[HPforGrownups] Re: JKR's Single Biggest Error so far - ie: Veritaserum

[MadameSSnape at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 124023

 
In a message dated 2/5/2005 7:06:55 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
dumbledore11214 at yahoo.com writes:

It seems  VERY inconsistent to me that veritaserum is not used in ALL 
criminal  investigations of WW. I mean, we don't know maybe it IS 
used in some, but  then again why wasn't it used in Sirius' trial?



---------------------------
Sherrie here:
 
IMHO, there was no "criminal investigation" - they caught Sirius (as it  
appeared) red-handed - scene of the crime, wand drawn, thirteen sets of remains  
at the point of it.  The fact that they apparently had witnesses was just  
icing on the cake, in their minds.  Sirius went straight to Azkaban, do not  pass 
Go, do not collect $500.  If there was any sort of ex post facto  hearing, 
Sirius wasn't there.  They didn't NEED him, or his testimony, with  or without 
Veritaserum - they had all the "proof" they could have asked  for.  People have 
been hanged on less evidence.
 
Also IMHO, Veritaserum would suffer from at least one of the same  
shortcomings as RW "truth sera" - you have to ask the right questions.  You  might get 
truthful answers - at least, the truth as the subject perceives it -  but 
you'll get the answers only to the questions you ask.  Word it wrong,  and...
 
Sherrie
"We cannot escape history." - Abraham Lincoln


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