The Patent Dragon's Zone of Soul Retraction

Hot Off The Presses... The second suspect in the Ipswich prostitute murders has been charged, and the first man arrested is to be released.

What? The "web weirdo" might be innocent? How can that be? The media has all that evidence...

You know - the photo with the tin of custard powder... the eyes painted on his eyelids... the "X-Men alter-ego"... the "love" of comics books...

Somebody's going to be very, very rich in the New Year. Watch the amazing lack of retractions on the front pages of tomorrow's newspapers.

In Tonight's Headlines - "Suffolk Killer - The Arrest"

...shortly followed by...

"Suffolk Killer - The Release", "Suffolk Killer - The Apology", "Suffolk Killer - The Damaging Law Suit", and finally "Suffolk Killer - The Colossal Compensation Pay-out".

He didn't do it. What serial killer goes to the papers and tells his story? What is the guy actually guilty of? Wearing a tie on MySpace? Possession of an underage tin of custard powder with intent?

This story - the arrest of a man on suspicion of murdering five prostitutes in the vicinity of Ipswich (sorry, Ispwich, England) - has been "wall-to-wall" in the British media all day, and every channel has been guilty of trial by television. If he's actually guilty, he'll get off because his trial will have been critically prejudiced by the media race for "the big exclusive". If he's innocent, he'll be rail-roaded into prison... until the killer strikes again, and a lot of people will be embarrassed out of their jobs.



Lives quite literally depend on it. They should come before viewing figures, careers, or votes...