THERE could be only one thing worse than having police knock on your door to tell you that a loved one has been killed in an accident.
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And that is to find out second-hand.
Such was the case for the family of Yasmin Duncan, killed in a car accident in 2010.
Reflecting on the situation yesterday, magistrate Tony Murray raised concerns that police need to re-address their protocols for informing the next-of-kin of victims.
But it is all too common for such situations to arise, with the rapid spread of news, particularly on social media. The “online grapevine” works at a breakneck speed and is an uncontrollable beast.
Last month, a man who had been shot at his Lavington home had been identified on Facebook within 15 minutes.
Not only did the family of Luke Hargrave, who later died, have to learn about the news through social media, insult was added to injury by those who dissected every bit of information in their online postings.
Changing police protocols may not be the answer but it is time to consider how we can address the issue.
