The presumption of innocence is not relevant. It is fundamental that it should operate in all trials, and it is desperately sad that has been inverted into a presumption of guilt in so many quasi-legal proceedings in recent years.

But it is a principle that applies in relation to trials, it does not mean that investigations should not be possible unless there is clear evidence of guilt in advance.

As I said, I think it is most likely that Chavez died of natural causes. But I do not think it is possible at this stage to be certain that the suspicions aired by people who know far more about the circumstances than any of us are wrong.

A rush to judgement can just as easily involve prematurely rejecting suspicions as prematurely accepting them.