Bag's Rants

There must be more than this...

Reading the article on the three people charged on terrorism offenses.

I'm normally happy to skim these items on the understanding that these charges will be put forward in court and proven beyond reasonable doubt. Guilty or not the facts will come out and the guilty get punished and the innocent freed. Well, generally anyway.

Reading the article. One guy has 'A DVD entitled "Martyrdom Operations Vest' which is for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. Plus two pieces of paper in his bedroom - one with the words in Arabic "Welcome to Jihad" and the other "Hospital = attack".

Another was allegedly found to have a video slides film on a computer hard drive showing how to make a car bomb. Plus video slides film showing a number of places in Washington DC.

What is going on? There must be more than this.

Putting aside the above case which still needs to be processed and looking at the process itself.

The policy seems to be to charge these guys with lots of crimes each by itself supported by very flimsy evidence and relying on the sheer volume of it. Coupled with the 'We also have telephone surveilance supportting this but you can't listen to it'. It can't all be wrong can it? Relying on our general principle of not wanting to get blown up. No smoke without fire. Let's play safe. This seems to be a way of ensuring these prosecutions go ahead.

Something just doesn't sound right with this whole process. How many miscarriages of justice could this process lead to? We will never find out because it is all based on 'What if's'. The facts are true enough it is just the intent that is guessed. Won't be out for 15 years so we are a lot safer.

No wonder they want to remove that burdensome rule and lower the standard of proof. If this isn't done then some of these cases may actually be tried in front of juries who can think. If we can find any that is.

posted by Bag @ 1:42 pm