Present compelling evidence before the Court. These are the golden principles of law that:

 2022 MLD 697

The presumption of innocence is a legal principle that every person accused of any crime is considered innocent until proven guilty. Under the presumption of innocence, the legal burden of proof is thus on the prosecution, which must present compelling evidence before the Court. These are the golden principles of law that: -

a. Finding of guilt against an accused cannot be based merely on the high probabilities that may be inferred from evidence in a given case.

b. Finding of the guilt should rest surely and firmly on the evidence produced by the prosecution.

c. Mere conjectures and probabilities cannot take the place of proof otherwise the golden rule of benefit of doubt will be reduced to naught.

d. It is the duty of prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

e. Accused is only to create dents in prosecution’s case.

f. Benefit of doubt however slight may be must go to accused not as a matter of concession or grace but as a matter of right.

g. Even a single infirmity in prosecution’s case would entitle accused to benefit of doubt.