DSPUK Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 (edited) I said to Mrs's at the time that this guys name should never have been published unless he was charged - can you imagine what his life has been like since - same with rape cases no names until guilty and as regards to false claims all women should be named - Hope he becomes a millionaire http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20110421/tuk-joanna-yeates-landlord-sues-newpaper-dba1618.html Dave Edited April 22, 2011 by DSPUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 So do I. It was possibly the worse character assassination of a suspect I've seen for a long time. The newspapers should be made to pay extensive damages and count themselves lucky they didn't face any charges for contempt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 As far as I can remember the papers only reported the information released by the police. I don't think they ever actually accused him of the murder? Surely their job is to report these things? If the police release a suspects name and question that suspect for a few days then it's legitimate to report it. We all moan when terror suspects are released without charge and then go on to claim compensation. I can't see much difference in this case. So, I'd be disappointed if he were to be successful with his claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Must admit I had him down as Very Guilty from day one... Just because he is a bit 'eccentric' doesn't mean he is a molester/villian/killer, I should have known better than jump to conclusions..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 As far as I can remember the papers only reported the information released by the police. I don't think they ever actually accused him of the murder? Surely their job is to report these things? If the police release a suspects name and question that suspect for a few days then it's legitimate to report it. We all moan when terror suspects are released without charge and then go on to claim compensation. I can't see much difference in this case. So, I'd be disappointed if he were to be successful with his claim. This is very very different to the terrorist scenario you talk about. In these situations, they try to seek compensation from the the police for unlawful imprisonment/damage caused by the length of imprisonment sanctioned under the terrorism acts. In this case, an innocent man was hounded by the press through a series of articles using terms like 'nutty professor', 'bizarre', 'loner' etc. Look at the montage of front pages here: http://enemiesofreason.co.uk/2011/01/02/chris-jefferies-and-trial-by-media/ This guy deserves every penny he gets, there is no way had he been charged he would have received a fair trial and I would suggest his name has been permanently damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rushjob Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Totally agree ^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 In this case, an innocent man was hounded by the press through a series of articles using terms like 'nutty professor', 'bizarre', 'loner' etc. Look at the montage of front pages here: http://enemiesofreason.co.uk/2011/01/02/chris-jefferies-and-trial-by-media/ This guy deserves every penny he gets, there is no way had he been charged he would have received a fair trial and I would suggest his name has been permanently damaged. Having looked at your link it's clear that the papers were only reporting what had been said to them by neighbours, former pupils and staff members at the school. Some comments referred to him as 'unusual' and others painted him in a more positive light. Fairly balanced overall. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3324998/The-strange-Mr-Jefferies-is-Joanna-Yeates-murder-suspect.html Obviously in such a high profile case the press will dig around for information, that's what they do. It would be biased and unfair had they only printed the negative comments. However in this case they didn't do that, so I'll stand by what I said earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Having looked at your link it's clear that the papers were only reporting what had been said to them by neighbours, former pupils and staff members at the school. Some comments referred to him as 'unusual' and others painted him in a more positive light. Fairly balanced overall. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3324998/The-strange-Mr-Jefferies-is-Joanna-Yeates-murder-suspect.html Obviously in such a high profile case the press will dig around for information, that's what they do. It would be biased and unfair had they only printed the negative comments. However in this case they didn't do that, so I'll stand by what I said earlier. A sub-line in the article reads 'Weird, posh, lewd, creepy'. It is immaterial that the comments came from people they asked about him, they still chose to publish. The editors of these papers are smart enough to know that that will damage his reputation in the eyes of right thinking people. Just because they throw in a few contrasting comments for good measure doesn't mean they should be allowed to publish negative comments in such a damning manner. The press also know that they aren't allowed to act in a manner that could prejudice any future trial. Publishing full pacge spreads about someone's personality, whether positive or negative is likely to do this. I'm not after an argument, I just think we have a differnt take on the situaiton and these are my reasons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I am surprised the media published anything at all and that there wasn't a reporting black out - what if the bloke had to actually stand trial? How could he get a fair trial based on innocent until proven guilty. I remember that there was a massive media frenzy at the time and the police were under enormous pressure to get a collar - when they had nothing they went for the obvious; the slightly odd looking, single, male