a flint regarding wizarding trials......

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 71301

"thehighinquisitorofhogwarts" wrote:

> I suppose... Dumbledore couldn't have known that the Potters 
> switched secret-keeper at the last minute...

> But what about DD being all knowing and being able to determine who is 
> telling the truth and who is not, per his explanation with his bout 
> with Kreacher?  Some would say without "proof" DD's hands were tied 
> but this should be a flaw in the wizarding world judicial system as 
> this type of information (the truth) should be easily extracted from 
> all accused with a verdict not entirely relying upon a jury's 
> decision, a process which is flawed in the judical muggle world.

First, I think OoP has established that Dumbledore is by no means all
knowing, despite his general tendency to be right.

Regarding legilimency, Snape explains that "those who have mastered
Legilimency are able, under certain conditions, to delve into the
minds of their victims and interpret their findings correctly." (OoP
US edition, pg 531).  He emphasizes that this is not the same as
reading minds.  Yes, certain people, such as Dumbledore and Voldemort,
are able to determine whether a person is lying in most cases.  But it
sounds to me very similar to the lie detectors used by the police:
monitor certain subconcious reactions and emotions to determine
whether what the person is saying is true.  This is not a foolproof
system (someone accomlished in occlumency could certainly fool it, and
possibly others who are simply good liers), and like our lie
detectors, not admissible as proof of a person's guilt or innocence.  

Also, when you mention Kreacher, are you refering to Dumbledore's
little conversation with him after he sent Harry to the Department of
Mysteries?  I actually found his description of that conversation
rather chilling.  Dumbledore says, "But I am a sufficiently
accomplished Legilimens myself to know when I am being lied to and I -
persuaded him - to tell me the full story..." (OoP pg 832).  That
puase around "persuaded him" led me to believe Dumbledore used some
less than pleasant, certainly not legal methods to extract the
information.  Veritaserum, possibly even Cruciatus?  With Harry's life
in danger, I certainly wouldn't put it past him.  Regardless, his
methods don't strike me as something that could be used in a court of
law, even in the Wizarding World.

-Corinth