Originally Posted by ScottyBear
I know many people may not understand this, but this guy was charged based on allegations, and not convicted. There is a big difference!
Unfortynately, due to today?s media, I have known to many people who have had allegations brought against them, the media prints stories about it, and the public feel they have a right to form judgement based only on what they read online. Then, when charges get dropped, or the person is found not guilty, the media does not print that. Therefor, that person?s name, associated with the charges, will be out there, on the internet, forever. This can have very damaging affects on that persons social and proffessional life.
I will put this scenerio out there.
Imagine there is a guy who is unhappy with the companionship from an advertiser on here, so he makes up a story about going out on a date, and then as the evening progressed, he was tied up, against his will, and then assaulted and robbed, and he then goes to the police, who end up charging this woman.
The media does a story, including a picture of the accused, again, based only on allegations. How do you think that would affect that person?s life?
Don?t get me wrong, I am in no way defending the guy in this case, but what I am trying to defend, is the right that every Canadian has, which is to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Another thing to consider, is the accused has the right to a fair trial. With the constant, mostly biased stories in the media, it is becoming more difficult to find jurirs who have not read ir heard anything about the case, causing impartiality issues.
The media, in my opinion, has gone to far in violating this right. And people may say that media have been printing these stories forever, but the big difference today, is the internet. In newsprint, the name may be out there for a day, but as I said, with the internet, it is out there forever.
I believe, and really hope, that one day soon, a lawyer, with deep pockets, will take on the media for defamation of character.
Sorry for the long post, but I just am getting frustrated with the judgements from the court of public opinion.
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