Thread: Stupid, Irresponsible Headline!!!

Originally Posted by V8Ian

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has died after he was allegedly hit by a car in South Morang on Saturday.

Is there any doubt that the unfortunate little fellow was hit by a car?

Condolences to the young chap's family.

The use of "allegedly" simply means that the journalist (or his editor) recognises that there may be a court case involved. If this court case has a jury, this weasel word enables them to avoid the accusation of influencing the jury, and possible civil action. I can remember being puzzled by it as a child, so it is not new!

On the actual incident, while reading this thread, it struck me that, as Craig says, the result would have been the same regardless of the type of vehicle. In fact, children have been being run over and killed by vehicles, from horses to wagons since records have been made. The difference today is that while road deaths of children have dropped and are still dropping, unlike most of history, most children (in this country at least) survive all risks to become adults, so we feel accidental deaths much more strongly.

John

What was a 4 yo doing on the street at 9.30pm ?

Deano

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The use of "allegedly" simply means that the journalist (or his editor) recognises that there may be a court case involved. If this court case has a jury, this weasel word enables them to avoid the accusation of influencing the jury, and possible civil action. I can remember being puzzled by it as a child, so it is not new!

On the actual incident, while reading this thread, it struck me that, as Craig says, the result would have been the same regardless of the type of vehicle. In fact, children have been being run over and killed by vehicles, from horses to wagons since records have been made. The difference today is that while road deaths of children have dropped and are still dropping, unlike most of history, most children (in this country at least) survive all risks to become adults, so we feel accidental deaths much more strongly.

John

John, I understand the meaning of 'allegedly', but if this incident does end up in court it would surely be to determine the culpability if any of the driver; not whether or not the child was hit by the car.