[P-Marlowe]

Can a jury bring back a guilty verdict out of fear for the lives?

That is why you have a judge. The judge should make sure that if the prosecution has not proven up the elements of the crime on a legal basis that the case should not go to the jury.

But juries are free to decide whatever they want for whatever reason they want. I actually believe this jury is comprised of responsible citizens who knew the score going in and were not afraid of rendering a verdict in this case. If they had any reason to "fear for their lives" I'm sure they could have gotten out of jury duty on this case.

I was called for jury duty on a gang murder case. They gave everyone a set of form questions for jury qualifications. One of the questions was whether or not I had any reason not to sit on the jury and I honestly answered that because it was a gang shooting that I really had some serious reservations about rendering a verdict on the case. I was promptly excused from service.

I think the jury is looking for any reason at all to convict GZ....they are in genuine fear of their own and families lives.

I don't think so. At this point I would suspect that the jury is chomping at the bit to get this over so they can acquit him.

We can't assume every jury is an OJ jury. I have no information that these jurors are anything other than responsible members of the public. They are not going to send some guy to prison for the rest of his life just because they are afraid to render a verdict in his favor. They would have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

[Fawn]

They are not going to send some guy to prison for the rest of his life just because they are afraid to render a verdict in his favor. They would have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

I pray you are right and these jurors have common sense, intelligence and have a conscience.

[xzins]

I imagine there is such a thing as jury intimidation but the comments I’ve read have been about getting Zimmerman himself or just some random white guy. I’ve not read of any jury threats yet. Perhaps there have been

That would make me more determined to get it right than to throw it. In the long run a right answer can be defended

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm a little late to the thread today.

I heard a lawyer on Greta's show last night say that the high bar for convicting has to be "depraved indifference."

So, I ask the readers of this post, has the prosecution proved that George Zimmerman showed depraved indifference towards Trayvon Martin?

And not an inconsistency here and there in his testimony, but outright depravity towards Martin?

As was pointed out by some yesterday (maybe even you), the measure is "beyond a reasonable doubt," not "wiggle room to convict."

-PJ