Yasmin Ashareh: Muddled reporting or a change in the facts of the case
I've always assumed that one of the jobs at a major newspaper was fact-checking. Somebody proofreads stories to ensure that the facts reported are consistent with the facts as they are known today, and as they have been generally reported before.
So when the facts being reported change, I have to wonder why, especially when the change is not called out, but simply reported as if it has always been reported that way.
One of the facts that has been consistently reported is that murder victim Yasmin Ashareh was born in Canada. Her family was always described as being from Somalia, but it was never clear which members of her family, whether Yasmin's father is in Canada, or whether Yasmin's mother arrived in Canada from Somalia pregnant with Yasmin, her father remaining behind in Somalia for some reason.
So today when I read this in the Toronto Sun, I'm left scratching my head:
One worker remembered Ashareh was having problems with a boyfriend, but were not sure if it was the man charged.
"I know she was having problems with him," the worker said. "I am not sure if she wanted to leave him."
Residents at the complex where she lived said the Somali-born Muslim had only recently moved into the townhouse, which had other tenants.
"Nobody saw her," said one neighbour, who like everyone else interviewed didn't want to give his name. "She came and went late at night." [emphasis added]
OK, anyone who has been following this story knows that calling Yasmin Ashareh a Somali-born Muslim is at odds with every report that has appeared in every paper until know:
Her brutal slaying came as a shock to many co-workers, who have described Ms. Ashareh as a friendly and outgoing person.
She was born in Canada, but her family is from Somalia.
Indeed, to call her Muslim is suggestive, since again we don't know if she was devout or indifferent when it came to religion.
So what has changed? Did Tom Godfrey of the Sun make a mistake that slipped through? Or have the facts as we understand them change, and this is simply the first time it has been reported (even though without any specific mention that the understanding of the situation has changed)?
And if our understanding of the facts have changed, if Yasmin Ashareh is really from Somalia, if her father is really from the old country, how does this change our perception of the crime? How old was Yasmin Ashareh when she came to Canada? Another question to ask is who exactly claimed she was born in Canada in the first place, and how was this mistake corrected?
Maybe this will turn out to be utterly irrelevant to the case, but if you following this story, you know that we don't know what is relevant and what is not. It also sounds like it won't be easy to know:
The 32-year-old Toronto man [William Imona-Russel] charged in connection with the murder of a woman who's remains were found in the city's west end appeared at Old City Hall court today.
He's been ordered to make a video appearance at a Finch Ave., W., court, on Monday at 11:30 a.m.
A publication ban has been placed on evidence presented in court.
A publication ban, dammit!
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Comments
Must keep silent about the vividly polka-dotted elephant squatting in the room.
Posted by: Shaken at July 31, 2006 08:16 AM
Further to Shaken's comment: was there not a similarly decorated pachyderm squatting in the room when, some weeks ago, we were all told by the cops that our very own alleged terrorists had nothing in common?
Oh, that elephant over there! We must have missed seeing it. Well, yes, we guess the fact that they are all muslims does mean that they just might be seen as having something in common.
Posted by: Tom at July 31, 2006 08:34 AM
...if Yasmin Ashareh is really from Somalia, if her father is really from the old country, how does this change our perception of the crime? How old was Yasmin Ashareh when she came to Canada?
[sigh] Steve, how could it possibly matter where Ms. Ashareh was born, and at what age she immigrated to Canada (if she immigrated at all)? Does it make her murder any more or less of a tragedy, or of a crime? Least I remind you, she was the victim here.
Any literate person can read between the lines of your above statement and recognize what you're driving at. Some (like myself) are disgusted; others (like 'Shaken' and 'Tom') seem ready to award you a Pulitzer. If you're going to continue spinning your conspiracy theories for the amusement of your increasingly irrelevant blogosphere pals, at least have the personal integrity to leave out disingenuous qualifiers like, "Maybe this will turn out to be utterly irrelevant to the case, but..." You clearly believe that whatever nugget you think you've dug up is supremely relevant to the case (why else blog about it without first confirming its factuality by, oh, I dunno, emailing Mr. Godfrey and asking for clarification?). You might as well come clean about it.
Posted by: A at July 31, 2006 09:09 AM
Come on, Steve.. Be ignorant like A. Don't ask questions. Be a sheep like A.
Posted by: Levesque at July 31, 2006 09:47 AM
Thanks for that really helpful comment, Levesque. By this thread's own twisted logic, should we also be concerned that, say, the overwhelming majority of pedophiles in Canada are white males? Are you a white male, Levesque? Stay away from the playgrounds...
Posted by: A at July 31, 2006 10:22 AM
Steve, It does not matter at this point where she was born. The main concern remains whether the public will be given the true story of what happened. Was the slaying taken place in the townhouse unit, where were the other tenants in the house? Where did the existing tenants go when the house was being watched by police? So many questions remain unanswered. Whey is there a publication ban? Why cant the public know the actual truth. This would be of special concern to the residents of John Garland Complex who are most eager to know what transpired. I think the Police should provide the public with exact information and what was in the duffel bag as was mentioned in the news conference that took place on June 16th.
