Press Council demands witness anonymity to be assured

The Press Council will submit the Magistrates’ Superior Council, the Lawyers’ Council and the mass media a recommendation regarding the assurance of witnesses’ anonymity in public trials, Info-Prim Neo reports. The recommendation comes after the Press Council received two notifications regarding the media exposure of a witness heard in policeman Ion Perju’s trial. Petru Macovei, Council secretary, said that although lawyer Valeriu Plesca requested witness’ anonymity during the process, her name appeared in media reports. “After these reports from various media institutions, she suffered a powerful psychological shock”, Macovei said. During the Press Council meeting, participants agreed many mistakes had been committed during the trial. The lawyer should have requested witness’ anonymity clearly and openly and the judge would have taken a decision. Besides, journalists had to consider the Deontological Code and to not publish witness’ name. The Press Council concluded journalists didn’t commit any infringements, as there was no official interdiction, a judge ruling to forbid the disclosure of witness’ name. Her name was brought to the public without any evil intentions. Finally, the Council recommends lawyers to clearly request identity protection for witnesses and judges to announce the decision publicly.