Letter: Trial by jury

Sir: Amid the noise and smoke of battle over the right to jury trial ("Thousands lose right to jury trial", 19 May), I fear we are in danger of losing sight of the basic reason for its existence. For as long as the English judiciary system clings to the medieval practice of concentrating solely on prosecution, a final showdown in front of a jury is essential.

I, for one, would be content to forgo a jury trial only in a country which has an effective and independent investigation agency (such as a Procurator Fiscal or examining magistrate) which can consider the whole of the evidence, not just that deemed relevant by the police and a Crown prosecutor.

DAVID WALKER

Fareham,

Hampshire