Comments on: Getting away with murder

By: Strings

Strings — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:23:12 +0000

Sadly, and at the same time happily, the right to speak, or not speak, in your own defence is a basic attribute of our approach to justice. While I agree that what he had to say was not nice, (I offer no judgement on its accuracy as I have no basis to form an opinion,) I will fight to the death for his right to say it. Without that right, we start to cease being a land of free people and become something too terrible to contemplate.

Imagine a scenario where you are prosecuted for causing an affray (i.e. demonstrating against a proposed Government action,) outside Parliament, and are not allowed to speak in your own defence if you want a basis for my opinion.

Democracy will keep us free, but it will piss off a lot of people in the process I’m afraid!

By: Nat

Nat — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:29:28 +0000

Yeah, no one forced them to. There is absolutely no way I wouldn’t if it involved a member of my family.

I know people who chose not to sit in in court. My understanding is that it doesn’t make it any easier, you still know he’s talking about her.

I think that’s the point. He’s clearly well gone in the brain department, surely we didn’t need the circus to prove it?

By: Bruce Hoult

Bruce Hoult — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:59:35 +0000

The guy has a right to present a defense as he sees fit. Obviously it didn’t do him any good (probably hurt his chances in fact).

I’m not aware of anything forcing family to sit in the court, or to watch news coverage. I know I didn’t.

We’re probably lucky he didn’t try to plead insanity. He certainly seems insane to me. And not just temporary either.