ABSTRACT
It is a fundamental maxim of our criminal law that an accused person is presumed to be innocent until his guilt has been proved by the Prosecutor beyond all reasonable doubt. The accused therefore is entitled to the benefit of a reasonable doubt. … The meaning of the presumption is simply this, that a person accused of a crime or an offence is not bound to make any statement or to offer any explanation of circumstances which throw suspicion upon him. His presumed innocence is a complete answer to mere suspicion. … Keeping in mind the presumption of innocence, it follows that in a criminal trial the strictest regard to the rules of evidence must be paid. 1
