A new standard of proof
I've noticed recently that the old norms of proof and evidence are breaking down and instead increasingly often we have the 'good bloke' argument. Today we have Greg Rusedski's coach saying '"Of all the men and women on the circuit, Greg would be the last person I would suspect of doing anything like that intentionally". Well that's the matter settled in my book.This defence is of course known in legal circles as the 'Peat' defence, after the most famous use, that of Sir Michael Peat, whose foremost reason for not believing a story about the Prince of Wales was 'First of all, of course, I'm basing it on the fact that the Prince of Wales has told me it's untrue and I believe him implicitly'. From that moment on so did I.
posted by Matthew @ 1/16/2004 03:37:00 PM
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