News International phone-hacking trial

[jean]

...the thrust of the argument said that (1) a jury had already convicted, having heard the evidence, (2) the standard of proof was very high (beyond reasonable doubt), and (3) it was not appropriate to allow new evidence at such a late stage.

It's quite a step from having such faith in the system you have in place that you cannot imagine it failing to establish the truth, and not caring whether it does or not.

Your (2) here seems well on the safe side of that line, but (3) is edging over it.

But whether the case is not reexamined from overweening confidence in the rightness of the original verdict or just not caring whether it was right or not, the effect on the accused is the same.

What I don't quite see is how an inquisitorial system does any better at avoiding that overweening confidence.

I don't know much about modern Continental systems in practice, but I have never heard of one of its victims managing to get the Holy Inquisition to change its mind.

[amateur51]

A very useful summary of the first month of this trial ...

http://theconversation.com/journalism-in-the-dock-first-month-of-phone-hacking-trial-20737?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+2+December+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+2+December+2013+CID_9a27342b916f8852ee729b7a59c302d6&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=Journalism%20in%20the%20dock%20first%20month%20of%20phone%20hacking%20trial

[jean]

Private Eye does a pretty good summary too (not available online, unfortunately)

[jean]

The prosecution saved the best till last!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26260790

[Dave2002]

The prosecution saved the best till last!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26260790

It seems that the revelations of this last item can be interpreted in several ways. :hah:

[amateur51]

The prosecution saved the best till last!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26260790

What a nauseating man Blair is. Delighted that this has come to light!

[amateur51]

Judge clears Brooks of Prince William charge on a point of law - four more to go ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26272727

[french frank]

Verdict ...

[jean]

The prosecution will have been pleased to have got a guilty verdict in the case of Coulson. They will have hoped to get Brooks but will have recognised they probably wouldn't because so much of the evidence had gone missing.

The others don't really matter.

[french frank]

But looks as if Coulson carries the can alone anyway.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i hope he now ditches the real dirt on NI!

[ahinton]

What a nauseating man Blair is. Delighted that this has come to light!

Indeed - although sadly there would still appear to be a great deal more water to flow under quite a few bridges before he gets to take that holiday in Den Haag...

[amateur51]

Am I right in recalling that David Cameron said that he would apologise publicly if Coulson was found guilty?

He is currently the laughing stock of Poland's political class!

[jean]

He's just apologised - though mostly for giving Coulson 'another chance'.

[amateur51]

He's just apologised - though mostly for giving Coulson 'another chance'.

Which he was advised not to do by many wiser people at the time. It's a grotesque error of judgement.