Why can’t the author say she was raped? Adding quotes means it is no longer a statement of fact, it becomes a report about someone’s account of what happened.
Because in the unlikely event that this isn’t what happened and the court finds them not guilty, the paper would be liable for damages that came from making that statement. Libel law exists, so they can’t just state it.
Hence running a quote, plus using the industry standard in the article, “alleged”. After the conviction it’s a matter of legal fact.
Why can’t the author say she was raped? Adding quotes means it is no longer a statement of fact, it becomes a report about someone’s account of what happened.
Because in the unlikely event that this isn’t what happened and the court finds them not guilty, the paper would be liable for damages that came from making that statement. Libel law exists, so they can’t just state it.
Hence running a quote, plus using the industry standard in the article, “alleged”. After the conviction it’s a matter of legal fact.