Newsboom Media Literacy Report
Hamilton man Caleb Turner files IPCA complaint after being tasered while surrendering
The New Zealand Herald · Read original
This is Newsboom Unbiaser's opinion on how selected sentences in the article "Hamilton man Caleb Turner files IPCA complaint after being tasered while surrendering" by The New Zealand Herald would look if they avoided biased language. It highlights specific framing choices and suggests objective alternatives. It does not contain, replicate, or replace the original reporting. To read the full original article, visit the original publisher. To read an unbiased version, download Newsboom and run it while reading the original article.
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A man was left with two broken ribs and needed six weeks off work after being tasered by police as he held his arms out in surrender, before being pounced on by at least one other officer.
More neutral wording: A man sustained two broken ribs and required six weeks of work leave after being tasered by police.
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The officer who tasered him later said in a statement that Turner’s fists were closed, he was puffing his chest upwards in an intimidating manner and his face was “one of malice”.
More neutral wording: ”
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But CCTV footage of the incident, supplied to NZME, shows him standing in a T shape with his arms outstretched as the officers approach him.
More neutral wording: CCTV footage, supplied to NZME, shows the man standing in a T shape with his arms outstretched as the officers approached him.
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“They say that I had my fists up and was trying to fight them, but that’s a lie,” he said.
More neutral wording: ”
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He then tripped on the kerb and fell to the ground before at least one officer landed on him and about seven others surrounded him.
More neutral wording: He then tripped on the kerb and fell to the ground before at least one officer landed on him and about seven others surrounded him.
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However, the family say they have been left flummoxed after the IPCA referred their complaint back to police to investigate themselves, leaving them shocked and concerned.
More neutral wording: However, the family say they have been left flummoxed after the IPCA referred their complaint back to police to investigate themselves, leaving them shocked and concerned.
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Acting Hamilton City Area Commander Senior Sergeant Aimee Whitley told NZME police can’t comment as the matter was under investigation.
More neutral wording: Acting Hamilton City Area Commander Senior Sergeant Aimee Whitley told NZME police can’t comment as the matter was under investigation.
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As he was removed from Lucky Finns bar, he kept asking what he’d done wrong and spoke back to the officers, who then put him in the back of their van.
More neutral wording: As he was removed from Lucky Finns bar, he kept asking what he’d done wrong and spoke back to the officers, who then put him in the back of their van.
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He continued asking them what he’d done wrong and asking for their badge numbers, before being dropped off outside Hamilton Central Police Station on Anzac Parade, with a trespass notice.
More neutral wording: He continued asking them what he’d done wrong and asking for their badge numbers, before being dropped off outside Hamilton Central Police Station on Anzac Parade, with a trespass notice.
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Two officers came out of the station and watched on as Turner then slapped the back of the van’s window as it drove off.
More neutral wording: Two officers came out of the station and watched on as Turner then slapped the back of the van’s window as it drove off.