Judge discharges murder trial jury after journalist copies another outlet's report

A judge in Melbourne has discharged the jury of a murder trial after a Yahoo7 journalist copied a Herald Sun story and added content into the report.

Kathryn Johnson has been summoned by the Supreme Court over her reportage. Source: LinkedIn Profile Picture

Sydney journalist Krystal Johnson has been summoned by the Supreme Court to explain herself after she took a Herald Sun court story and added in information, the Herald Sun has reported.

Justice Lex Lasry has demanded an explanation and said it could find her in contempt of court.

“To publish this material is, as you say, scandalous,” Justice Lex Lasry said.

“If she’s not in Melbourne then she can be brought to Melbourne. I want this explained to me.”

According to her LinkedIn account, Ms Johnson, a former model and sales assistant, is a 2014 graduate from private journalism school, Macleay College, based in Sydney.

She interned with the Seven Network while she completed her studies before she gained a position as a morning news producer at Yahoo7.