Presumption of innocence

Cook Islands

Cook Islands - Constitution 1964 (2004) EN

COOK ISLANDS – CONSTITUTION

PART IVA - FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Construction of law

65 (1) Subject to subclause (2) of this Article and to subclause (2) of Article 64 hereof, every enactment shall be so construed and applied as not to abrogate, abridge, or infringe or to authorise the abrogation, abridgement, or infringement of any of the rights or freedoms recognised and declared by subclause (1) of Article 64 hereof, and in particular no enactment shall be construed or applied so as to-

(e) Deprive any person charged with an offence of the right to be presumed innocent until he is proved guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal;

Rome Statute

Article 66 Presumption of innocence

1. Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty before the Court in accordance with the applicable law.

2. The onus is on the Prosecutor to prove the guilt of the accused.

3. In order to convict the accused, the Court must be convinced of the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.