| The Dream Solution
- Articles |
??/08/93
- Now the press is on trial as the Taylor sisters are freed
SATISH SEKAR
On the lessons from the coverage that led to the wrongful conviction
of two young women SISTERS Michelle and Lisa Taylor were sensationally
freed by the Court of Appeal in June because of prejudicial reporting
of their trial last summer.
In a judgement which strongly criticised the conduct of several
newspapers, whose coverage was slammed as "Sensational, misleading
and inaccurate," the Court of Appeal opened the window of
opportunity to others claiming that the press had helped convict
them.
Now the editors must sweat it out to see if they will end up where
they put the Taylor sisters. The judges, led by Lord Justice McCowan,
previously known as a hawk, referred the papers to the Attorney
General to consider possible contempt of court charges against
them over the coverage of the case.
The Court of Appeal strongly condemned their coverage, especially
the Sun's "Cheat's Kiss" and the Daily Mirror's "Till
Death Us Do Part" over the frame grab of Michelle Taylor
giving John Shaughnessy a peck on the cheek, which appeared as
a full mouth kiss.
The papers' reaction was to attack the Court of Appeal. The Mirror
exonerated the press and blamed the police. The Sun suggested
that Sun readers would make better judges. The lessons have not
been learnt. In March the National Heritage Select Committee published
its report "Privacy and Media Intrusion".
It made no reference at all to the Taylor sisters' case and heard
no evidence. Of 352 recommendations to "improve" justice,
made by the Royal Commission set up after the exoneration of the
Birmingham Six in 1991, not one refers to prejudicial press coverage.
Only Clive Soley's Bill on the press took the implications of
the Taylor sisters' case seriously, but it was talked out of time.
However, the Taylor sisters' campaign, spearheaded by their mother,
Ann, had the help of some journalists which helped to right the
wrong perpetrated by our profession.
There is no legal sanction to prevent sections of the media from
repeating the mistakes of the Taylor sisters' case and ruining
other innocent people's lives. The Court of Appeal were careful
not to make the Taylor sisters' case into a precedent by avoiding
recommendations such as ensuring that the defence case gets equal
prominence to the prosecution case, but the judgement will be
cited as an authority on press coverage in other cases.
The NUJ has pledged to do more to expose miscarriages of justice,
yet to many protesting their innocence this remains a paper policy
when they need active help. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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