[calcowgirl]

It’s more complicated than that. There were a lot of questions as to the chain of custody of that bullet. There are even more questions as to the ballistics tests that appear to NOT have been performed by the time of their arrest, despite an affidavit by the investigator, Chris Sanchez.

Had Ramos not “stipulated” to the bullet, the prosecution would have had to make the case. Instead, once the jury decided that discharging his weapon was not appropriate, the charge of “assault” was a slam-dunk... which then led directly to the mandatory 10 year sentence. Ramos’s attorneys handed the defense the trump card.

[calcowgirl]

Ramos’s attorneys handed the defense the trump card.

Correction:

Ramos’s attorneys handed the defense prosecution the trump card.

[1rudeboy]

The defense team argued that Ramos and Compean (one, the other, or both--don't remember) saw a weapon in Aldrete-Davila’s hand, and that the shooting was justified for that reason.

I don't see how you can turn around and argue (a variation of) "you can't prove my client did the shooting." The full weight of all the corroborating evidence places Ramos, Compean, and Aldrete-Davila at the scene, and that a shooting occurred.