Legal expert urges media to save biggest crime stories for verdicts

Emeritus Professor of Criminal Law Matti Tolvanen wants the most prominent crime coverage to focus on court verdicts, warning that reporting too early can undermine the presumption of innocence and affect witnesses. Yle reports that Tolvanen, a frequent media commentator, sees premature coverage as the biggest problem in crime reporting.

Tolvanen says people should be treated as innocent until a final court judgment establishes otherwise. While media reports generally make clear when a person is only suspected of a crime, he notes that readers may question wording such as “suspected drunk driving”.

A former prosecutor, Tolvanen also objects to suspects and other parties being interviewed during a trial. Such interviews could affect how witnesses testify in court, he says, potentially contaminating the evidence.

Tolvanen is known for explaining legal issues and court decisions in accessible terms. He says it is important for people to understand why a court or other authority reached a particular decision. His availability to journalists has sometimes meant repeated calls about the same case, including during weekends, holidays and mealtimes.

The professor says public interest in crime is understandable, adding that criminal law encompasses the whole of life and that people are drawn to its darker side. His memoirs have been published after he turned 70, and he continues to work as a legal expert.