Spy/Snape

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 47658

Bish:" Though not specifically stated in canon, it appears to me that 
the trials of the death eaters were not open to the public, and IIRC 
only the defendant accused of the crime being tried was present."

I don't think that's settled.  There's a substantial gallery at the 
trials/hearings we see: Bagman's, Karkaroff's, and Lestrange/Crouch 
Jr.  They catcall, they comment, they talk amongst themselves, and we 
aren't told and it isn't clear that everyone there has a role besides 
spectator. With that many people, if the trial is supposed to be a 
secret, it won't be.

Phyllis:The trial at which Dumbledore announces to the entire 
courtroom that Snape was a DE but turned spy for the good guys was 
Karkaroff's.  In Ch. 30 of GoF, (p. 508 UK edition) it's noted that 
there "were at least two hundred" witches and wizards in attendance 
at Karkaroff's trial.  It's not clear whether the trial was open to 
the public, but there were a lot of witches and wizards in attendance 
nonetheless.  And some of them could have been Imperio'd former DEs 
for all we know."

No doubt that, in the Muggle world, Snape would be considered 
100% "blown," totally compromised, never to go into the field again. 
Maybe JKR never read John Le Carre.