NUM405 Someone accused of a capital offence shall not be put to death before he is given a fair trial. Any capital punishment case is a very serious matter, and extreme care must be taken. Qualified judges must hear the case, and they are commanded to make every effort to find a reason to acquit the accused and save him from the death penalty, provided, of course, that they stay within the bounds of justice. Witnesses are forbidden to judge the case, for having personally seen what transpired, they might be incapable of energetic efforts to find a reason to acquit the accused, for in their hearts they already might have decided that he is guilty.