by JCSprenger

Created on: May 16, 2009

Judge, Jury and Executioner

One month ago, in South Texas, a cute little 4-year old girl was abducted to the evident distress of her parents. When the police started their investigation, they zeroed in on a family friend as a person of interest as it is euphemistically called by law enforcement. His profile was reported by local newspapers and TV stations and his life became pure hell. Hounded by reporters and looked upon with suspicion by friends and acquaintances, the man seen as a possible suspect saw his family and his employment destroyed by the unwanted publicity. The real culprit was eventually caught but nobody offered the initial suspect an apology and there is no way he can ever regain the trust of his co-workers or receive an adequate compensation for his horrific ordeal.

Of all the heinous crimes committed in the world, none is as publicly condemned as sexual attacks on children. Even hardened murderers in the penitentiaries make sure they punish pedophiles who happen to fall into their clutches behind bars. The 40-year old neighbor who was initially considered a suspect doesn't want to talk to the press for very good reasons. It's been very embarrassing for us, said his wife. That's quite an understatement and shows the shame and pain caused by irresponsible media. The police did their job; they had to suspect everybody related somehow to the little girl, but why release information on people who later turn out to be innocent?

Everybody is innocent until proven guilty is a phrase commonly bandied about in judicial circles and some media. That's total nonsense; society as a whole act as judge, jury and executioner whenever suspects are publicly revealed. The famous movie Mystic River is a good example of enraged family members taking justice into their own hands and killing innocent people before knowing the real facts. How is it possible that the media's frenetic efforts to bring sensational news to the public are not controlled by ethical rules or even by judicial mandate? If I were that man in South Texas, I would certainly sue the local media for revealing my name, though I doubt very much a judge would grant money reparations for the harm caused to the man and his family. It is of course impossible to muzzle the right to free expression, except of course when the fact may harm other people. Is there any doubt that irreparable harm was caused to an innocent man?

Can you even imagine the harassment suffered by his children in school? Can you imagine

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