Overkill

It's only 15 hours since a High Court jury in Wellington acquitted Ewen Macdonald of the murder of Scott Guy, but Verdict Fatigue is already setting in. On the Herald website, the first four stories are about the case of the characters in it; likewise Stuff, and the Dom-Post. We haven't had a look at 3News this morning, but we can't imagine that their lead story is any different to that of One News.

There was intense public interest in this trial, but how much of that was generated by the media coverage of it? The coverage at times bordered on overkill, and now that a verdict has been returned, it's almost impossible to escape the opinions of those whom the various media are rolling out to give their "expert" opinions.

We're over it, so this will be our last comment on the case. And we repeat our appeal to the media; please; leave the Guy and Macdonald families alone. They have shown enormous grace and dignity to date, but there must be some incredible emotions bubbling away beneath the surface. Let them be; let them grieve, let them deal with the issues arising from Scott Guy's murder and the subsequent trial in their own way and at their own speed, without the media intruding. Please don't add to their anguish by following them around, phoning them up or staking out their homes.

Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with the two families involved. They are the ones who have suffered; may they now find an oasis of peace where they might seek and find answers, and begin the long process of healing some deep wounds. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui; arohanui.