British media outlets have taken differing approaches to reporting on a biological male who began identifying as a woman after being arrested for a violent attempted kidnapping and assault of a woman in England.
Sean Haverty, 28, was arrested after driving a large white van into a woman in her 50s in Andover on March 2. Prosecutors said Haverty then attempted to drag the injured woman into the vehicle and strangled her as she fought back. The victim managed to escape and was hospitalized with injuries to her face, knee, and wrist.
At the time of the arrest, local media identified Haverty as a man. By the time the case reached court, however, Haverty had changed his name to Safiya Anna Haverty and was presenting as a woman.
Judge Rufus Taylor informed jurors at the beginning of the trial that Haverty was “biologically male and presenting as a woman in court.” The Telegraph subsequently described Haverty as a “transgender woman” and used female pronouns, while the BBC noted the name change but largely avoided using pronouns.
According to Reduxx, archived profiles and photographs show Haverty previously presenting exclusively as male, including a modeling profile identifying him as a male model. The outlet reported that Haverty appears to have begun identifying as female following the arrest.
A jury at Winchester Crown Court ultimately found Haverty guilty of kidnapping, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, perverting the course of justice, and dangerous driving.
The case has once again highlighted the difficulties facing media organizations attempting to reconcile gender-identity policies with accurate reporting of violent crime, particularly when a defendant changes gender identity after an alleged offense.
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