is a landmark House of Lords case, where the presumption of innocence was re-consolidated (for application across the Commonwealth). In criminal law the case identifies the metaphorical "golden thread" running through that domain of the presumption of innocence. Facts Reginald Woolmington was a 21-year-old farm labourer from Castleton, Dorset. He married 17-year-old Violet in August 1934. She gave birth to his child in October. Shortly after, the couple fell out. On 22 November 1934, Violet left the matrimonial home to live with her mother. On 10 December, Reginald stole a double-barreled shotgun and cartridges from his employer and sawed off the barrel. He then cycled to his mother-in-law's house where he shot and killed Violet. He was arrested on 23 January 1935 and was charged with murder. Woolmington's defence was that he did not intend to kill and thus lacked the necessary mens rea. Specifically, he claimed that he had wanted to win her back and planned to scare her by threatening to kill himself if she refused. He had attempted to show her the gun which discharged accidentally, killing her instantly. Trial Woolmington was tried for murder on two separate occasions. At his first trial, heard at the Taunton Assizes in January 1935, Woolmington made for the first time his claim about the gun accidentally discharging. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently explained to colleagues that this defence had come as a surprise and had been difficult to respond to. The trial judge, Mr Justice Finlay directed the jury that: "The case for the prosecution is deliberate shooting. The Defence is: Not guilty of murder. They prove the killing, and in the absence of explanation that is murder. The Defence say: Excusable because accidental. Consider whether you entertain the slightest doubt that this was a deliberate killing … If you have no doubt, it is your duty to convict … If the result of a dispassionate survey is to leave a reasonable doubt in your minds, then your duty as well as your pleasure is to acquit." In other words, they must acquit if the prosecution had failed to prove Woolmington's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The jury failed to agree a verdict, and were discharged after 65 minutes. At the Bristol Assizes, Judge Swift ruled that the case was so strong against him that the burden of proof was on him to show that the shooting was accidental. The