murder Max Sica for this interview. They payed the wife who has done nothing wrong in this. Even though it not the best for journalism it certainly isn’t the worst.
I don’t see a problem with family members of a person convicted of a crime having their say about the case. Although I think that Sica is guilty, the evidence was all circumstantial. There have been many cases, both here and overseas, where an innocent person has been convicted of a crime. If it weren’t for the family members in those cases fighting to clear their loved ones name, they would still be in jail.