Proof
Ark Royal
You have hit the nail on the head - we do not have to prove innocence MOD has to prove guilt and so far they have failed to do so. This verdict was based on a cabal of Air Marshals taking a decision with no chance for any discussion of the alternatives or any defence - that would not normally be the basis for proving guilt except it seems for MOD! The evidence available that we can use to establish innocence (by proving that there must be massive doubts about guilt) is exactly the same as MOD is using to claim to have "proven" guilt - but as they and we know the only established fact is that "nobody knows", and they never will. Even the SRO makes this point. Would anyone on this site make a finding equivalent to culpable homicide based on that?
The guilty verdict does not withstand the test of legal opinion from the FAI through the Juridical Review to the HofL, but clearly it must be compatible with the ethical standards of justice used by MOD, but then so are lots of other things that others might not accept - it was not MOD "compassion" that caused MOD to offer WW1 pardons last week - it was losing in Court!
JB