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Comment by d2vid | Hacker News Reader

In Britain (where this case was tried), the law is different. If you don't mention facts that you will rely upon in court, it can harm your defense. Shutting up is not as much of an option:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_warning#England_and_Wal...

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"You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so, but I must warn you that if you fail to mention any fact which you rely on in your defence in court, your failure to take this opportunity to mention it may be treated in court as supporting any relevant evidence against you"

F.U.D. made law. Well done England.

Fortunately England still requires a Jury, and Jury's still acquit people despite the police and prosecution spouting outright lies from the moment a person is arrested. If you naively believe that the police do not do so, see if anyone in your circle of friends is a defense lawyer/solicitor who has represented people at police stations and have a candid conversation with them.

If you get arrested in the UK (or anywhere) shut up and say only "I invoke my right to silence. Get me my lawyer."

Just a quick note: If you don't have a solicitor or your solicitor is not available you're in even more shit as they'll get the "duty solicitor" out.

They are their own breed of scum you have to avoid like the plague as they sleep, eat and drink with the arresting officers and are definitely not impartial. Actually that is pretty much the same for most of the legal profession in the UK. Half of them are friends, the other go to the same masonic lodges - fine example at [1]

The UK is 100% guilty until proven innocent.

As for trial by Jury - seriously speaking they are usually manned by idiots most of the time.

[1] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/police-def...

As for trial by Jury - seriously speaking they are usually manned by idiots most of the time.

That is, unfortunately, a universal problem anywhere that there are jury trials.

Half of the duty "solicitors" are cops. You don't have to actually be a solicitor in the UK. You just have to pass a test. So retired cops take the test and earn themselves beer money (on top of their pension) to work with their mates.

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