On Wednesday evening two people were arrested on the tarmac at Liverpool airport in connection with the murder of Anthony Walker, both were named and their ages given in the press reports and both have been kept in custody since their arrest.

It's now announced that two people have been charged with the murder, - Paul Taylor, aged 20 and a 17-year-old youth "who cannot be named for legal reasons".

If I were to name the 17 year old here I could be held in contempt of court, yet the police have ben publicising his name for several days :D

It does just seem a little bit crazy :confused:

Doesn't the 17 year old have a brother called Barton who plays football for Man City?

Well , under our laws to protect Youf , a person of 17 is still a child . !
Even though he or she may be a hulking brute , they are still classed as children.
Having said that , I have seen cases where a judge or magistrate HAS permitted such names to be published ; perhaps it's all at the discretion of the authorities ?

Personally I think after they have been sucessfully charged with this most horrible crime they should be named and shamed publicly, if they are proved to be guilty then they deserve everything they get ..

He was named on the 6 pm news so someone has seen the stupidity of it ;)

i thought that this morning when i first heard

said he couldnt be named but was 17

earlier in the week they said they were looking for michael barton, (and his brother made the tv appeal :P ) who was 18, then when he was arrested they said 17

doesnt take a rocket scientist to put two and two together :P

True those under 18 cannot be named in the press.
HOWEVER - if the police are hunting someone in connection with a crime in exceptional circumstances they can legally name the person they are seeking irrespective of age (and also state the crime no matter what the age) so that the public can help them track down that person.
Once somebody is under arrest the criminal case is then 'active' to use the legal term and so court restrictions apply and journalists who print or release the name of the alleged offender if they are underage could be held in contempt of court.
So that's why. Mad, but that's how it works.