Windshield Verdict

WBAP ^ | 6/28/03 | Self

[Young Werther]

Chante is Guilty of Murder, Guilty of Tampering with Evidence

[ntnychik]

"When I was on a jury once, (in Texas), we started out by taking a poll on verdict, and we only planned to review the facts IF the verdict wasn't unanimous....."

That's scary. I've been on three juries, all of which came to their decision after discussing and weighing the evidence. You'd be surprised how minds can change when evidence is carefully reviewed. One of the trials I was on went from 11-1 to acquit to 12-0 to convict. Another of the trials I was on included jurors who lied in the selection process. This deceit came out in the deliberations. "No, I've never been convicted of driving while intoxicated, your honor"..."Let's acquit him. This could have happened to any of us, it happened to me." Please reconsider this notion.

[Libertina]

Panic? While she went back into the house to have sex with her boyfriend? Your're kidding, right?

[MEG33]

If all on the jury thought guilty..Why go over the evidence except as a way to come to a decision?This was a nightmare case for a defense lawyer.There was no defense!The important elements of the case were not disputed.He could have survived with prompt (first hour)attention to his blood loss.

[lysie]

I bet your Governor isn't trying to bleed your entire state white to cover his own incompetence/malfeasance.

It's much more offensive than the cartoon

Perhaps....however... I was in a car accident where the driver was killed. A few years later my first husband was killed in a car accident.

You have your reasons. I have mine.

I certainly didn't agree with that statement to start anything.

[Dave278]

In Texas persons persons sent to prison serve 1/12th of the time. Thus 1 year for every 12 sentenced. In instruction to the jury the judge has to tell them that they can not try to figure the actual time a convicted person will serve. I see juries give 10 and 20 year sentances all the time not to realize the crook will be out in a year or so.

[NautiNurse]

Important question---what color will Mallard wear today? A soft pink, perhaps? Baby blue? Didn't her mother teach her anything? Pearls are for evening wear...

[MEG33]

I might suggest white for innocence and a small cross necklace.

[hellinahandcart]

Look, there simply wasn't much of anything TO debate in the guilt phase. Reviewing the facts "carefully" enough to suit you is not going to change the basic facts.

Both sides seem to have saved quite a bit to present in the penalty phase. The jurors are going to have to discuss aggravating and mitigating factors now, which will probably take a bit more time. It's still not going to take long, IMO. The defense was stupid to put their client on the stand, she made herself look even worse.

[NautiNurse]

Oooh! White is a good idea! On the other hand--black for mourning her self indulgent losses may be the way to go.

[MEG33]

The decisions!

[hellinahandcart]

Dusty periwinkle suit, gray blouse.

[MEG33]

No one ever listens to me!

[ntnychik]

My response to hispanarepublicana was based on my belief in the responsibility of jurors in general. In retrospect, commenting in the middle of a thread about one of the most horrible crimes I can think of was not a prudent place to get philosophical. The time taken in the "windshield case" was long enough to have allowed for deliberation, and I applaud the verdict. Ms. Mallard, at minimum, should have as much solitary time in prison to think about what she did as the potential time she took away from her victim's life.

The three juries I was on resulted in conviction. If we had gone with the instant mood when "deliberation" began, three guilty parties would have walked. If for no other reason, deliberation is important so you don't hand the defense an appeal issue.

[null and void]

You have your reasons. I have mine.

So true! I've bandaged a lot of heads and been in my share of accidents. Mercifully, I've never had anyone die on me. I can see that would color one's view. I'm sorry tragedy has struck so close to you. God bless...

[MEG33]

I don't think anyone would disagree that review of evidence is most important.Some trials are long and complicated and I've seen juries take a week to deliberate!