| In the hypothetical, I know the murderer, but I cannot expect the jury to rely on my word alone. My testimony is, in fact, evidence, but it is reasonable to require corroboration, and to be unwilling to convict if the corroboration is not adduced, or is weak. In any event, regardless of the formal merit of the jury's verdict, it does not change the fact that a guilty person is freed. Similarly, whatever the court of public opinion decides, however reasonable, will not reflect necessarily the whole truth, if the standard of proof is unreasonably high, or if too much of the material that would bear on the case is classified, and cannot be offered in evidence, to protect sources and methods. |
