Judge Kevin Parker talks about 'beyond reasonable doubt', 2008

Transcript of sound recording

As you are dealing with a case, worrying about where is the right and where is the wrong, you come to a decision in the end. Bear in mind you must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt, so that if you have doubt you've got to say, 'The case isn't proved, the accused person is not guilty'. And often when you do that, you feel, well - somehow or other - I'm sure there was more to this case that hasn't been able to be proved and which probably meant that the person was guilty.

It's also the case after you've finished with the trial that - there's often a very large international reaction to the decisions of the judges - and naturally, you tend to go over in your own mind: 'Well, did we get it right or did we get it wrong?' And all you can do is to say to yourself: 'Well, we gave this the most careful and conscientious attention that we could. We weighed everything that we could and we have honestly and conscientiously come to a decision'.

And that's what you have to tell yourself in the end, and try then and put out of your mind the ongoing question that 'was the result right or wrong?' You've reached the very best decision that humanity enabled you to reach.