the musician and actor mike nesmith has died at the age of 78. he rose to fame in the 1960s as a member of the monkees — a band originally put together to star in a tv sitcom. nesmith played guitar on hits including "i'm a believer" and "last train to clarksville". more from us in the papers at 10:30pm and 11:30pm. now on bbc news, it's time for newswatch. hello, and welcome to newswatch with me, samira ahmed. our details and recordings related to horrific crimes, such as the death of arthur—labinjo hughes, suitable for the audience of an early evening news bulletin? and has the bbc�*s coverage of that downing street party been obsessive and irresponsible? what exactly did or didn't happen in downing street on 18 december last year remains unclear for now. but that's not for a lack of questions on the part of journalists. here's laura kuenssberg quizzing the prime minister at wednesday's press conference — the purpose of which was to announce new covid measures. how can you stand at that lectern, exactly where some of your team laughed and joked about covid rules, and tell people they must now follow your new instructions? and are you really asking the public to believe that you had no idea what was going on under your own roof? caroline kok well got in touch with us to say... and sue williams agreed... that's a story that's not going away anytime soon, and we hope to talk to someone at the bbc about it next week. meanwhile, it was announced on tuesday that an investigation will open next week into the death of six—year—old arthur labinjo—hughes. it's a highly distressing case, and we are being careful about what we show you and what we say on today's programme. but here's some of phil maki's report last thursday, the day his step mother and father were convicted of killing arthur. arthur labinjo-hughes _ convicted of killing arthur. arthur labinjo-hughes had _ convicted of killing arthur. arthur labinjo-hughes had been - convicted of killing arthur. arthur labinjo-hughes had been a - convicted of killing arthur. arthur| labinjo-hughes had been a happy convicted of killing arthur. fij't'ii,“ labinjo—hughes had been a happy and healthy little boy. he was subjected to months of beatings and punishments by his stepmother and father. during the trial, jurors listened to the hundreds of audio recordings that were made — all of them extremely distressing. some recordings that were made - all of them extremely distressing. some of those audio recordings _ them extremely distressing. some of those audio recordings and _ them extremely distressing. some of those audio recordings and videos - those audio recordings and videos were shown in that report — a decision which prompted several viewers to contact us in protest. here's barbara harris, and first, helen walker. the here's barbara harris, and first, helen walker.— helen walker. the horrific and tra . ic helen walker. the horrific and tragic murder _ helen walker. the horrific and tragic murder of _ helen walker. the horrific and tragic murder of arthur - helen walker. the horrific and tragic murder of arthur was i helen walker. the horrific and j tragic murder of arthur was an important news story and was rightly included in the news at 6pm. however, it was truly shocking to see film of the little boy in a terrible state of suffering. as recorded by his murderer, followed by a playing of the audio of his cries used as part of the broadcast. the reporter could have described what the jury had had to witness and listened to to explain the full depravity of the people found guilty. it was deeply distressing to be shown this. this would be the case at any time, but the fact it was broadcast at 6pm when children could be around and watching too meant that it went beyond all acceptable levels of disclosure and was not in the public interest. i was not in the public interest. i want the bbc to explain what value, other_ want the bbc to explain what value, other than_ want the bbc to explain what value, other than their ratings, was there to show_ other than their ratings, was there to show this video and hear his distressed _ to show this video and hear his distressed voice. totally unnecessary and such disturbing content — unnecessary and such disturbing content. your meagre excuse prior to showing — content. your meagre excuse prior to showing the _ content. your meagre excuse prior to showing the content was in no way sufficient — showing the content was in no way sufficient i— showing the content was in no way sufficient. i do not feel this should _ sufficient. i do not feel this should have been shown at all. sufficient. i do not feelthis should have been shown at all. we've had other complaints _ should have been shown at all. we've had other complaints of _ should have been shown at all. we've had other complaints of late - should have been shown at all. -- had other complaints of late about what some consider excessively graphic detail, shown on early evening news bulletins. last month, david fuller was convicted of double murder and scores of offences of abuse. yarmouk morning. david, is the police. after 33 years, he almost seemed to be expecting it. all right, david, you're under arrest under the suspicion of of wendy nell and carolyn pierce in 1987. do you understand? daoid 1987. do you understand? david fuller, mr— 1987. do you understand? david fuller, mr normal— 1987. do you understand? david fuller, mr normal - _ 1987. do you understand? david fuller, mr normal - at - 1987. do you understand? david fuller, mr normal - at least - 1987. do you understand? david fuller, mr normal - at least on | 1987. do you understand? david i fuller, mr normal - at least on the fuller, mr normal — at least on the outside. jonathan evans thought of the specifics provided elsewhere in their report about what david fuller had done were also inappropriate for an early evening time slot. here's the video he recorded for us. seaport the video he recorded for us. apart from the murdering _ the video he recorded for us. apart