Canadian court blocks request to broadcast Huawei CFO hearing

A Canadian court has refused to give media the rights to broadcast the extradition hearing of Huawei CFO Meng Wanshou next week.

In the ruling, a senior judge with the British Columbia Supreme Court said she felt the move could compromise Meng's right to a fair trial in the US, if she is extradited.

"Broadcasts would almost inevitably reach the community of the trial, given the high profile of this case in Canada and abroad, the political commentary relating to the case, and the sensationalized nature of some of the media coverage," she said.

A consortium of 13 Canadian and international media outlets had reasoned that there is a significant public interest in the case, and planned to use two discrete cameras for the recording.

Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1, 2018, at the request of the US on fraud charges.