The court ordered a TV channel and three journalists to compensate the family of Nora Dalmasso because in 2007 they broadcast images of her body just days after the murder in Río Cuarto.
Civil Court 97 of the province of Buenos Aires sentenced América TV and journalists Facundo Pastor, Guillermo Andino, Mónica Gutiérrez, and Cynthia García to pay compensation of nearly 300 million pesos (661,387 pounds) for damages to Dalmasso's family, who was murdered in November 2006.
Nora Dalmasso fue asesinada en noviembre de 2006.
The image, taken from the judicial file, violated the confidentiality of the proceedings and, according to the judge, caused the family to be revictimized, especially her children, Facundo and Valentina, who at that time were 18 and 15 years old, respectively.
According to the court, showing Nora Dalmasso's corpse was a "clear excess"
The judge emphasized that, although freedom of the press is an essential pillar in a state governed by the rule of law, in this case there was a "clear excess."
The publication of the photograph was compounded by the dissemination of "false statements," such as an alleged incriminating phone conversation between Facundo and his father, and the disclosure of a private letter written by Valentina to her father, all of which constituted a serious violation of the family's rights.
The judge stated that it was not necessary to show the body of an abused and murdered woman to report on the case, describing the action as an exploitation of morbidity to obtain ratings.
The channel indicated that they will appeal the ruling. "We will continue with the appeals process, seeking review by higher court judges," they explained to La Voz del Interior.
