Police v McLachlan - [1989] 3 NZLR 689

Criminal law — Offences — Criminal libel — Leave to commence proceedings — Former Prime Minister was grossly libelled by allegations of accepting substantial bribes — Police applied for leave to prosecute for criminal libel 12 months after receiving formal complaint — Legislation before Parliament proposed to abolish the offence of criminal libel — Whether eminent public position of complainant and grossness and nature of libel outweighed the matters of delay in bringing application and proposed changes to legislation — Whether application should be granted — Crimes Act 1961, ss 211 and 213.