They always say that when the death penalty is on the table the proof bar gets raised. Yeah they probably are told not to consider it, but how could you not. It’s one thing to say “yeah I think it’s been proved that person is guilty” and another to say “guilty enough to die”. I’m very pro-death penalty but there’d have to be a whole lot more thinking for me to make the second jump.
Remember the defense’s story doesn’t have to make sense, it just has to show that the prosecution’s story isn’t the only possible explanation. The defense’s job is to raise reasonable doubt, if the jury comes out of the trial with no idea what happened they win.
I think the quick deliberation is a sign of how far the prosecution overreached. And that really bad closing argument. It shows just how much doubt the jury had. Long deliberations result from them being on the fence, if seems clear in either direction things go quick. And this wasn’t a short trial, they’ve had a lot of time to deliberate.
I am a strong supporter of the death penalty too, and I would have to really not have reasonable doubt to convict someone of charges if it was on the table. The theory is reasonable doubt should be the same for minor punishment as for death- but that is against human nature. If I mess up and somebody serves 6 months- not the same as messing up and being responsible for someone getting the death penalty that doesn’t deserve it. Supposedly the first jury vote was 6-6 not sure on what charge- that is why there should have been some real deliberation. I don’t think the jury is supposed to discuss the trial during the trial- but they may have. There was a story on Friday that claimed they may have discussed the case with each other during the trial which is against the law/rules...not sure what happens to the jurors if that is true.
After all of the stuff I’ve read about this trial I think I’m just too dumb to be on a jury, because to be honest, if a defense attny ever raised goofy things that seemed to not make sense I would just see them as a defense attny who was grasping at straws and if anything it would make me think he had no other options. I guess it’s why I never get chosen for juries. Is the average juror really that dumb?