Last edited Wed Aug 4, 2021, 01:48 PM - Edit history (3)
He was completely skeptical about the report of an attempted rape of a hotel maid in New York by ex-IMF Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_v._Strauss-Kahn). He was also dismissive of the allegations against Julian Assange (revealing the identity of one accuser during a televised panel), and followed this pattern of behaviour in relation to the allegations against former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond (who was found not guilty of all but one charge against him, the other returning a verdict of not proven under Scots law). Over the course of the case, Salmond and his counsel denied criminality, but admitted that he had transgressed what most of us would consider acceptable behaviour towards various female subordinates over an extended period.
Murray made strenuous efforts to be admitted as a journalist to cover the case, but in the end attended court for the defence case as a layperson.
He then chose to encourage readers of his blog to identify Salmond's accusers (which led to the contempt of court charges on grounds of "jigsaw identification" ). He was instructed by the court to delete certain posts or details within posts, but defied the order. That's what led to the finding of contempt of court against him and his eventual sentencing.
Organizations and personalities that should know better, including the Scottish branch of PEN, Journalists sans Frontieres and John Pilger, have chosen to typify Murray's jailing as infringing freedom of the press and setting a sinister precedent.
Murray's supporters (who consider Salmond to have been totally exonerated) have made much of the fact that some mainstream journalists also reported on the case and that certain details in their reports could have led to similar jigsaw identification. This ignores the fact that the journalists did not set out with the intent of hinting at the accusers' identities and did their best to stay within the acceptable bounds of court reporting.
Murray's complete lack of contrition, defiance even, as evidenced by the champagne celebration outside the police station before he handed himself in, will probably have been a factor in the jail term he was sentenced to.
I have no sympathy whatsoever. Several of the Salmond accusers have been hounded as a result of his actions, and one was forced to move house. He's never shown any concern for any of their welfare. However, I have no faith that his jail term will mean that he emerges a better person.
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