Thoughts on Andrew Windsor and the presumption of innocence
Prince Andrew (or, as we must now call him, Andrew Windsor) was accused some years ago of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre. She alleged that she was sex trafficked to him as a 17-year-old by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the latter of whom was convicted of child sex trafficking in 2021. Queen Elizabeth imposed various sanctions on Windsor in 2022, and recently King Charles went further, stripping him of his titles and ejecting him from his royal accommodation.
Giuffre took a civil lawsuit against Windsor, resulting in a settlement involving a financial payout. Although I accept this is not a good look, it is notable that Windsor issued a statement at the time continuing to deny wrongdoing. The situation is entirely different from a finding of guilt by a court following due process. Nevertheless, he is being treated as if he were already found guilty.
In my opinion, if the Police are satisfied that there is a sufficient case to answer then Windsor ought to be prosecuted, a plea entered, an election as to trial by judge or jury made, and a finding as to guilt or innocence made on the evidence. If he is found guilty of rape, then he should face criminal penalties just like anyone else, most likely imprisonment. Stripping him of his royal titles is grossly inadequate.
Until very recently, I had similar comments to make about Jevon McSkimming. Although I maintain that everything I wrote about the presumption of innocence in relation to McSkimming in an earlier draft of this post was appropriate at the time, I have removed it in the light of the revelations this week as I do not think it appropriate to focus on that aspect of matters following the IPCA report.
The presumption of innocence is one of the great taonga (treasures) of Western culture for the simple reason that it is an important check on the arbitrary exercise of state power, but at present everyone from police officers to the monarch himself seem to be overlooking its importance. In my view Andrew Windsor’s titles ought to be reinstated, criminal proceedings against him commenced, and the titles removed again if he is found guilty (in addition to criminal penalties).
Oh, and to pre-empt the comments I can see coming: please spare me the tedious accusations that I’m justifying rape or child pornography: I’m not. I’m also not speaking out of any great love for the Windsors or for that matter McSkimming. (In fact, while a monarchist I have a fairly low view of the modern day Windsor family, and following this week’s events, an even lower view of McSkimming to put it mildly.) I’m speaking out of love of our legal system, and scepticism of trial by media.