I think it is entirely natural to comment upon and discuss both the known facts and potentials of cases such as these. We do it because we are concerned about crimes such as these, particularly as they so often involve victims we can all imagine from our own lives. We do it because we are trying to understand the events and why they happened.

We feel a need to turn these things over, to gain a grasp on them, horrible as they may be. I don't call it "gossip". The girl who died was a person, we are persons too and we all know persons like her. The fact we want to understand indicates a desire to absorb and resolve the awful, to put it right inside us and outside. It's quite natural and not unhealthy.

Gratuitous reporting however cynically preys upon all, including the victim, their family, the local community and those of us in the wider community who are disturbed and concerned. Gratuitous reporting cynically exploits and feeds upon the very human need to discuss and understand terrible things. The two shouldn't be confused.