As someone who has testified for the prosecution many times, I unfortunately have seen jurors come out with out of this world decisions. My overall fear is that there will be one or more jurors that will get tied up on small, non important details presented by Baez and that will sway them.
Also, you might have a juror that just “feels” for this woman and cannot convict. At that point, you have a hung jury and it’s back to square one.
Finally, my hope is that they will look at the actual evidence presented by the state and see that although Baez has thrown everything including the kitchen sink at them, he basically did not have a defense.
We shall see.
You have exactly stated my fears. It’s great to have your expertise.
That stealth juror is always a concern. I heard that this is a ‘death penalty certified’ jury, so assume that means all of them in qualifying said they would or could go for the death penalty if that was deemed the appropriate sentence. Is there anything done beyond questioning the potential jurors about their willingness to impose the death penalty, and then taking their word as truthful?
Upthread someone posted that the judge decides the penalty but if that’s the case, why would jurors have to be death penalty certified?