to be irritated by the description of a homophophic killer

[TheBeast]

as a "public schoolgirl"?

Because it is being used to suggest that this kind of behaviour is only to be expected from people with a state education.

But all the descriptors used by newspapers are annoying.
I saw a headline the other day about an ex girlfriend of a minor celebrity doing something. If it is newsworthy, it's newsworthy it doesn't need the extra bit.
YANBU y the way.

thats not what public means in the uk. she went to a private schooo.

I know. What I am saying is that they are highlighting the fact that she went to public school to express surprise that she was involved in this as opposed to the two others involved who went to state school and from whom, presumably, this kind of violence is to be expected.

Surely OP, in the Daily Mail, Public Schoolgirl = privalidge, middle classes, cricket, bicycles, crumpets, safe, Agatha Christie, Agas, etc etc ad nauseum so any hint that anyone brought up in that golden environment should kick someone to death is extra horrific.

It rather shatters the DM frame of reference.

how were the other two girls described so that you know they went to state school? if both schools were mentioned then i don't see your point.

It was rather horrific, especially since she joked about it the next day on FB.

or it could be that statistically it is less likely and therefore a newsworthy abberation. female,public school, killer.....thats outside the norm,obviously.

daily mail in middle england reporting is not a shocker,but there isn't much to complain about here.

I think they are trying to say that she is not "some low-life from the dregs of society", as the Daily Mail readers would put it.

I appreciate your irritation though OP.

I think the Police view crime in a similar way, that the most likely perpetrator will be someone from a lower class background. Do you remember the terrible attack on poor Abigail Witchells, who was stabbed and left paralysed by a complete stranger? I clearly remember that the police went straight to the local traveller site. The person who eventually seemed to have done it was an ex-public schoolboy. (I say 'seemed' as he killed himself.) The reason I remember the public schoolboy part of it was because of the contrast of the assumption by the police that it was probably one of the travellers.

YANBU, but have a for reading the Daily Mail!

But if she is a public school girl, why shouldn't they describe her as such?

I know what you mean but in a way I see it as a positive thing (although we all know the Daily Mail mentions it for the reasons Quentin gives), but it does at least remind people that despite the prejudices that many hold, it is not safe to assume that people with money or a seemingly good upbringing cannot do awful, shocking things. As Ballonslayer points out, even the police can make this assumption, even though you would think they have seen a fair number of seemingly respectable people doing awful things!

beast as someone who once went to court a lot....I can tell you that not many middle or upper class people end up in the dock or in prison....they seem not to get caught....