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People accused of crimes deserve right to privacy
Tuesday July 22 2008 Dear Editor,
You raised a long-standing concern in your column, “Guilty until proven Innocent?” (July 18).
If we truly believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty, then we must not publish personal data like names and addresses of charged but untried persons, as that might affect a jury’s neutrality and the attitudes of neighbours. I hope federal and Ontario legislators will take notice of your column.
An exception must be made when police require public assistance to locate a suspect or witness. The expression “person of interest” might satisfy the need to avoid any intimation of guilt.
Charles Hooker, Orangeville

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