Besides, if the story is true that the man did attack his wife, and he was black, it seems only natural that he would be angry and call him a name. He chose to call him a nigger, someone else might have chosen to call him a slimy POS.
I don't see the press writing h***k*e, instead of honkie, and I don't see the press writing the "h" word, instead of honkie.
I don't know, maybe I'm wrong about it all, but it seems that people are too sensitive.
Personally, I agree that if that's what was said, that's what we should report, but if there are rules under which I'm expected to operate, I comply.