A woman who was accused of sending Internet abuse to the parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann has been found dead in a hotel room. Her death has revived debate about media responsibility and how best to respond to online "trolls."
Television channel Sky News identified 63-year-old Brenda Leyland as a Twitter user who had attacked Kate and Gerry McCann under the name "sweepyface."
Last week, a Sky News reporter confronted Leyland — who lived in the same county as the McCanns — on camera about the alleged abuse. She replied that she was entitled to send the tweets.
Police confirmed that Leyland's body was found in a hotel room near Leicester in central England on Saturday.
"Ms. Leyland's death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner," police said. "Officers acting on behalf of the coroner will look into the circumstances surrounding and prior to her unexpected death."
Sky News said Monday it was saddened by Leyland's death but that it would be "inappropriate to speculate or comment further."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/missing-madeleine-alleged-online-troll-found-dead/ar-BB7PfBc
I guess they don't take kindly to freedom of speech over there in England. I have a suspicion they hired a "The Equalizer" type of dude who murked the troll. Clean. Not messy. No traces of anything left behind. Total pro.
Television channel Sky News identified 63-year-old Brenda Leyland as a Twitter user who had attacked Kate and Gerry McCann under the name "sweepyface."
Last week, a Sky News reporter confronted Leyland — who lived in the same county as the McCanns — on camera about the alleged abuse. She replied that she was entitled to send the tweets.
Police confirmed that Leyland's body was found in a hotel room near Leicester in central England on Saturday.
"Ms. Leyland's death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner," police said. "Officers acting on behalf of the coroner will look into the circumstances surrounding and prior to her unexpected death."
Sky News said Monday it was saddened by Leyland's death but that it would be "inappropriate to speculate or comment further."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/missing-madeleine-alleged-online-troll-found-dead/ar-BB7PfBc
I guess they don't take kindly to freedom of speech over there in England. I have a suspicion they hired a "The Equalizer" type of dude who murked the troll. Clean. Not messy. No traces of anything left behind. Total pro.