Letter: Character assassination

From Mr Robin Wight

Sir: The Independent and James Cusick are to be congratulated on the courage of their outspoken journalism for their brave profile of John Costello (6 September).

What courage it must have takent to write "Costello's death is an event devoid of sadness, almost a cause for celebration" knowing that the victim of this character assassination was already dead and could not reply, and wasn't it award-winning journalism to use as a prime source an embittered woman who lost a court action against Costello? She was certainly bound to be an unbiased witness.

Two weeks ago, when John Costello was still alive, such an article would have led to a libel action.

Yours faithfully,

Robin Wight

London, W11

7 September