Police v W - [1989] 3 NZLR 696

Criminal law — Offences — Criminal libel — Leave to commence proceedings — Police applied for leave to prosecute respondent for criminal libel arising out of a series of anonymous letters alleging dishonesty and sexual misconduct on part of the complainant — Letters were motivated by malice and extended over a period of 11 months — Leave was sought 21 months after police received complaint — Legislation before Parliament proposed to abolish the offence of criminal libel — Whether serious nature of libel and malice and anonymity of author in public interest 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.