There was that chap accused of the murder of Jo Yeates in Bristol who was basically portrayed as a psyco, weirdo, pedo oddball from the off.
Wasn't the murderer. Life ruined.
This seems a little more conclusive.
Christopher Jeffries; I think he was only ever arrested (on the basis of very little evidence) but not charged (as is also currently the case here), but immediately assumed guilty by the press because he 'looked the type'.
I would make the argument that no details should be published until a person has been charged, but then there's the case of Rebecca Leighton who was charged for the Stepping Hill hospital murders back in 2011 and spent considerable time in police custody to boot. It seemed nailed on, going only off press coverage, that she was guilty. She was not.
You would assume from what we know about this case that there's a good probability that the person named is involved, however we simply don't know. On the balance of that, and in the interest of the victim, her family and the [merely at this stage] accused, I think it's best not to speculate.
Last edited: