OPINION:
Not really.
The evidence is pretty cut and dry, in my opinion.
It’s not uncommon for a suspect to have character witnesses describing the suspect as nice, kind, regular, upstanding community member, ad nauseum.
It’s pretty standard stuff.
True.
The evidence is pretty cut and dry, in my opinion.
That depends on the judge's opinion of the evidence, which we can all agree isn't always consistent across the legal system. OTOH, judges don't live in a vacuum, and can be influenced by major events.
I'm not denigrating the legal system, just noting that it's made up of human beings, who, for all their skills, are variously influenced by events, or lack of events, outside the court system.