Dear Chief Secretary to the Treasury,
I'm afraid to tell you there's no money left.
Signed, Liam Byrne

(Outgoing Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury. May 2010)
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Monday 19 April 2010

Habeas corpus?

It looks as if habeas corpus has gone for good. It had to go, otherwise the police wouldn't have been able to use the lovely laws that let them take people from their homes and lock them away for up to 28 days without charge, and whilst trying to find evidence against them.

Barry George, who was acquitted of murdering Jill Dando after serving eight years in prison, has been denied a chance of compensation for his years in prison.
the Ministry of Justice rejected his request after ruling he has not proven his innocence.
Mrs Rigby thought it was up to the courts to prove guilt. She thought British people were innocent until proven guilty. She thought that once a person had been found not guilty it was proof enough of innocence.

The new fangled Ministry of Justice clearly believes differently, and, a bit like that boy Oliver, is demanding more proof that he didn't do it.

Perhaps another good reason not to vote Labour - because it is they, and Jack Straw, who made this system.
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3 comments:

Uncle Marvo said...

Innocent until proven guilty ...

Fire up the Quattro. Let's have shot of the whole filthy lot of lawmangling idiots.

Please,

Hagar said...

Do we see the hand of the EU in this?

Macheath said...

'British people were innocent until proven guilty'

Think again. In Scotland, where you will remember there are three possible verdicts, there is also the question of 'pattern'.

If the prosecution can show that the defendant's behaviour fits a pattern associated with guilt on another occasion, then the defendant has to prove his innocence in court.

I'm no lawyer and may have explained it badly, but a member of my family sued a dodgy businessman using this technique and won.

Now, look around the government and count those in power who grew up in the Scots legal system...