Globe public editor: The perils of relying on anonymous sources
When the source is wrong, the journalist wears the error, Sylvia Stead writes.
By Sylvia Stead for the Globe and Mail
On Wednesday, the lawyer for the man charged in an impaired driving crash that killed three young children – Daniel Neville-Lake, 9, his brother Harrison, 5, and sister Milly, 2 – and their grandfather Gary Neville, said his client will plead guilty as a demonstration of his remorse.
Lawyer Brian Greenspan then held a brief scrum outside the Newmarket, Ont., courthouse to explain what had happened and answer any questions.
He scolded some media outlets, which he said have “incorrectly and inappropriately suggested that there was a plea deal made and have characterized today as a plea deal or a plea bargain. There is no plea deal. There is no plea bargain. The Crown will make its submissions as to what it believes to be the appropriate penalty. We will make our submission as to what we believe to be the appropriate penalty.”
At that point, of course, the judge will determine the penalty.
Continue reading this story on the Globe and Mail’s website, where it was first published.
Sylvia Stead is the Public Editor of the Globe and Mail.