Posted by: Melissa at July 31, 2006 11:16 AM
Given the publication ban on evidence, we're not going to hear much about anything. But unless this was a simple mistake on the part of the Toronto Sun, not being able to get something as straightforward as where she was born correct has to make you wonder just how accurate any of the information we are getting is. And if you are still of a mind that there is something else going on here (I'm not sure one way or the other) you'd have to agree that placing her birth here in Canada would deflect attention from those other theories.
Posted by: Steve Janke at July 31, 2006 11:27 AM
I'm not overly interested in the details of someone's murder as I don't consider it any of my business.
What I find interesting is that there is some surprise expressed about a lack of fact-checking by media outlets. I doubt that they have fact-checkers anymore and there are only a few true investigative journalists left.
They grab their stories from the newswires, use each other as sources and dig no deeper than necessary to meet their multiple daily deadlines. Journalists these days tend to be under-paid, under-educated over-worked and under-appreciated, which is why it is always a treat to read a properly researched, well written, factual account in the msm.
Posted by: Selma at July 31, 2006 11:40 AM
Steve, our family is concerned coz we live in the neighbourhood and have seen the cop cars surrounding the unit 24 hours since July 14, 2006. Would you not want to know what transpired right opposite your own home? And who is the Imona Russell - was this person a tenant along with another male? Why would a young girl rent a room with only male members in the town house unit? Something does not fit in right here.
Any one to shed more light on this topic?
Posted by: Melissa at July 31, 2006 12:02 PM
Steve, our family is concerned coz we live in the neighbourhood and have seen the cop cars surrounding the unit 24 hours since July 14, 2006. Would you not want to know what transpired right opposite your own home? And who is the Imona Russell - was this person a tenant along with another male? Why would a young girl rent a room with only male members in the town house unit? Something does not fit in right here.
Any one to shed more light on this topic?
Posted by: Melissa at July 31, 2006 12:02 PM
Why would a young girl rent a room with only male members in the town house unit?
Happens more often than you might think, Melissa. Largely to do with high rental costs and a shortage of affordable housing in Toronto.
Posted by: A at July 31, 2006 12:32 PM
Hi Steve,
What is the motive of slaying this young lady? Was this man her boyfriend? Why stab the neck multiple times? Why leave her in the same area? So many questions unanswered. Why will the police reveal all of this information to the public? Please Steve - follow up and ask them to give us the truth about this case.
Posted by: Amelia at July 31, 2006 01:04 PM
I knew the victim. I just finished having a distraught beer with the boyfriend, whom I also know. The facts (in the Star specifically) do oscillate...her age for one. I know when her birthday is and yet she some how ages one year in a three month period of reporting. Her being Muslim (or not) has bloody well nothing to do with her case...Muslim is just an inflamatory term (considering current events) spilt by the lips of a**ho;le reporters who need to use glaring phraseology in their articles. Irresponsible callous bastards.
She was a sweet girl and yes had problems with my buddy/co-worker but it most likely was a random act of brutal violence (which does occur in this city believe it or not).
Posted by: Tackleho at July 31, 2006 03:34 PM
I knew the victim. I just finished having a distraught beer with the boyfriend, whom I also know. The facts (in the Star specifically) do oscillate...her age for one. I know when her birthday is and yet she some how ages one year in a three month period of reporting. Her being Muslim (or not) has bloody well nothing to do with her case...Muslim is just an inflamatory term (considering current events) spilt by the lips of a**ho;le reporters who need to use glaring phraseology in their articles. Irresponsible callous bastards.
She was a sweet girl and yes had problems with my buddy/co-worker but it most likely was a random act of brutal violence (which does occur in this city believe it or not). And no there was no arranged marrigae. It was as common a courtship as any bloody caucasion sitcom.
Posted by: Tackleho at July 31, 2006 03:50 PM
I meant to write three day period of reporting not three month. I make typeos when i type vehemently
Posted by: Tackleho at July 31, 2006 03:53 PM
I meant three day reporting not "three month"
I make typing mistakes when I type vehemently
Posted by: Tackleho at July 31, 2006 03:54 PM
Hi Tackleho,
You knew the vicitim and also say that She was a sweet girl and yes had problems with my buddy/co-worker but it most likely was a random act of brutal violence (which does occur in this city believe it or not).
This act of violence - whom does that relate to - who commited this random act of violence. Do you the reason why? There has to be a reason. Please comment since you knew the victim.
Thanks Tackleo
Posted by: Amelia at August 1, 2006 10:33 AM
No one knows the reasons except the killer him-self. I'm not a forensics scientist or a homicide detective. I am just a subjective affiliate to some involved.
I was a little annoyed with the insinuations made about the boy friend and her cultural back-ground.
When the white woman died on yonge street a few months back(gang-related) totally innocent casualtie. All of the media exploded in a fenzy of out rage and trauma. No mention of her cultural background or any notion of external influence. Just tragidy. + It exsisted in the media for weeks.
Posted by: Tackleho at August 1, 2006 02:04 PM
Tackleho, get in touch with me by email, if you don't mind.
Posted by: Steve Janke at August 1, 2006 02:20 PM
 
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