Innocent until proven guilty ?

[bens_dad]

I thought there was a presumption of innocence.

This morning's news is full of the Football association removing John Terry as captain of the England football team, and speculation that Chris Huhne will be removed from the cabinet if the DPP says that Huhne will be charged (last night the news was saying that the Prime Minister and the Deputy PM had decided he couldn't stay if he was charged).

Both Terry and Huhne deny the charges.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumption_of_innocence#The_presumption_of_innocence_in_modern_practice describes some cases where UK law removes the presumption of innocence, but neither charge appears to come under those exceptions.

Comments

[ailbhe]

Presumption of innocence in the courts has nothing to do with presumption of innocence in other arenas.

[emperor]

It's pretty common for people in political posts (broadly speaking) to lose their job if they are charged with something. The usual argument runs either that they need to concentrate on clearing their name, or that it'll become too much of a distraction because the other side will just go on about the court case.

[rmc28]

And indeed Mr Huhne has combined both arguments in his resignation letter: that he cannot effectively defend himself and do his job as a minister at the same time.

[miss_t_ide]

In other walks of life people may be suspended if there is a serious allegation made about them. They are then either disciplined (sacked, perhaps) if they are found guilty or reinstated if they are cleared.