Letter: Unsafe convictions

Monday 25 May 1998 23:02 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Your leading article (21 May) on the nurses convicted of murder in Saudi Arabia entirely misses the point. Over four hundred years ago Michel de Montaigne pointed out that it is always unsafe to convict persons of serious crimes on confessional evidence - especially when that evidence is uncorroborated. That even the latest series of miscarriages of justice in this country does not seem to have convinced the judiciary of this obvious fact is, I fear, only to be expected.

Dr MAX GAUNA

Reader in French Studies

Sheffield University

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Thank you for registering

Letter: Unsafe convictions

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering