IS THIS JUSTICE?

Today, in some papers and on some TV screens we have seen justice - as handed out by the Czech police and TV Nova.

A few weeks ago, (see below) a young family man was gunned down in the centre of Prague, just because he was a caring citizen and had gone to the assistance of a young woman who was being harassed by a man. For this act of courage he was mercilessly murdered in cold blood. A crime that sent shivers down the spines of all normal citizens of this land. However, recently, thanks to the police and TV Nova, we have been treated to the spectacle of the alleged murderer being forcibly restrained by police and in full camera/photo shot of the journalists of TV Nova - the same TV Company where the murdered man worked….there was even a microphone thrust under the suspect’s nose – perhaps ready for a public confession? I have to ask the following questions of both the police and TV Nova:. Since when did the Prague police and TV Nova have the right to determine that this particular individual was the guilty party? Even if the alleged murderer confessed to the crime, isn't he innocent until proven guilty by a court of law? Surely it’s a judge and not a policeman or a journalist who determine guilt? Are there different rules of due process of law at work in the Czech Republic? Isn't it something of a coincidence that it was TV Nova and not CT1/2 or TV Prima, who were there to capture it all on camera. The murdered man was an editor with TV Nova. How did TV Nova know that he was being arrested and taken to a detention centre? In most places in Europe the arrested individual is presumed innocent until a court of law determine otherwise and a blanket would be placed over his head - to ensure anonymity. Just to put the record straight – if this man is found guilty by due process of law – I personally hope the courts jail him and throw away the keys for what he has done….but to be honest, I would hope that we are all innocent until the evidence in court proves otherwise. Frankly I put more trust in the judicial system here than I do in either the Czech police or the media.