14 JULY 1984, Page 22

Victim's repute

Sir: Paul Johnson (The press, 7 July) is mistaken in suggesting that the crown is under a duty to emphasise the good charac- ter and innocence of a murder victim. On the contrary, 'It is highly undesirable for prosecuting counsel . . . to use unneces- sarily emotive language which on any view can only excite sympathy for the victim or prejudice against the accused or both in the minds of the jury' (Archbold, Criminal Pleadings, 41st edition, 1982).

Malcolm Knott

7 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London WC2