[connectthedots]

You can no more be sued for calling Schiavo a murderer than you can be sued for calling Clinton a rapist.

I would disagree. On the other hand, if someone were to call Schiavo a murderer it would likely be a defense that because the story has gained such notoriety most people would know that he didn't actually 'murder' his wife and the such language would be rhetorical in nature. This would be much like calling an abortionist a murderer. In addition, political speach enjoys the broadest of protections outside of the legislative or judicial process and comments related to the Schaivo case could readily be construed a plitical in nature.

[Catspaw]

One problem of calling Michael Schiavo a murderer is that Terri isn't dead yet. Now you can allege that Schiavo wants her dead, but until she dies, it's not a murder.

[Poohbah]

On the other hand, if someone were to call Schiavo a murderer it would likely be a defense that because the story has gained such notoriety most people would know that he didn't actually 'murder' his wife and the such language would be rhetorical in nature. This would be much like calling an abortionist a murderer.

Quite true. But the more lurid allegations are that Mr. Schiavo deliberately CAUSED his wife's injuries.