When is a murderer an “alleged” murderer?

Posted By katie allison granju

That’s the question WBIR reporter Anthony Welsch is asking in his blog today:

This week, I’m working on Paul House coverage. He has a hearing scheduled Wednesday in Nashville, everyone involved seems to think he has a fantastic chance of being released from death row/prison.

So, here’s the big ethical and journalistic question I have for the story:

As a general rule, we’re clear to say someone committed a crime as soon as a jury convicts them. So, for example, Paul House is a murderer (by our general rule). But, in this case where it appears he will be retried 22 years after a conviction, does he revert back to being an “alleged murderer”?

We have to presume him innocent until proven guilty once again, right? How does that work?

May 27th, 2008

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