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Robert Farquharson. By Ashleigh Kwong , Kevin Kingsley, Kirra Havemann & Nikita Ash. Facts of the Case. Robert Farquharson , divorcee, was driving with his three sons on Father’s Day when the car veered off the road and drove into a lake
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Robert Farquharson By Ashleigh Kwong, Kevin Kingsley, KirraHavemann & Nikita Ash
Facts of the Case • Robert Farquharson, divorcee, was driving with his three sons on Father’s Day when the car veered off the road and drove into a lake • The three sons were trapped and drowned but Farquharson escaped • Farquharson charged with three counts of murder and found guilty by jury • Defence claimed that Farquharson had suffered from a coughing fit causing him to lose control of the vehicle • Appeal pending on 31 grounds (defence)
Fact Before Theory Internet Campaign • Facebook group established by Farquharson sympathizers to campaign for his freedom • Uses photographs (police as well as family) to humanize Farquharson and make him the victim • Biased representation of police evidence and court proceedings • Supposedly ineffective police work highlighted by campaign
Legal Issues relating to Social Media • Difficult for courts to “quarantine” jurors and prevent bias • Easily accessible materials that are presented as evidence externally • Changes in public perception of justice through social media which do not match legal definitions • Jurors instructed to ignore media representations of the case but it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so
