THE coincidence of the death of Rod Hills and the decision to drop charges against John Leslie highlights the question of when an "innocent" man is proved guilty.

Whatever the facts, none of which are known to me, both these men have been exposed to public contempt solely by being charged with offences.

Both cases highlight the need for anonymity, perhaps for all those charged with offences.

If we wish to retain the position that the accused is innocent until proven guilty, we must allow their innocence to be preserved by anonymity.

The only case against anonymity for all accused until found guilty is that it would sell fewer papers.

Peter West,

Derwent Road,

York.

...As a former chief officer with the City of York Council during the time Rod Hills was the leader, I wish to add my tribute to him.

He was an outstanding visionary, a deeply caring and committed politician and a true friend of the people of York.

His achievements in the economic and social development of the city are clearly visible to residents and visitors, and will remain so for a long time.

Many of his pioneering ideas and initiatives were later taken up by others and he rarely got the credit he deserved.

His death is tragic, as is the way in which he was isolated and abandoned by people he would have regarded as friends.

It is difficult not to draw the conclusion that the recent hounding and abandonment have contributed to his untimely death.

However, it is to be hoped that the people of York will recognise in some tangible way the contribution he made and the care he had for them and the city.

Philip Heaton,

Larch Hill Drive,

Holywood,

County Down.

...RODNEY Hills was the man who used his democratically-elected position to dictate to the people of York.

This was the man who, despite huge opposition from the people of the city, and its traders, declared: "York shall be a car-free city". This was the man who stopped the people of York driving their cars down a street in the city where they lived, worked and paid their rates.

Before Rodney Hills came to power, York had 23 butchers shops within the city walls.

It now has three.

Also, there used to be numerous bakers, greengrocers, tailors shops etc.

Rodney Hills's legacy is that virtually all of these have gone and been replaced by banks, building societies, cafes and gambling arcades.

I predicted this would happen 20 years ago.

Huge out-of-town supermarket chains must have loved Rodney Hills, he was driving people straight into their free car parks.

K S Chapman,

South Drive,

Harrogate.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, August 05, 2003