Public opinion
A man was acquitted at the end of a high profile trial this week of murdering his wife five years ago. For three months we’ve been hearing constant news of this case and many details emerged from the couple’s lives that have painted the accused quite negatively. I didn’t realise how much this was the case until I saw several mentions online of the verdict and belief the man was really guilty. I find it really interesting how so many people are so sure he did it, despite the lack of evidence supporting the state’s case. Whether he did it or not, public opinion is so strongly against him that it’s as though he’s been judged guilty anyway and the only way his name would be cleared totally is if further investigations find out the real story in this case. Â Meanwhile, the media has a lot to answer for, printing sensational headlines like one I saw on today’s paper, linking the man with other court cases. In fact, it was quite clear from the first paragraph of the article his involvement would be in a professional capacity not as an accused.
Being an observer from the public, I haven’t really had an opinion on this man’s guilt or innocence and can only hope the verdict really is the correct one. My only thoughts have been that I hoped he hadn’t done it because of the effect it would have on the couple’s two daughters. And I hope that further investigations will uncover the truth of what happened, without doubt, for the sake of the victim’s family and friends.
