Legal reasons...?

[TommyC]

What exactly are the usual 'legal reasons' for which a person actually convicted of a crime and sentenced to six months imprisonment STILL cannot be named afterwards in newpaper and media reports...?

[Hippy]

One possibility is that they or their crime is associated with another trial yet to take place. Just for explanation say two people, Alfie and Bert, set out to burgle a house. Alfie breaks the window and Bert climbs inside. Alfie stays outside to keep watch whilst inside Bert is confronted by the owner. A struggle ensues in which the owner is killed. Bert makes a quick escape, and they both take to their heels.

 

Later, after both are caught, Alfie is tried for criminal damage and is convicted, as he had no part in the unplanned assault inside the house. However, he can shed light on what happened and Bert's trial for manslaughter has yet to happen. Clearly publicity on Alfie's conviction might prejudice a jury in Bert's trial.

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[brachiopod]

FREE THE HYPOTHETICAL TWO !!

JUSTICE FOR ALFIE AND BERT !!

 

(sorry - good answer though, hippy)

[Hgrove]

No doubt someone will correct me but it used to be the case that if you published "X the murderer of Y", X could sue you in defamation even though s/he had been convicted.  All you could safely publish was "X who has been convicted of the murder of Y".  However, the law changed several years ago.  Sorry I don't remember it better than this.

[Peter Pedant]

Another case to be heard, I didnt think of that. sub judice rule

I thought there might be a minor involved, altheough the usual style is, Alfien Bert and a minor who cannot be named for legal reasons......

FREE THE HYPIOTHETICAL THREE!

 

No I am pretty sure that if x is convicted of murder then in describing him as a murderer is not defamation. Remember that the late Dr Shipman killed fifteen and then was creditted with a further two hundred by Dame Janet and it seems the whole of the General Medical council.

[Oneeyedvic]

There is also the issue of identifying children.....I beleive that under current laws, children should not be named in a court, and no way of identifying them should be allowed either - which in the case of a parent they would share same surname.

[Hippy]

Oneyedvic, you devil. You know I cant name underage minor "C" involved in the burglary for legal resons!

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