from the murdering aspect - the video he recorded for us. v—r from the murdering aspect of his activities, the report went into graphic detail about his activities at a hospital morgue over many years. whilst i learned something about the sorry sexual practices of some people myself, i thought it was far too early in the evening to transmit such graphic details. the fact that parents might be watching news with their children and the difficult questions that would've followed. i guess all others need to know about his horrendous activities — but not at 6pm in the evening. the - but not at 6pm in the evening. the week before. — — but not at 6pm in the evening. the week before, there was another disturbing court case — that found democrat of penelope jackson, found guilty of murdering her husband. the retired guilty of murdering her husband. tie: retired accountant guilty of murdering her husband. tte: retired accountant claim guilty of murdering her husband. t'te: retired accountant claim she'd guilty of murdering her husband. tte: retired accountant claim she'd been subject to controlled coercion and violence throughout their marriage. the court heard david jackson had been aggressive to his wife on three occasions 20 years ago. {either occasions 20 years ago. other material broadcast _ occasions 20 years ago. other material broadcast in - occasions 20 years ago. other material broadcast in that - occasions 20 years ago. other. material broadcast in that report prompted patina sully to tell us... well, the editor of the bbc�*s news at 6pm and 10pm is paul roy, and he joins me now. paul, arthur's killing shocked everyone, and a lot of the audience questioned the decision to play recordings of his distress. why did you? me play recordings of his distress. why did ou? ~ ., ., did you? we have to report the sto . did you? we have to report the story- this _ did you? we have to report the story. this was _ did you? we have to report the story. this was part _ did you? we have to report the story. this was part of - did you? we have to report the story. this was part of the - did you? we have to report the - story. this was part of the evidence that was, in court, used to convict. and we probably used less than ten seconds of material, that added up to hours and hours, and hundreds of videos and audio recordings that were played. ithiiiiii videos and audio recordings that were played-— videos and audio recordings that were -la ed. ~ ., ., ,, , were played. will one of the issues that comes — were played. will one of the issues that comes up _ were played. will one of the issues that comes up with _ were played. will one of the issues that comes up with every _ were played. will one of the issues| that comes up with every complaint is that, there is a concern about this material being shown at 6pm, it would've been a different matter at 10pm — why didn't you hold it until later? 10pm - why didn't you hold it until later? ~ , , , ., 10pm - why didn't you hold it until later? a , , ., 10pm - why didn't you hold it until later? �*, , , ., ., later? the 6pm news is in a sort of uniuue later? the 6pm news is in a sort of unique place _ later? the 6pm news is in a sort of unique place in _ later? the 6pm news is in a sort of unique place in the _ later? the 6pm news is in a sort of unique place in the schedule, - later? the 6pm news is in a sort of unique place in the schedule, in i later? the 6pm news is in a sort of| unique place in the schedule, in the sense that it is a news programme in a pre—watershed slot. so sometimes that does make some of the decisions around what we are and are not showing more difficult. in the end, though, it's a news programme, unfortunately and, in this particular case, the news can be distressing. and so, we think very carefully about how we will convey and portray that news. none of that material was in the headlines, there is an extensive and very clear, deliberate warning from the presenter, jane hill, in the introduction to the peace. the material is not at the start of the piece, so if you were to turn over or turn off, or look away, you could do that. and i would say for our correspondent, phil mackey, who is a very experienced correspondent, the story being so distressing itself, i thought he covered in a very professional and measured way. daeid professional and measured way. david fuller, his case, _ professional and measured way. david fuller, his case, his _ professional and measured way. david fuller, his case, his crimes _ professional and measured way. david fuller, his case, his crimes were particularly transgressive — and yet one wonders whether the acclamation of what he'd done was just too difficult to explain at six p.m., and best not explained? it’s difficult to explain at six p.m. , and best not explained? it's very difficult, and best not explained? it's very difficult. it's _ and best not explained? it's very difficult, it's a _ and best not explained? it's very difficult, it's a very _ and best not explained? it's very difficult, it's a very distressing i difficult, it's a very distressing and disturbing, an unusual case. and finding that line between the amount of detail you need to tell the story accurately, and make it intelligible to audiences — you know, we've all got families and audience members in our heads, as well, we do look at this with the audience at the forefront of our minds, and just try and get thatjudgement right. the and get that 'udgement right. the penelo -e and get thatjudgement right. the penelope jackson case, who murdered her husband — in this case, viewers questioned the decency issue of showing that police footage of her kind of boastful confession. what would you say?