Had Nigel Evans not been an MP and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, would the charges of which he was acquitted yesterday - one count of rape, five of sexual assault, one of attempted sexual assault and two of indecent assault - ever have been brought? The police and the Crown Prosecution Service are adamant that in bringing Mr Evans to trial, they were following the guidelines on which they usually base such decisions. Above all, these require a realistic prospect of securing a conviction - which, in turn, means that the Crown needs to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a crime has been committed.

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