Here, the phrase "his life uprooted by the media..." is modifying how the accused is a victim of circumstance. Though it might sound unusual to begin a modifier with a noun such as "his life," it's actually the past participle "uprooted" that's the modifier. Think of it as analogous to the following:
He was a victim of circumstance, hounded by the media...

This modifier usage is perfectly correct.

The defense lawyer and witnesses portrayed the accused as a victim of circumstance, his life uprooted by the media pressure to punish someone in the case.

b)circumstance, and his life

"And" after a comma would have to separate 2 independent clauses, but there is no verb to go with "his life." It should have said "... and his life WAS uprooted..." This is a sentence fragment. Incorrect.

c)circumstance, and his life being

Same issue here. The second half is not an independent clause, so this is a fragment. Incorrect.

d)circumstance; his life

A semicolon must also separate 2 independent clauses, but "his life uprooted" is not an independent clause. Incorrect.

e)circumstance: his life being

"Being" is a gerund (noun), and would thus need a verb with it to create an independent clause. This is again a fragment.

The correct answer is A.

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