To the Editor,
Mamadi Fara Camara, the Black Montreal bank manager who spent six days in lockup after being wrongfully accused of attacking a police officer, could easily have been formally charged, tried and convicted.
When I hear how relieved people are when some guy is charged with a reviled crime — “Did they catch him? They did? Well, that’s a relief!” — I mentally hear the phrase, “We’ll give ’im a fair trial, then we’ll hang ’im.”
And if I’d point out he may be the wrong guy who’s being railroaded, I could receive the erroneous refrain, “Well if he’s truly innocent, he has nothing to worry about.”
It’s why I strongly feel the news-media should refrain from publishing the identity of people charged with a crime — especially one of a repugnant nature, for which they are jailed pending trial (as is typically done) — until at least after they’ve been convicted.
Considering the flaws — even corruption — in the law-enforcement and justice system, no one should have their name permanently tarnished and life potentially ruined because the news-media insists upon immediately running a breaking story.
Frank Sterle, Jr.
White Rock, B.C.
newsroom@clearwatertimes.com
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