landlord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 The editors of these papers are smart enough to know that that will damage his reputation in the eyes of right thinking people. Surely they also know that publishing any misleading or libelous content would leave them open to litigation? No arguments from me either, it would be a very boring world if we all sang from the same hymn sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Surely they also know that publishing any misleading or libelous content would leave them open to litigation? Scandal has the benefit of selling papers unfortunately. A cynic might suggest they weigh up the cost of potential litigation against the profits from additional sales... Anyway, I'm glad we can agree to disagree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 (edited) I used to live in the next road from that flat and I can tell you now the Bristolian opinion will have been 'well he must be guilty of something' or 'there's no smoke without fire' - the papers know damn well the public will think like this and slavishly gobble up all the scandal. That's why they were called Scandal Sheets in Victorian times and that's what they are now. It sells. And even with the law suits it's still profitable to print it. I agree his life will have been ruined and won't ever be the same again. It's amazing what normal activities we all do, when reported in a certain way, take on a sinister angle. Consider: "Mr X (41) and his accomplice (18), in the hours of darkness, loaded up their black land-rover with an arsenal of weapons, ammunition, ropes, powerful lamps, tarpulins and in the dead of night set their trap for their prey...Mr X was heard by neighbour Mrs Y (52) to say 'I hope we bag a few nice tones tonight.' Mrs X commented 'It sent a shiver running through me, him a mild mannered insurance broker with all those guns, I knew there was something not right about him..." Edited April 22, 2011 by Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Spot on Thunderbird. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I agree his life will have been ruined and won't ever be the same again. That's a bit melodramatic! :o If he hadn't brought a claim against the papers no-one would even remember his name. If he's that bothered about his privacy he's gone a strange way about protecting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troosers Too Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 That's a bit melodramatic! :o If he hadn't brought a claim against the papers no-one would even remember his name. If he's that bothered about his privacy he's gone a strange way about protecting it. The point is that you and I might not remember his name but his neighbours and others do. He was practically branded a perverted killer by the gutter press. Why? Because he's a bit eccentric and has funny hair! He has nothing to lose in suing those lying scumbags for as much as he can get. TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I know of a guy locally who was accused of a crime he didn't commit . The police caught and imprisoned the offender but the local scum youths continued to put his windows through and spray grafitti on his Walls . An allegation is all it takes and now he's labled for life You may forget him as he doesn't live around the corner but you can rest assured the locals won't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 but when they name the "villian" it can help bring other people forward that has been on the recieving end of a crime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Yep - hope he gets well minted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 He was practically branded a perverted killer by the gutter press. TT I don't remember seeing that. A link would be good. All I could see was a load of quotes from people who knew, or had known, a suspect in a high profile murder enquiry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSPUK Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 {All I could see was a load of quotes from people who knew, or had known, a suspect in a high profile murder enquiry.} In that case I hope his lawyers sue those people as well for spreading gossip. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 {All I could see was a load of quotes from people who knew, or had known, a suspect in a high profile murder enquiry.} In that case I hope his lawyers sue those people as well for spreading gossip. Dave I don't think there's a law covering gossip (unless of course it's libelous) :o How would you truthfully describe your neighbours or ex-colleagues etc. if asked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 The problem is that in our society the more intelligent types who actually listen to facts and form opinions based on them are the ones who don't generally go round attaching paediatricians houses because their profession starts with paed... Life Imitates Art - Private Eye ran a cartoon of this very thing happening a few weeks before The letter of the law is one thing but the chattering masses generally speaking don't know what it is. Therefore I stand by my argument that this bloke, as long as he lives in that house, will get pointed at as being 'gulity' of something. It shouldn't be that way, but it will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 Life Imitates Art - Private Eye ran a cartoon of this very thing happening a few weeks before Well funny; thick-moron-tastic If you live in Gwent hang your head in shame. That is buy a hey nonny nonny away from hanging monkeys as French spies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted April 23, 2011 Report Share Posted April 23, 2011 The thing I found amongst the funniest in that whole business was the assumption on the mob's part that a pedophile would invest in one of those brass plaques announcing the fact.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13371918 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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