Usage of Veritaserum during Legal Hearings in the MoM?

[happyjoeysmiley]

No: HPFGUIDX 188325

Joey wrote:
>
> Was just wondering about this: Both in GoF and OoTP we get to learn about legal hearings / trials (sometimes via the Pensieve). 
> 
> However, we don't get to see *anybody* deciding to use Veritaserum to know if the person being questioned is saying the truth. Whether it is Crouch Jr. or Bagman or Harry or Mrs Figg, they are interrogated the Muggle way.
> 
> Any thoughts on this topic? Sorry if this has been discussed already.
> 
> Cheers,
> ~Joey :-)
>

Thanks so much for all replies posted in response to this query! I found them all interesting and informative. :-)

And yes, with reference to Barty Jr., I was certainly referring to his trial that we get to see via the pensieve where he keeps screaming that he is innocent even while Bellatrix announces that they had done it. 

Actually, it was this incident that made me think of this question when I read GoF for the second time (after reading the entire series once). 

I found it a bit out of character for Bellatrix not to have given the screaming Barty Jr. a dirty look or a snarl, accompanied by rebukes for being cowardly about declaring his alleigance to Voldemort. In OoTP climax or Spinner's End or Malfoy Manor, she seems to get pretty mad and over-emotional at the drop of a hat. 

Probably JKR decided to downplay this trait of Bellatrix's character in this GoF pensieve scene just to keep up the suspense element (because when I was reading GoF for the first time, I was searching for hints as to why the screaming boy should not be saying the truth). 

Or probably Bellatrix's ferocity / lack of control over her emotions worsened after her stay at Azkaban.

Cheers,
~Joey :-)