Comments on: Portrayal of accused and the law http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/ Two lawyers on law, legislation and liberty. And other stuff. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:59:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Club Troppo » Missing Link (delayed, again) http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11271 Club Troppo » Missing Link (delayed, again) Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:39:42 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11271 [...] under which Haneef was charged, reaching an interesting conclusion. Legal Eagle muses about whether unflattering artist’s images of Dr Haneef might be contempt of court. And David Tiley weighs in with a passionate piece [...] [...] under which Haneef was charged, reaching an interesting conclusion. Legal Eagle muses about whether unflattering artist’s images of Dr Haneef might be contempt of court. And David Tiley weighs in with a passionate piece [...]

]]> By: marcellous http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11270 marcellous Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:58:14 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11270 If idenfication of the accused is in issue, then there would be reason for restricting the publication of likenesses of the accused, even bad ones. If idenfication of the accused is in issue, then there would be reason for restricting the publication of likenesses of the accused, even bad ones.

]]> By: Patrick Bateman http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11269 Patrick Bateman Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:17:50 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11269 It's no surprise how many judges, upon retirement, lash out directly at the media. It's a very unusual situation where one side of the equation (the media) not only has access to a mouthpiece with which to express its views, but actually IS the mouthpiece, while the other side (the courts) is expressly prohibited by its own rules and conventions from even commenting in its own defence. It’s no surprise how many judges, upon retirement, lash out directly at the media. It’s a very unusual situation where one side of the equation (the media) not only has access to a mouthpiece with which to express its views, but actually IS the mouthpiece, while the other side (the courts) is expressly prohibited by its own rules and conventions from even commenting in its own defence.

]]> By: Lad Litter http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11268 Lad Litter Tue, 24 Jul 2007 02:54:40 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11268 On artists' impressions, I recall during the Anita Cobby trial that the artists' impressions of the accused were pixillated in one TV news report. I wonder if that was a compliment to the artist on the accuracy of the drawings? On artists’ impressions, I recall during the Anita Cobby trial that the artists’ impressions of the accused were pixillated in one TV news report. I wonder if that was a compliment to the artist on the accuracy of the drawings?

]]> By: pete m http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11267 pete m Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:46:15 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11267 "all too common" - by whom? careful what you may be said to imply. “all too common” - by whom?

careful what you may be said to imply.

]]> By: Dave Bath http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11266 Dave Bath Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:42:04 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11266 LDU: You say "I doubt that he would evolve into a neanderthal after 20 days in custody". Non-surgical facial reconstruction in custody is all too common, but I'm not suggesting this happened here. LDU: You say “I doubt that he would evolve into a neanderthal after 20 days in custody”. Non-surgical facial reconstruction in custody is all too common, but I’m not suggesting this happened here.

]]> By: LDU http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11265 LDU Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:06:15 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11265 Marcellous, "I don’t doubt that, after being in custody so long, Haneef didn’t look as cheerful as he did in the nice beach shot featured in the Saturday papers" I doubt that he would evolve into a neanderthal after 20 days in custody. Marcellous,

“I don’t doubt that, after being in custody so long, Haneef didn’t look as cheerful as he did in the nice beach shot featured in the Saturday papers”

I doubt that he would evolve into a neanderthal after 20 days in custody.

]]> By: Legal Eagle http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11264 Legal Eagle Sun, 22 Jul 2007 13:27:45 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11264 Marcellous, that is why I found the study mentioned in the WALRC Report interesting. As I say, my own personal experience is that press stories didn't affect my perception of evidence if I saw the real witnesses and exhibits. As far as I could see, many cases were not very well reported in the press, although I can think of one exception to that rule. Half the time they left out things I would have included. But then I find equitable remedies fascinating, I'm not sure I'm a good judge of things that would interest normal people. ;-) It did really make me wonder how accurate other media reports are? I don't think it will ever come before a jury anyway. It looks like the Government will want to just pack this fellow back off to India. What a right royal mess the whole thing is! Pretty sad for this guy if he is totally innocent of any wrongdoing. Marcellous, that is why I found the study mentioned in the WALRC Report interesting. As I say, my own personal experience is that press stories didn’t affect my perception of evidence if I saw the real witnesses and exhibits.

As far as I could see, many cases were not very well reported in the press, although I can think of one exception to that rule. Half the time they left out things I would have included. But then I find equitable remedies fascinating, I’m not sure I’m a good judge of things that would interest normal people. ;-) It did really make me wonder how accurate other media reports are?

I don’t think it will ever come before a jury anyway. It looks like the Government will want to just pack this fellow back off to India. What a right royal mess the whole thing is! Pretty sad for this guy if he is totally innocent of any wrongdoing.

]]> By: marcellous http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11263 marcellous Sun, 22 Jul 2007 13:07:47 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11263 I do wonder if we can get too precious about this. I don't doubt that, after being in custody so long, Haneef didn't look as cheerful as he did in the nice beach shot featured in the Saturday papers, but surely a jury (if it ever gets to that) will see Haneef in the flesh, and this is likely to have a more powerful impression on them than some subliminal recollection of a bad artist's sketch? The real prejudicial effect of the sketch is on electoral politics rather than the trial, though even there it all goes into a pretty incalculable mix. I do wonder if we can get too precious about this. I don’t doubt that, after being in custody so long, Haneef didn’t look as cheerful as he did in the nice beach shot featured in the Saturday papers, but surely a jury (if it ever gets to that) will see Haneef in the flesh, and this is likely to have a more powerful impression on them than some subliminal recollection of a bad artist’s sketch? The real prejudicial effect of the sketch is on electoral politics rather than the trial, though even there it all goes into a pretty incalculable mix.

]]> By: Legal Eagle http://skepticlawyer.com.au/2007/07/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11262 Legal Eagle Sun, 22 Jul 2007 13:07:17 +0000 http://legalsoapbox.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/portrayal-of-accused-and-the-law/#comment-11262 No, not at all like the drawing. Hmm. Doesn't look good, does it? No, not at all like the drawing. Hmm. Doesn’t look good, does it?

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