Why the phone hacking suspects should be cut some slack

Rupert and James Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, various Metropolitan Police officers, Glenn Mulcaire the private detective; just a few of the names linked with the ongoing phone hacking scandal.

Whilst we have indeed been presented with some rather compelling evidence against these people, we should all pause before saddling up our high horses. These individuals are as entitled to a free and fair trial, before a jury of their peers, as anyone else. To deny them that, is to make oneself complicit in denying a person the justice they deserve.

It may well be that the justice they end up receiving is a lengthy term in prison and should that be the case, I doubt Kleenex shares will see an upsurge. However we would all do well to remember that thus far, most of the evidence against them has been presented by rivals to the Murdoch empire (for which I have no love whatsoever) and the government controlled BBC.

If we’re going to pitch our tents on Mount Moral High-ground, let’s make sure we actually have a case for being on said mount.