Practiced Liar
But it does suggest to me that there is plenty of evidence to show that he is a manipulative and practiced liar and that he is not to be regarded as a credible witness if he ever decides to testify in his own defence.
And it is quite amazing to think that this wealthy young man was able to run rings around the criminal justice system in the UK for years, on the pretext that he was not well enough to stand trial because he was suffering from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Baloney, of course, and it goes to show is that people with enough money stand a better chance than most of getting away with murder, especially if they can feign illness.
Fitness to Plead (9 September 2014)
I see that former French President - Jacques Chirac - is trying hard to avoid giving evidence in court where he faces a series of corruption charges.
Apparently, Jacques is suffering from memory loss and some form of Alzheimer's - which is sad, but is part of life - and happens to lots of people these days.
Whether or not this is so severe as to render the former president's evidence as completely unreliable - I don't know, but I doubt it very much.
I seem to recall a trial back in the 1980s when the director of a big company - Guiness, I think - used the self-same argument to avoid giving evidence in a Scottish court.
Yet soon after the trial was over - the man made a remarkable recovery - and was out playing golf and suchlike - enjoying life to the full once again.
Another case involving someone's fitness to give evidence involves Shrien Dewani - who is accused of consiracy to murder his young wife - while on honeymoon in South Africa.
Dewani's lawyers argue that he is unfit to face the charges because he is suffering from post-traumatic syndrome - and in addition that he shouldn't being sent to jail in South Africa anyway since that would infringe his human rights - because of the 'poor' conditions in their prison system.
Dewani's family have also secured the services of PR supremo Max Clifford to help present his 'case' - outside of court - and prevent his deportation to South Africa to face trial.
Meanwhile the murdered bride's distraught family - understandably - want to see the charges against their former son-in-law tested in court.
The balance to be struck is one of being fair to the individual - as well as the obvious public interest in justice being seen to be done.
But on the face of things I can see no good reason for either Jacques Chirac or Shrien Dewani to avoid facing their accusers in court.
Let's face it - Margo MacDonald suffers from Parkinson's Disease - as did my dear old Mum.
But that doesn't stop Margo giving doing her job in the Scottish Parliament - giving it 'laldy' regularly to the great and the good - on behalf of her constituents.
Apparently, Jacques is suffering from memory loss and some form of Alzheimer's - which is sad, but is part of life - and happens to lots of people these days.
Whether or not this is so severe as to render the former president's evidence as completely unreliable - I don't know, but I doubt it very much.
I seem to recall a trial back in the 1980s when the director of a big company - Guiness, I think - used the self-same argument to avoid giving evidence in a Scottish court.
Yet soon after the trial was over - the man made a remarkable recovery - and was out playing golf and suchlike - enjoying life to the full once again.
Another case involving someone's fitness to give evidence involves Shrien Dewani - who is accused of consiracy to murder his young wife - while on honeymoon in South Africa.
Dewani's lawyers argue that he is unfit to face the charges because he is suffering from post-traumatic syndrome - and in addition that he shouldn't being sent to jail in South Africa anyway since that would infringe his human rights - because of the 'poor' conditions in their prison system.
Dewani's family have also secured the services of PR supremo Max Clifford to help present his 'case' - outside of court - and prevent his deportation to South Africa to face trial.
Meanwhile the murdered bride's distraught family - understandably - want to see the charges against their former son-in-law tested in court.
The balance to be struck is one of being fair to the individual - as well as the obvious public interest in justice being seen to be done.
But on the face of things I can see no good reason for either Jacques Chirac or Shrien Dewani to avoid facing their accusers in court.
Let's face it - Margo MacDonald suffers from Parkinson's Disease - as did my dear old Mum.
But that doesn't stop Margo giving doing her job in the Scottish Parliament - giving it 'laldy' regularly to the great and the good - on behalf of her constituents.
