[HPforGrownups] What's the Charge against Sirius? (Re: Sirius in perspective)

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 158776

>> Magpie:
>> <snip>
>> And of course, we know they couldn't have used any of the Wizard
>> forensics we know about like Priori Incantatum on Sirius' wand or
>> Legilimency or a Pensieve. I don't remember that quote of JKR's in
>> full but it may have strengthened in my mind the idea that was
>> supposed to have been railroaded.
>
> Mike:
> I don't understand why the DMLE couldn't use 'Priori' on Sirius'
> wand. Or the other forensic devices. I know it's not canon, is this
> from another JKR interview? I would appreciate your or JKR's
> reasoning on this.

Magpie:
Sorry--I just meant I knew we couldn't have used those forensics because if 
they had there would be some hint of the truth.  I just used awkward 
phrasing to say they didn't do those things.   The closest thing I can think 
that we have as an explanation is JKR's quote about why they didn't use 
Veritaseum:

"Q: Veritaserum plays a big part in finding out the truth from Mad-Eye Moody 
in book four. Why then is it not used for example in the trials mentioned in 
the same book? It would be much easier in solving problems like whether 
Sirius Black was guilty or not?

JKR's answer: Veritaserum works best upon the unsuspecting, the vulnerable 
and those insufficiently skilled (in one way or another) to protect 
themselves against it. Barty Crouch had been attacked before the potion was 
given to him and was still very groggy, otherwise he could have employed a 
range of measures against the Potion - he might have sealed his own throat 
and faked a declaration of innocence, transformed the Potion into something 
else before it touched his lips, or employed Occlumency against its effects. 
In other words, just like every other kind of magic within the books, 
Veritaserum is not infallible. As some wizards can prevent themselves being 
affected, and others cannot, it is an unfair and unreliable tool to use at a 
trial.

Sirius might have volunteered to take the potion had he been given the 
chance, but he was never offered it. Mr. Crouch senior, power mad and 
increasingly unjust in the way he was treating suspects, threw him into 
Azkaban on the (admittedly rather convincing) testimony of many 
eyewitnesses. The sad fact is that even if Sirius had told the truth under 
the influence of the Potion, Mr. Crouch could still have insisted that he 
was using trickery to render himself immune to it."

*  *  *

That quote to me backs up my impression that Sirius was not given a chance 
to say anything.  JKR says that he might have *volunteered* to take 
Veritaseum, which indicates that Sirius wasn't just insisting he was guilty 
guilty guilty so no one could do anything.  He was not completely against 
defending himself.  She even goes on to say that if Sirius were given a 
chance to take Veritaseum to prove that what he was saying was the truth, 
Crouch could have insisted he was using trickery because he was being 
increasingly power-mad and *unjust* in the way he treated suspects.

-m