Shock jock claims radio show has defamed him

Shock jock DJ Iain Stables feels stigmatised. Photo / Getty Images

Shock jock Iain Stables is preparing a defamation suit against The Edge radio station and broadcaster Dom Harvey over comments made on the air during his assault trial.

Stables was acquitted of assaulting the parents of ex-girlfriend Kimberley O'Hagan by trial in the Wellington District Court, but found guilty of assaulting her brother, Martin.

On Friday, August 31 - the day the jury was sent out to decide his fate - The Edge breakfast DJs Dom Harvey, JJ Feeney and Mike Puru discussed the case live on their morning show.

The Herald on Sunday has been advised not to repeat the comments.

However, Harvey spoke at length about Stables' mental health on the radio show.

"I would like to toast him because he is bipolar and it's been very well publicised over the years. But if you're living with an illness like that then I think it's your responsibility to take accountability for it and get the help you need.

"It's no good blaming it on bipolar. If you are living with bipolar, it's your responsibility to take the steps to manage this illness that you've got and he hasn't done that."

On Tuesday, the day after Stables was acquitted of assaulting the elderly couple, The Edge led several news bulletins on his partial acquittal.

Stables said he had instructed his lawyer, Gretel Fairbrother, to file a civil action "not just against MediaWorks but against [Harvey] personally". Fairbrother said she had discussed the case with The Edge's inhouse legal team.

She said: "They were wrong to talk about the case as they did because he was acquitted. It certainly appears that the comments may be actionable."

Stables said his battles with mental health disorder made him an easy target.

"I don't know what this whole thing has to do with bipolar. This is an example of people using that against you, and being stygmatised.

When informed of the pending legal action, Harvey said: "If he is taking legal action then I would suggest that's something to talk to the MediaWorks lawyers about. I have got absolutely no interest in buying into whatever media hype he is trying to create."

Harvey worked with Stables at a Palmerston North station in the 1990s and said there was no bad blood between the pair.