Martin Maloney responds to my response to his original letter about assumptions of guilt within criminal law procedure. In essence, Mr Maloney repeats his previous assertions which I have already answered; basically that what distinguishes us from others is that we are lawyers and that this is a legal journal.

He adds one fresh squib – a case decided in a foreign jurisdiction. I would not wish to base my understanding of English criminal law on the legal outcome of events transpiring in the state of Kentucky, nor would I wish to rely on American usage for the meaning, legal or otherwise, of those two words ‘assume’ and ‘presume’.

Ian Craine, London N15