I've been following the Jeremy Forrest case over the last couple of weeks and in all the press releases and news articles about this case it always says 'the pupil, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons'............ Whilst I understand this in other cases, the name of the pupil along with many pictures of her was released when they fled to France.......everyone knows who she is! So why do they stick to this rule that she 'cannot be named'?
I presume (understandably) she/her family doesn't want her name in press. She may have been in the press previously, but that doesn't mean you just accept continued coverage.
I'd assume that there's some law around the 'best interests of the individual'. when she was missing it was in her best interest to be identified and named but during the trial it serves no purpose and is detrimental to her wellbeing.
Because she's entitled to anonymity as she's gone from being missing - when her name was being used, to the victim of a sexual offence & abduction. So despite her name being in the public domain when the search for her was on, it can't be assumed that 'everyone' knows it, so she gets anonymity in the press.
I had exactly the same conversation yesterday. She was named everywhere when they were missing, but now she cant be named? I know there are legal rules stipulating minors in court cant be named but we all know who she is. Bit of common sense wouldnt go amiss.
Message 301: This post was edited due to content that compromises an ongoing legal case. Administrators have been notified.
