(Not quite) Random thought

Just watching the News and the lead story is again about the search for little Madeline. Robert Morat is claiming that he has been made a scapegoat and that if the real culprit is not found then his life will be ruined. I have no idea wether he is guilty or not but it did make me think, should suspects in cases like this be named before they are charged? Assuming that he is, as he claims, innocent then he will have to go through the rest of his life with people remembering that he was named in conection with this case and the possible effects of this. Obviously if he is guilty he deserves all the 😠 in the world but it just made me think.

We thought exactly the same. How can he be named if he's not been arrested or charged. He could be totally innocent, but his name & family name will always be associated with this. Imagine if you were related to him, you might get abused in the street & shunned by friends/neighbours through no fault of your own. Very strange seeing as we've been told all along, that we can't be told anything!

I agree, all suspects, in any case, with any evidence.

The police get it wrong, different people in and out of custody,all get named, and all suffer as a result of being wrongly suspected of some horrid crime.

I believe that untill an arrest is made and charges brought, suspects should not be made public.

It just doesnt seem fair to the innocent ones. If they are guilty then by all means make sure the world knows who they are!

hipmomma said:


I believe that untill an arrest is made and charges brought, suspects should not be made public.

What if they are charged but then found innocent at trial?

xxx

Gazelle said:

hipmomma said:


I believe that untill an arrest is made and charges brought, suspects should not be made public.

What if they are charged but then found innocent at trial?

xxx

Good point, although in major cases it doesn't often happen I don't think. They are usually pretty sure they are right in order to charge them.

I thought it was odd too. I was worried that the press are sticking their nose in and maybe have inadvertently led the police off in the wrong direction too.

candgsmum said:
I was worried that the press are sticking their nose in and maybe have inadvertently led the police off in the wrong direction too.

Could be. It was a journalist who alerted the police to him. I suppose they have to follow any feasible lead.

xxx