I WAS appalled to see on the front page of Tuesday’s CWD a man manacled in handcuffs, being held physically by a police officer and paraded like a monkey on a stick.
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This man was being led into the Orange Local Court having been arrested by police a short time earlier in relation to a number of traffic offences. I found it hard to believe that the CWD would resort to such a tactic.
But, lo and behold, on the following day, the front page of the CWD showed an almost identical photograph of a man (except it was a different man) manacled in handcuffs, being held physically by a police officer and paraded like a monkey on a stick.
This man was being led into the Orange Local Court after having been recently arrested by police.
Clearly, the CWD has embarked on a new and distasteful form of journalism.
Neither of these two men could protect themselves from the photographer - they were totally defenceless.
Both these men carry with them the presumption of innocence in relation to any charges, which the police have laid against them. They have a right to a fair and proper trial. They are entitled to have justice administered to them without fear or prejudice.
What if the legal question of identification is an issue in any trial they face?
No doubt the question arose in readers’ minds as to whether, on each of these occasions, the police aided and abetted the photographer. It is to be hoped that this has not been the case.
The pictorial images of persons charged with criminal offences is unethical and unwise. At least, the local television stations have the decency to pixelate such images.
It is regrettable that a regional newspaper would stoop to such grubby tactics. Students of journalism in 101 journalism law are taught of the real possibility of contempt of court in and the ethical ramifications of publishing photographs of persons charged and awaiting trial.
It appears that journalists at the CWD are in need of a refresher course. I am happy to provide it to them.
Bill Walsh,
Orange
Editor's note: Advice was sought from Fairfax Media’s legal department before both photographs were run. That legal advice was that the identification of the two men would not be an issue in any trial. Nor would publishing their photos in this manner affect them receiving a fair trial.
Tony Rhead,
managing editor
