veritaserum

[ibchawz]

No: HPFGUIDX 138552

strawberryshaunie wrote:
<snip>
Why are there any 
> innocent people in Azkaban at all, ever, when the Ministry has 
> Veritaserum at its disposal? Surely it would be a vital part of 
> determining a criminal's guilt...especially in a matter that 
involves 
> a lifetime sentence? Sirius could have been cleared, ditto for 
> Hagrid, the DEs that "repented" wouldn't have gotten away...what 
> gives?

ibchawz responds:

The reason that the Veritaserum is not used in trials is that it can 
be counteracted via other potions or spells.  An accomplished 
occlumens may be able to counter the Veritaserum effect.  The 
Veritaserum worked on Barty Crouch, Jr. in GOF because he was in a 
weakened state and could not resist the effects.  In a trial even if 
the witness (or accused) speaks the truth, there will always be 
that "shadow of a doubt" that they prepared themselves to counteract 
the Veritaserum and thus they were able to lie.  Just look at the 
track record of the Ministry of Magic when presented the truth, but 
it was not what they wanted to hear.

ibchawz