What does the presumption of innocence mean for the accused?

• A. The accused is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
• B. The accused is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
• C. The court must convict if there is any doubt.
• D. Guilt is determined by the judge's impression.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a person accused of a crime is treated as not guilty from the start. The burden is on the prosecution to prove guilt, not on the defendant to prove innocence. Guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, meaning the evidence must leave the judge or jury firmly convinced of the defendant’s guilt; if there is any reasonable doubt, the decision must be not guilty. This protects the innocent from wrongful conviction and ensures fair proceedings. The accused does not have to prove they’re innocent, and their silence or choice not to testify is not automatically used to infer guilt. The other statements stray from how guilt is established: the burden isn’t on the defendant, conviction isn’t required just because there’s doubt, and a verdict should be based on evidence and the standard of proof rather than the judge’s personal impression.