By Mike Brownlee
http://www.southwestiowanews.com/articles/2011/01/16/council_bluffs/doc4d32706eddcff604374184.txt
"A weapon was found in the blood trail, Dawson said, though it’s unclear if it was used by the murderer or by Rocha in self-defense."
The writer of this article makes a fundamental error regarding the usage of the word "murderer." The victim was found on the street and there is no indication or statement from authorities to make the reader believe the slaying was premeditated, which is the requirement to use the murder designation. Also, while there has been someone charged with first-degree murder in the case, the case has not gone to trial and no one has been convicted of murder. Therefore, Brownlee's sentence saying that the weapon may have been used by the murderer does not follow AP style and is wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment