A high-profile woman who had child abuse charges against her dropped could lose her fight for permanent name suppression next week.
The charges were discharged after the Crown elected to call no evidence last week. Her application for permanent name suppression was declined by Judge Roy Wade in the Gisborne District Court today, in the interests of "open justice".
The woman has until Tuesday next week to appeal the decision.
She was originally charged with assaulting a boy in Whangarei between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010; and assaulting the boy with intent to injure on June 1, 2011.
Interim name suppression had been granted by the Court of Appeal until the beginning of her trial.
Counsel Adam Simperingham said his client had been acquitted of the charges, which he described as "a non-event".
- Gisborne Herald