The Press Complaints Commission has upheld a complaint against the Daily Mail for publishing the incorrect verdict in the Amanda Knox case.
The Mail's website reported that Knox has lost her appeal against her conviction for murdering Meredith Kercher when, in fact, she had been successful.
In addition to the main thrust of the complaint - which concerned accuracy - the complainants were also concerned about additional elements of the reporting.
The fictitious pre-prepared Mail online story that was published for 90 seconds These included quotes attributed to the prosecutors apparently reacting to the guilty verdict, and the description of the reaction in the courtroom to the news, stating that Knox "sank into her chair sobbing uncontrollably while her family and friends hugged each other in tears"..It further stated that the family of Meredith Kercher "remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, glancing over just once at the distraught Knox family".
The newspaper apologised for the mistake. It said that it was standard practice in such high-profile cases for two alternative stories (plus supporting quotes) to be prepared in advance, and cited the fact that other news outlets had also initially published the wrong verdict due to some confusion in the courtroom.
It had published an online apology and explanation to readers; published the correct verdict in print the following day; launched an immediate internal inquiry (and subsequently changed its practices regarding such 'set and hold' stories); and also disciplined the person responsible for the error.
Although the PCC recognised that the newspaper had acted swiftly and proportionately to correct the breach of the editors' code - and acknowledged that the story had only been live for a short period of time - it nonetheless remained "particularly concerned" about other aspects of the report, most particularly the fictitious account of what had happened in the courtroom.
The attempt to present contemporaneous reporting of events in such a manner was "clearly not acceptable".
Stephen Abell, the PCC's director, said: "This was a common-sense decision from the commission. The article described reactions and behaviour that had not taken place, which is a clear breach of the Code.
"We are pleased that Mail online has undertaken to change its processes as a result, which should stop this happening in future".
The Mail will carry the adjudication online.
Full adjudication here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/dec/09/pcc-dailymail?CMP=twt_gu
