But while Noble escaped that libel case unscathed, it appears that he may have made an editorial mis-step. 2 weeks ago, he published the name and photograph of the 15 year-old shooter who shot Police Corporal Alrick Arnold while he was trying to excape a failed execution attempt in front of the Queen Street Police Station.
As you will remember, we also had the name a photograph of that shooter, but we did not reveal it because of our policy not to reveal the identity of defendants who are minors. Well, Noble and the Guardian did, and apparently he did not know that there is a law which makes it an offence to do so.
This evening, he tried to convince our Amandala Colleague, Rowland Parks, that there is no such law:
Reporter
"To the best of my knowledge that is a violation of the Juvenile act."
Alfonso Noble - Defendant, Editor Guardian Newspaper
"No Perks you have it wrong there is absolutely nothing in the law that says you can't publish a minor's picture. This is a gentleman's agreement or an agreement between the media houses and the NCFC and those childrens..."
Reporter
"There is a law..."
Alfonso Noble - Defendant, Editor Guardian Newspaper
"Sir when you find that I will prefer that you send that to me. When you find it I will appreciate if you could forward that to me and then I will retract or I will take a position but at this point my position is this young man, juvenile he may be picked up a gun, went to the police station and attempted to execute an individual and in the process almost killed a police officer. Man I think it is our right, it is our duty, it is our responsibility to point out these things and it is our duty to point out this individual that did it and there is no question."
Reporter
"Out of all of the media houses how come the Guardian was the only one to have broken the tradition of not publishing a minor's name and photograph?"
Alfonso Noble - Defendant, Editor Guardian Newspaper
"Because it is my responsibility, it is the Guardian's responsibility. If you don't want to bite the bullet and say this is what is happening and this is the state of affairs then that is fine you know; that is Amandala's position that could be Channel 7's position. My position as an editor the Guardian newspaper whenever these kind of brazen acts take place and the culprit is caught red handed and he's identified as a minor, I will keep on publishing his pictures."
Well, as we told you, it is an offence to do so, according to this law which reads, quote: It shall be an offense for any person to publish any material which is intended or likely to identify any child as being involved in any proceedings before a court…†End Quote. The law then clarifies that publishing means on any radio broadcast, television broadcast, newspaper, or any public medium.
That makes it a no no, and anyone who does so, if convicted, is liable to pay a fine of up to $5,000.
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