'Scapegoat'

Rebecca Leighton was released from Styal Prison on Friday, having been held in custody for six weeks on charges of criminal damage with intent to endanger life. She has been treated as a "scapegoat", according to her solicitor, and may sue the police for wrongful arrest. Today the Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy defended his officers' handling of the case (title link). As somebody who analyses what graphics communicate, I'm concerned that this photo of Rebecca hit the media as soon as she was arrested. It's the sort of silly photo people put on Facebook to amuse their friends, but in the context of a murder inquiry it looks incredibly insensitive at best and at worst incriminating. How many people took one look at this photo and thought "Guilty as charged"? I can't help wondering whether the media should be allowed to release photos that might prejudice a jury.