Ivan Michael "Mike" Antunovic is a New Zealandcriminal defence lawyer. Antunovic is one of New Zealand's most experienced jury trial lawyers, and has appeared in some of New Zealand's most high-profile criminal cases.
He is best known for co-counselling the 13-week trial of Scott Watson, who was charged with the double murder of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on New Year's Eve 1997. Watson was found guilty of the murders. Mike Antunovic and Greg King unsuccessfully appealed the case to the Privy Council. The case is one of New Zealand's most famous murder trials.
Death of Janet Moses by family members using exorcism
In 2007, 22-year-old Janet Moses died after members of her family poured water into her eyes and down her throat at a Wainuiomata flat. Six women and three men plead not guilty in the High Court at Wellington to manslaughter. Mike Antunovic argued that instead of trying to commit a criminal offence, the defendants were in reality trying to help Moses. After 17 hours of deliberation on 12 June 2009, the jury returned guilty of manslaughter verdicts for five of the family members.
Other notable trials
Antunovic successfully defended David Bourke, accused of murdering his brother.
Antunovic defended Stephen Hudson in a murder trial that was unusual as it was one of the few New Zealand cases where no body has been found.
In 2009 Antunovic represented a police recruit who was accused of rape. The trial was aborted before a verdict was reached. The recruit's name was made publicly available and had detrimental impacts on his career. The case is notable in New Zealand as it sparked a national debate about the availability of name suppression and the application of the Bill of Rights to a defendant who has yet to be found guilty. Further name suppression controversy occurred when right-wing blogger Cameron Slater, the son of former National Party President John Slater, repeatedly defied court orders by illegally identifying several high-profile New Zealanders protected by name suppression orders. Antunovic spoke to the national media and condemned Slater's actions. On 14 September 2010 Cameron was convicted of eight counts of breaching name suppression orders and one count of identifying a victim in a sex case.
