Social Media was alive yesterday during the verdict on Simon Gittany.Simon Gittany was found guilty of murdering his fiancee Lisa Harnum in July 2011. There was a mixture of praise on Twitter for Justice Lucy McCallum while others abused Gittany.
Gittany’s past was splashed all over the social media site last night, while it was suggested by Andrew Jaffrey that Gittany was assaulted in the corrective services van.
Corrective Services denied the allegations.
The Attorney-General Greg Smith released a statement yesterday praising the use of social media during the trial.
“This case, and its coverage in social and traditional media, offers the community a chance to engage with the court system and improve their understanding,” he said.
During the trial, reports from the courtroom were being made so consistently that the topic was trending on Twitter in Sydney.
“We are often ready to criticise social media when they get it wrong in reporting on criminal matters, but from what I have seen, today seems to have been a good example of broadly respectful and responsible reporting which helped educate the public,” he said. “I would also encourage anyone interested in reading the full verdict – and other court decisions – to visit the Caselaw website on www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au-*“– Report by Alana Scott, photo by Bene Earl
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