'All I can say to counsel is that we will not use the heavier charge as an inducement for your client to plead guilty to a lesser charge. And so do not ever feel that's the case. If we bring a charge, it is because we think it would stick. We're not going to bring a heavier charge as a bargaining chip. This is not a cattle market.' - Attorney-General Walter Woon, on the perception that the prosecution would bring a heavier charge against an accused to get him to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the end
ACQUITTAL DOESN'T MEAN INNOCENCE
'Not everyone who is acquitted is actually innocent. I don't know why that is such a difficult concept to grasp. When you take Al Capone - you've heard of Al Capone, right? - he was a gangster. Was he ever convicted of being a gangster? He wasn't. He was convicted of some other piddling charge, because they could not get evidence against him. So, there are many cases where you have people who commit offences where there is no evidence.' - On the point that those who are acquitted in court may not necessarily be innocent
PRICE TO PAY FOR COMPASSION
'It's all very well to say let's show compassion. There is a price for compassion when you are wrong. What if you let someone off and he goes to hurt someone?' - On the dangers of unbridled compassion being shown to an accused person
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS
'Another factor prosecutors bear in mind is fairness to victims. Someone is mugged in the park and the mugger is freed, and the victim concludes that the system is weighed against victims. There is no justice.' - On the importance of maintaining belief in the justice system