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‘Read all abaht it’ ... the suspect in the murder case. Why is so much being disclosed❓

(95 Posts)
Urmstongran Fri 12-Mar-21 07:49:06

His name, age, photograph, details of his two girls and his Ukrainian wife and mother in law are in all the newspapers.

Usually, the only details we would be privy to at this stage (he’s in custody not even charged yet) would be along the lines of ‘a 48y old man from Deal in Kent was arrested last night in connection with the murder of 33y old Sarah Everard who went missing last Wednesday’.

Today I read he attended hospital with a serious head injury and was later released back into custody. Also that he exposed himself 3 days before being arrested at a fast-food restaurant and the 2 officers involved in examining that are under investigation themselves.

So much information. It seems unprecedented. What on earth is going on here? How come lawyers for either the suspect or the Met Police haven’t complained about the press? I find it all very worrying on many levels. Anyone with thoughts on it all?

Whitewavemark2 Fri 12-Mar-21 10:33:05

The OP speaks as if this is unprecedented to disclose details of a suspect under investigation.

That is wrong.

It is an acceptable process to release details of a suspect for a number of reasons. Amongst other reasons

1. To help with an investigation.

2. To encourage others who have been harmed in some way by the person under investigation..

The details being released to the media are meticulously recorded for future reference and open to public access.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 10:18:48

Peasblossom

It will make it very difficult to find jurors who aren’t aware of the reporting and who can be judged to be impartial.

None of us here for a start.

Tbf in any high profile case there’s an issue. But we shouldn’t allow the press to make it worse. I would genuinely like those posters who feel the press should have unfettered freedom to publish whatever they find out to come back and tell us why and how this contributes to justice

Peasblossom Fri 12-Mar-21 10:07:55

It will make it very difficult to find jurors who aren’t aware of the reporting and who can be judged to be impartial.

None of us here for a start.

Urmstongran Fri 12-Mar-21 10:06:10

?

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 09:58:05

Urmstongran

The press are trawling, circling like sharks. As an example, in the DM on line they’ve put a hotline telephone number alongside the question “do you know the location and name of the restaurant where the incident took place?”

Those concerned (the Met Police, the accused and the victim) already know. This is just for salacious gossip in my opinion.

Not just in your opinion - thanks for starting this thread btw - it took the discussion off the other threads . It’s best discussed on its own.

Urmstongran Fri 12-Mar-21 09:45:27

The press are trawling, circling like sharks. As an example, in the DM on line they’ve put a hotline telephone number alongside the question “do you know the location and name of the restaurant where the incident took place?”

Those concerned (the Met Police, the accused and the victim) already know. This is just for salacious gossip in my opinion.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 09:37:25

Sparkling

It wasn't a serious head injury, he was discharged after few hours back into custody. Such a horrendous crime, that poor girls family and friends, who knows what else he's done, they need as much information as they can get. This is a time we need the press.

So perhaps you could explain exactly what’s been in the press in addition to the official information that was needed? Ooh yes tracking the children down - that’ll help. Prejudicing maybe a fair trial ? Even better - bring it on. To say I’m exasperated is an understatement

Sparkling Fri 12-Mar-21 09:32:32

It wasn't a serious head injury, he was discharged after few hours back into custody. Such a horrendous crime, that poor girls family and friends, who knows what else he's done, they need as much information as they can get. This is a time we need the press.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 09:27:39

eazybee

The BBC was showing aerial footage of his home and garden being searched, making it instantly identifiable, thus also identifying the children in the family. Information about the suspect may be permissible, to gain extra information, as it does not sound as though he has confessed, but identifying the family home of his children is not. Cliff Richard all over again.

What ? I don’t watch any of the BBC news so was completely unaware of this. How absolutely utterly vile. As you say CR comes immediately to mind.

eazybee Fri 12-Mar-21 09:23:29

The BBC was showing aerial footage of his home and garden being searched, making it instantly identifiable, thus also identifying the children in the family. Information about the suspect may be permissible, to gain extra information, as it does not sound as though he has confessed, but identifying the family home of his children is not. Cliff Richard all over again.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 09:02:41

Firecracker123

Green Party Peer Baroness Jones calls for ban on men being out after dark. She's labelling all men as monsters.

No she isn’t - she’s using her platform in the Lords to make a point - it’s a well made point that society usually puts the onus on women to change their behaviour and not on men to change theirs.

Urmstongran Fri 12-Mar-21 09:02:06

If the Met Police we’re keeping tabs on him, how come he (allegedly) managed to do what he did, unmonitored? This seems very strange.

This poor family. Their anguish will know no bounds as this all unfolds. The body cannot even be formally identified yet.

Firecracker123 Fri 12-Mar-21 09:00:22

Green Party Peer Baroness Jones calls for ban on men being out after dark. She's labelling all men as monsters.

Sarnia Fri 12-Mar-21 08:53:01

sodapop

I think the Met have had so much adverse publicity in the past they are going over the top with 'openness and transparency'.
What a dreadful time for the family with all this publicity on top of their loss. So sad.

My thoughts, too. As Cressida Dick said this is a parent's worst nightmare. Poor people.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 08:48:11

Galaxy

The trouble is you have got social media in the mix now, she says typing away on social media.

But actually in this case parts of the press were first off the block. I agree though in general that social media are even more out of control

Galaxy Fri 12-Mar-21 08:45:56

The trouble is you have got social media in the mix now, she says typing away on social media.

sodapop Fri 12-Mar-21 08:45:42

I think the Met have had so much adverse publicity in the past they are going over the top with 'openness and transparency'.
What a dreadful time for the family with all this publicity on top of their loss. So sad.

janeainsworth Fri 12-Mar-21 08:41:31

Lemsip the choice isn’t between a restrictive society like China and a society where anything goes, people’s right to privacy isn’t respected, the press are free to report stuff which may be prejudicial to a fair trial, and common decency is not common.

There’s a middle way where a balance is struck between freedom of information and harmful disclosure.

EllanVannin Fri 12-Mar-21 08:38:58

The press are vicious. They've got people hung, drawn and quartered before a case has gone to court.
Look the wrong way and you've got a life sentence, as they zoom in with their cameras.
Trial by media has to stop.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 08:34:49

lemsip

we live in a free society, not china.
the press gather information and report it!

Oh come on - if the press are given his medical records should they print them? Just think for a minute about the law, justice, fairness, prejudice, confidentiality, the rights of individuals to a fair trial ( no matter how heinous the crime).

Firecracker123 Fri 12-Mar-21 08:33:50

What happened to being innocent before proven guilty. I wonder if he has confessed to killing her.

lemsip Fri 12-Mar-21 08:30:58

we live in a free society, not china.
the press gather information and report it!

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 08:27:23

Urmstongran

And yet, no slapped wrists for the press so the lawyers involved must think it’s okay?

We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes though do we ? I just find it all so grubby at best and at worst I just despair at how justice which is such a cornerstone of democracy can be ridden over in such a roughshod manner. We should all care about the state of some of our press.

grannysyb Fri 12-Mar-21 08:25:00

I am appalled by the press coverage, I made this point on another thread yesterday. I remember the dreadful time Chris Jeffries was given as well.

suziewoozie Fri 12-Mar-21 08:22:37

Puzzler61

I totally agree lemsip. Info given to the police is usually confidential whereas giving it to the press isn’t.

This doesn’t mean the press should report it