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Otago Daily Times
October 5, 2001
Justice system
Letter
to the Editor
by Ian Landreth, Port Chalmers [Abridged. - Ed.]
I agree wholeheartedly with the view expressed by John Van Turnhout regarding
our "justice system" (27.9.01). This year I have noted several
cases where an alleged rapist has been cleared of any wrong-doing. However,
in each of these your newspaper has named the accused before the verdict.
This clearly goes against the principle of innocent until proven guilty.
I have no problem with the naming of people found guilty by our courts, but a
large headline is bound to cause a great deal of distress to a person who is
subsequently found innocent. Though your newspaper is quite within its rights
to do this, I believe it is not fair, especially when a person making a false
complaint gains full name suppression.
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