Lives that become soap operas

Without a proper trial, we’ll never know for sure what David Hicks is guilty of, if anything. He sits rotting in a foreign prison without the most basic legal rights that even mass murderers such as Martin Bryant are accorded.

When people become involved in debate about controversial legal cases they often lose sight of basic principles.

Some see alleged drug smugglers and terrorists and look no further. Others assume that an Australian charged with crimes by foreigners must be innocent. Too often, people allow their prejudices to govern their opinions.

For me, there are some simple principles which should apply in all these cases. Everyone deserves a fair trial. The punishment should fit the crime. Capital punishment is wrong, no matter what the crime. Whether the accused is a beautiful model caught up with drugs, a Vietnamese-Australian smuggling heroin, or a young misfit involved with Islamic terrorists, the same principles should apply.

When Australians are charged with offences in other countries, we should stick to our principles, do everything to ensure they get genuine justice, and recognise that those countries are entitled to run their legal systems as they see fit, just as we are. Like many Australians, I’m appalled by the fate suffered by Schapelle Corby and Van Nguyen, but I recognise that we determine what goes on in our country, not in others.