Victims of stabbing attack slam police

A man and woman who were victims of a stabbing attack in mid-September tell how they asked for police support in getting items back from the woman’s previous residence, but police blew them off. Instead, her ex‑boyfriend attacked and stabbed both of them. (Warning for the squeamish: video shows details of their wounds from the incident.)

Incidentally, note the headline “Alleged victims of stabbing attack…”. Our journalists aren’t well trained about this stuff. These people are not “alleged” victims. They are victims. Where you need to say “alleged” is when talking about the attacker, not the victims. “John Doe is alleged to have attacked his ex-girlfriend” – yes, because it hasn’t yet been proven in court, so saying so can be libellous and you have to be careful. But the attack itself is not an allegation.

This came up last week when a nurse in Sherbrooke was punched by an assailant angry that she had vaccinated his wife. CTV headline: “Police in Sherbrooke searching for man who allegedly punched nurse.” The nurse was punched, that’s not debatable, so it isn’t an allegation. The identity of the attacker was unknown, so no allegation had occurred.

Alleging that an established attack took place is not necessary and makes it sound like the writer is hinting the incident never took place. Were those people stabbed? Yes. Did that nurse get hit by an unknown male assailant? Yes. Not allegations.

Leaving all that aside, the Montreal knifing incident is an example of police not taking domestic violence seriously. Cops need to listen when a woman says she needs backup, especially when a relationship is ending.