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question everything

(49,044 posts)
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 05:01 PM Jun 2015

Why do news reports - at least at print - refer to the shooter as "suspect"

and talk about "allegedly?"

He confessed, he was on camera, there is nothing "allegedly" about his crime.



5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why do news reports - at least at print - refer to the shooter as "suspect" (Original Post) question everything Jun 2015 OP
imho--he has to be legally convicted in a court of law. But I have riversedge Jun 2015 #1
Yup. Until Lindsay Jun 2015 #2
Thanks. I understand that but it grates me when I read... (nt) question everything Jun 2015 #4
He's presumed innocent (legally) until he is either tried The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2015 #3
Because he has not been convicted nadinbrzezinski Jul 2015 #5

riversedge

(73,387 posts)
1. imho--he has to be legally convicted in a court of law. But I have
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 05:03 PM
Jun 2015

wondered myself when I see those words--alleged or suspect ect

Lindsay

(3,276 posts)
2. Yup. Until
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 05:07 PM
Jun 2015

he's been tried and found guilty, he's a suspect and the crimes are alleged. It's fairer to all suspects to use those forms, so we gotta put up with it even for those who've confessed.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(121,412 posts)
3. He's presumed innocent (legally) until he is either tried
Sat Jun 20, 2015, 05:51 PM
Jun 2015

or enters a formal guilty plea - a confession to the police isn't enough. Yeah, we all know he did it, but one of the conventions of journalism is to use the terms "suspect" and "alleged" until there's been a formal adjudication of guilt. Doesn't bother me a bit.

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
5. Because he has not been convicted
Wed Jul 1, 2015, 10:16 PM
Jul 2015

yes he confessed, but there is a history of coerced confessions, before rights are read, and without an attorney present. If any of these things happened that confession might (likely will) be inadmissible in court. Worst case scenario, a conviction under these conditions could be overturned by a higher court for violation of due process, or a good lawyer could stop a conviction at trial.

So if you call him guilty, you open yourself to liability. There is also the factor of not tainting the jury pool. I am sure you have heard the term tried in the media.

This is just the short notes in this. Hope it helps.

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