The Smithman e-fits

[misty]

Mr Smith famously is said not to court publicity.  Davel has pointed out that police statements made in good faith are not actionable.
Your comment gels both together Misty, giving one food for thought.

It's also worth bearing in mind that, had the McCanns authorised media publication of efits produced by a family who told the PJ that they could neither produce efits or would recognise the man again, they could have opened themselves up to a libel claim. Should the efit have turned out to be named as an innocent citizen, the McCanns & the press would have been liable for making him appear as the prime suspect in a shelved foreign investigation which had not even sought his identity. It's almost ingenious in the manner it's been played out.

ETA IMO.

[slartibartfast]

The Times were indeed guilty of libelling the McCanns, I have never disputed that but only of suggesting that they had withheld the efits,  nothing else.

I don’t think you could produce the court verdict so not actually true.

[slartibartfast]

It's also worth bearing in mind that, had the McCanns authorised media publication of efits produced by a family who told the PJ that they could neither produce efits or would recognise the man again, they could have opened themselves up to a libel claim. Should the efit have turned out to be named as an innocent citizen, the McCanns & the press would have been liable for making him appear as the prime suspect in a shelved foreign investigation which had not even sought his identity. It's almost ingenious in the manner it's been played out.

ETA IMO.

an appeal to identify someone is not libel. As long as it only in a person they are keen to talk to.

[Mr Gray]

an appeal to identify someone is not libel. As long as it only in a person they are keen to talk to.

like the woman in purple who Heri identiified

[misty]

an appeal to identify someone is not libel. As long as it only in a person they are keen to talk to.

It is if the appeal is in connection with a criminal matter & the appeal has not been done by the police.

[Mr Gray]

What would the legal position be if a member of the public released an e fit and a person suffered severe harassment as a result of it...or at worse committed suicide

[Brietta]

I don’t think you could produce the court verdict so not actually true.

                    Oh Dear   

[faithlilly]

What would the legal position be if a member of the public released an e fit and a person suffered severe harassment as a result of it...or at worse committed suicide

The same as if they had compiled a dossier I suspect.

[Mr Gray]

The same as if they had compiled a dossier I suspect.

no...an e fit that was publiced by the member of the public

[faithlilly]

I have no reason to doubt Exton's honesty but cannot comment on the veracity of the content in the final report. Two separate issues IMO.

It would appear that Adrian Gratton, who produced the documentary The McCanns and the Conman, will be revealing the contents of the report soon. That should clarify things.

[faithlilly]

no...an e fit that was publiced by the member of the public

As was the dossier.

[Mr Gray]

It would appear that Adrian Gratton, who produced the documentary The McCanns and the Conman, will be revealing the contents of the report soon. That should clarify things.

excellent.......weve had poulton and o'doherty

[misty]

It would appear that Adrian Gratton, who produced the documentary The McCanns and the Conman, will be revealing the contents of the report soon. That should clarify things.

You think he won't be gagged if CR get wind of that?

[faithlilly]

excellent.......weve had poulton and o'doherty

O’Doherty’s article gave welcome clarification. Gratton certainly has access to the report. Interesting times ahead.

[faithlilly]

You think he won't be gagged if CR get wind of that?

Gagged ? Why ? Do you think the report libels the McCanns ?