Many thanks for your email.  Whilst I appreciate the point you are making I cannot agree with it for two reasons. First, we made no attempt to sensationalise this story, placing it well down the list of reports on the UK News index page; and secondly, the report itself was a clear, concise summary of the proceedings of the court on that day.

Newspapers have a duty to report court cases: it is one of the ways that the public can be sure that justice is seen to be done.  The case is still continuing and all parties concerned will have the opportunity to place their evidence before the court. In all cases before a jury, the judge will ask them specifically not to read reports in the Press and to form their own opinions based on the evidence they hear in court. Should they then find the defendant guilty, it will be up to the trial judge to determine the sentence, and we should have sufficient faith in our judicial system to believe that an experienced judge will not be swayed by the number of column inches devoted to reporting it in the Press.

Best wishes
Sincerely
Derek Bishton
Editor ET

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