That is indeed a cracking film, Kendall (Breaker Morant) - an absolutely blistering account of the way we Brits used to behave around the world. We've recently apologised for inventing concentration camps, and other atrocities in South Africa, by the way - about as useful as the Pope apologising for the Crusades. As a bonus for music-loving catters, Edward Woodward is in terrific singing voice. Powerful stuff, no question.

Clinton, with such limited horizons, you can't be expected to give a shite about anything beyond your own backyard. But let me just try to enlighten you on one curious, but true, little trait among prisoners.

Contrary to your facile assumption, they DON'T all say the same thing. If you visited some, you'd find that out. OVerwhelmingly the guilty soon admit they've been banged to rights, and get on with doing their time. In the prison community, with all the penalties that go with "denial," it's the best way to cope, And any who are slow to realise it soon have it pointed out by the old lags.

A few of course protest their innocence year after year, sacrificing all privileges, even including (in the UK, anyway) parole. Without exception, among the few I've met, the ones with this attitude have eventually had their convictions overturned. (This does now happen in the UK, thank God - unlike 20 years ago, when "we never make mistakes" was the prevailing theme.) No doubt there are exceptions, but in my experience it's only when they know they're innocent that they can find the stamina to keep on fighting.

Any system's going to make mistakes. That's not the crime in my book. But when people stop caring about the mistakes, or denying they happen, that's when civilised values have gone out of the window. Sounds to me like you'd be a good candidate for a lynch mob, Clint. Just the kind of bigoted certainty they're looking for.

I'm no big fan of Lori's - she's brought some of this on herself by being arrogant and thoughtless about the pressures that can build up in a country with Peru's recent history. But the sentence is blatantly disproportionate, and Peru needs to get the message, loud and clear, that the country is bringing huge discredit on itself with its handling of this case.