CONTROVERSIAL crime drama Underbelly has been banned from airing in Victoria until after the trial of a man accused of murdering a gangland figure.
Comment was not immediately available from the Nine Network.
She made her decision during a preliminary hearing in the Victorian regional city of Geelong.
Justice King yesterday gave defence lawyers and public prosecutors until today to view more than 10 hours of the Melbourne gangland drama to determine whether the series would affect the upcoming murder trial.
Nine handed over DVDs of the 13 episodes yesterday after being subpoenaed by the Office of Public Prosecutions last week, when doubts were raised over whether an accused Victorian gangland murderer, who cannot be named, would get a fair hearing.
Justice King, who also viewed the series yesterday, today said the conversations in the drama would largely be "a figment of someone`s imagination".
"It will be difficult for the viewing public to sift through what is factual material and what is fictional," she said.
"The series explains to a large degree why the person was murdered.
The state`s Office of Public Prosecutions applied for the broadcast to be delayed on the grounds of prejudice.
Supreme Court justice Betty King today granted the order.
