We have often mentioned the McClatchy Mugshot Policy that the Lexington Herald-Leader is obligated to follow. Of course, the Herald-Leader did not publish the mugshot of the defendant in the following story, despite having published several recently, all of white criminal suspects.

Massive bond set for man accused of killing Richmond couple. Not guilty plea entered

By Rayleigh Deaton | August 9, 2021 | 11:58 AM EDT

A $5 million bond has been set for the man charged with two counts of murder in the slayings of a well-known Richmond couple.

At an arraignment Monday, a plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of Thomas Birl, 51, who is accused of killing Christopher and Gracie Hager. Birl was also charged with arson, evidence tampering and receiving stolen property.

Birl allegedly shot and killed the Hagers outside of a duplex they owned in Richmond, according to police. Birl was staying with his girlfriend. After the shooting, Birl set the duplex on fire and jumped out of a bedroom window before being arrested, according to court records.

What does the sentence, “Birl was staying with his girlfriend,” mean? Does it mean that he was staying at the apartment building owned by the Hagers? Perhaps Miss Deaton will update the article to fix that.

This has been a story that the newspaper has been all over:

• Stolen gun may have been used to kill Richmond couple. Chief says test incomplete. August 6, 2021, 11:20 AM
• Witnesses saw man fire shots that killed well-known Richmond KY couple, police say August4, 2021, 12:37 PM
• Funeral arrangements announced for slain Richmond couple August 6, 2021, 8:16 AM
• What we know so far about the killings of a Richmond KY couple August 5, 2021, 10:35 AM
• Updated | Slayings of beloved Richmond couple stun community, friends August 4, 2021, 8:49 AM

But, all over it or not, the newspaper declined to print the mugshot of the accused, even though it has been freely broadcast all over the area by the local media, by Channel 18, WLEX-TV, and Channel 27, WKYT-TV, among others. Of course, The First Street Journal, which believes in the public’s right to know, does publish mugshots; they are a matter of the public record.