— kind of boastful confession. what would you say? kind of boastful confession. what would ou sa ? . ., ., ., ~ , would you say? again, that was a key art of the would you say? again, that was a key part of the evidence _ would you say? again, that was a key part of the evidence in _ would you say? again, that was a key part of the evidence in that _ would you say? again, that was a key part of the evidence in that case. i part of the evidence in that case. and an element of her defence was around the issue of coercive control, you know, which ultimately didn't stand. but that was part of the underpinning of the case. and in all these cases, in different ways, there is a sort of broader issue and wider point that underpins these cases — which again, we have a duty, if we are going to accurately convey these stories, we have to try and include. but you know, always bearing in mind which programme, what time of day, how far we can go at 1pm, what time of day, how far we can go at1pm, 6pm, and what time of day, how far we can go at 1pm, 6pm, and 10pm was always at the forefront of our mind. pauli. the forefront of our mind. paul, liven the forefront of our mind. paul, given some _ the forefront of our mind. paul, given some new— the forefront of our mind. paul, given some new people - the forefront of our mind. paul, given some new people watch l the forefront of our mind. paul, l given some new people watch the the forefront of our mind. paul, given some new people watch the news online or catch up, do you think the concept of a watershed is meaningless now? concept of a watershed is meaninuless now? ~ ., , meaningless now? millions of people still watch ssc _ meaningless now? millions of people still watch bbc one _ meaningless now? millions of people still watch bbc one every _ meaningless now? millions of people still watch bbc one every day, i meaningless now? millions of people still watch bbc one every day, the i still watch bbc one every day, the 6pm news reaches nearly 6 million people every day. so there is still a place for the watershed because obviously, somewhere like bbc one or although tv channels are still dominant, large platforms for viewers. but as you say, obviously people are getting information and video, detailabout people are getting information and video, detail about stories and all sorts of different places. and so, perhaps it makes the watershed challenge a little bit more difficult when you are bearing all that in mind, as well somewhat obviously we are talking about three horrific cases democrat murder cases which, just by coincidence, ended up happening within a few weeks of each other. i wonder it happening within a few weeks of each other- iwonde— other. i wonder if the bbc does need to reassess — other. i wonder if the bbc does need to reassess how _ other. i wonder if the bbc does need to reassess how much and _ other. i wonder if the bbc does need to reassess how much and what i other. i wonder if the bbc does need to reassess how much and what kind| to reassess how much and what kind of coverage it does give to these kinds of stories? t of coverage it does give to these kinds of stories?— of coverage it does give to these kinds of stories? i think we get the balance right- _ kinds of stories? i think we get the balance right. i— kinds of stories? i think we get the balance right. i mean, _ kinds of stories? i think we get the balance right. i mean, we - kinds of stories? i think we get the balance right. i mean, we clearly. balance right. i mean, we clearly are not gratuitous. asjournalists, we don't really want to be covering stories like these either. the story has affected many millions of people around the country in the way that what we've heard about what happened to him. so i do think we get the balance right, we take it seriously and do take great care. but i think where we're at the moment, as i said, sometimes news is distressing, and that's an unfortunate reality of news programmes and the jobs we do, and some of the things that happen in the world. and some of the things that happen in the world-— in the world. paul, thank you so much. in the world. paul, thank you so much- and _ in the world. paul, thank you so much. and thank _ in the world. paul, thank you so much. and thank you _ in the world. paul, thank you so much. and thank you for - in the world. paul, thank you so much. and thank you for all- in the world. paul, thank you so | much. and thank you for all your comments this week. if you want to share your opinions about what you see, hear or read on bbc news, on tv, radio, online and social media, e—mail newsnight at... or you can find us at twitter at. you can call us... and do have a look at our website for previous interviews. that's all from us, we will be back to hear your thoughts about bbc news coverage again next week. goodbye. it's been quite a chilly day and we've got a cold night on the way, a widespread frost expected in the early hours of saturday morning, particularly across eastern and central areas of the uk. many towns and cities will fall to around freezing or below. but out towards the west, not quite so cold — in fact by the stage, on saturday the weather will be turning mild or as an advancing warm front brings cloud and also some outbreaks of rain. of course i say warm front relatively warm for this time of year, because it won't be all that warm at all. in fact, cloudy with outbreaks of rain lasting all afternoon — yes, it's 12 celsius out towards the west but not particularly appealing. 6—8 c for the east of the country, still fairly nippy on saturday, anywhere from aberdeen down to norwich. it'll turn milder as we head toward sunday and into next week, temperatures in some parts of the country could be around 13—14 c. this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us supreme court leaves a controversial texas law banning most abortions in place the white house says president biden is "very concerned". the wikileaks founder julian assange can be extradited to stand trial in the us, according to the latest legal ruling in britain. on a tour of key european capitals, germany's new chancellor, 0laf scholz, calls for unity in tackling both the pandemic and tensions with russia. and mike nesmith — singer and guitarist with the sixties band the monkees — has died at the age of 78