论英国法刑事证明责任的实质蕴涵——兼评“阶段说”与“分层说”

The Substance of Criminal Burden of Proof in English Law——Also as Comments on the "Stage Theory" and the "Level Theory"

英国刑事证明责任的疑难,表现在应怎样理解"提供证据责任"的基本性质及法律定位。英国法中"提供证据的责任"不是实质意义的证明责任,只是"说服责任"的程序性展开。对本方而言,是"说服责任"的"反映",对对方而言,是"说服责任"的"反对"。"提供证据的责任"与"说服责任"存在本质的不同。这是理解英国法刑事证明责任的"转移"、"分配"等概念的基础,也是厘清被告人承担证明责任性质的关键。割裂"说服责任"与"提供证明责任"内在关系的"描述"理论即"阶段说"与"分层说",在英国法中不成立。强调"说服责任"实质意义的"实质说",同时意味着强调"提供证据责任"依附意义的"光影说"。明确这一点,有利于消除对英国刑事证明责任的模糊认识和对后续问题的深入研究。

The difficulty of criminal burden of proof is to comprehend the nature and legal position of ＂burden of producing evidence,＂ which has no substantive meaning in English law.It is just the procedural expression of ＂burden of persuasion,＂ and essentially different from the latter.To one party,＂burden of producing evidence＂ is the ＂reflection＂ of ＂burden of persuasion,＂ while to the opposite it is the ＂reaction＂ of the latter.This point is the basis for understanding the ＂shift＂ and ＂allocation＂ of criminal burden of proof in English law and also the key to clarify the characteristics of the accused＇s burden.Thus the ＂stage theory＂ and ＂level theory＂ which sever the internal relations between ＂burden of producing evidence＂ and ＂burden of persuasion＂ are ill-founded in English law.And ＂the substantial theory＂ which emphasizes the substantive meaning of ＂burden of persuasion＂ is equal to the ＂shadowy theory＂ which stresses the dependent nature of ＂burden of producing evidence,＂ which is important for people to clarify some vague points about criminal burden of proof and study some following criminal problems in English law.