Dealing with a real Death Note

[robvalue]

I've just watched the show through a second time, and I think I enjoyed the last third of the series way more this time. I was a bit thrown by the events the first time round and so didn't properly appreciate the characters and plot. I'm now fascinated by various questions surrounding the series of events.

Anyhow, after browsing online, I saw someone mention something relevant to my question. In the show, each death note has a corresponding Shinigami (a virtually unkillable being from another realm) who is responsible for the book. People who touch the death note are able to see and hear the Shinigami. So in a trial, the jury could all be made to see it.

The problem is that there's no way of obligating the Shinigami to answer particular questions, or to tell the truth if they do. But it at least confirms that the death note has powerful links to things beyond our understanding. I wonder whether this would tip the scales. It would be reasonable to assume the person who used the death note has seen and talked to the Shinigami already.