Thursday 11 October 2012

Jimmy Saville

We heard about the breaking storm of allegations almost as soon as we touched down in Edinburgh, back from our holiday in Italy. One of the things which has given pause for thought, and by this I do not mean to try and defend or excuse Jimmy Saville, is the truth that a person is innocent until proved guilty and pronounced so by jury and or judge. Does this change once someone has died? The accusations are flooding in, and already those in high places are making statements which they would not dare make had the accused been alive, and awaiting trial. It is as though the verdict has been pronounced. He has already been judged and found guilty. I know that it is unlikely that so many people would come forward, independent of one another, to make false allegations, and in no way do I want to belittle or undermine their trauma. All I want to make a plea for, are the due processes of justice. Are they not there for a reason?