Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

[DJC]

I hate that word exonerated, because it's used in the media context that implies no involvement or that the charges were fanciful.

But generally in Australia as I understand things it means someone who was initially found guilty had the decision reversed on some grounds by a higher court, often that is a technicality such as a breach of procedure by investigators or tainted evidence.

In that respect it's different from being acquitted, which as I understand is generally a not guilty finding in the first instance.

The public perception of those terms is often the reverse because exoneration is often associated with fraudulent accusations or evidence discovered after a conviction!

It's miles away from suggesting somebody wasn't involved, or that the charges were fraudulent, wrong or fanciful.

Maybe Mav can clarify.

Yes LP, poor choice of words on my part.

I didn't bother looking up the court reports and don't know whether the charges were dropped or whether he was found not guilty.  However, he certainly wasn't exonerated.

By the way, I refuse to refer to any of these terrorists, murderers, rapists, etc by name.  Treating them as anonymous figures doesn't increase their notoriety.  I do the same with the current POTUS.