dagblog - Comments for "Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials"

Ahh. Intelligent discourse on

Desdumona — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:02:00 +0000

In reply to Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials

Ahh. Intelligent discourse on this media-laden case at long last! I share your beliefs on the death penalty, and for other reasons, as well. I, like you, would also be a doubtful selection on any murder case where the death penalty is an option.

I have no idea how I got sucked into the Casey Anthony vortex, but I did - I watched nearly the entire trial. Given the fact that all that remained of the victim was a "a hank of hair and a piece of bone," the bags in which she was tossed away, and three pieces of duct tape, I became wholly intrigued by the forensics the prosecution still managed to produce. Like most who followed the trial, my verdict was "guilty."

Since you posted the above, a few jurors on this case have spoken, and for me there is an entirely new debate afoot: is our justice system in the best of health? Two of the more vociferous jurors have stated that their verdict nauseated them. That begs the question of good conscience, but that isn't the only disturbing fallout of their decision. In the judge's instructions, he clearly laid out that the jury needed neither motive nor cause of death to establish guilt. Both of these jurors have said they couldn't convict because they had neither motive nor cause of death, so how could they convict? In the brief 10 hours they deliberated, I presumed perhaps one hour could've been given to the judge's instructions. Nearly six weeks of trial evidence, and not one of the 12 concerned requested anything for their deliberations: no depositions, no trial testimony, no pictures, no physical evidence - zero, zip, nada. According to courtroom reports, only one or two ever took a note, and then, even, it was brief. But perhaps the most troubling is the foreman himself stating he thinks Casey's father did it. Um... huh?

Listening to jurors speak, hearing how little effort they put into these deliberations, hearing that they didn't understand their instructions (or even make an effort to understand them), and realizing that the jury foreman concocted his own murderer are making me truly wonder - ARE these my peers? IS this system the best we can do?

The jury's still out...

~Desdumona

Part of the reason death

rmrd0000 — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:32:59 +0000

In reply to Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials

Part of the reason death penalty is the good old "an eye for an eye" . We the people allow the government to exact vengeance. We want to get revenge. As comedian George Wallace says; "If two or more people said they did it, that's good enough for me."

First, whatever happened to

Beetlejuice — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:36:35 +0000

In reply to Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials

First, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? and

Second, how can justice be served if it's turned into a public circus?

I haven't followed the case nor care what verdict the jury reached simply because it doesn't concern me. I have faith justice will prevail without me knowing every itty-bitty detail. There's more serious problems that require the public's attention. This was just a distraction.

I wonder how that sentencing

Michael Maiello — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:16:57 +0000

In reply to I live in Florida and don't

I wonder how that sentencing will go. It seems unlikely that the judge will be lenient.

I live in Florida and don't

trkingmomoe — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:10:12 +0000

In reply to Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials

I live in Florida and don't have cable so one of my local channels has had wall to wall coverage of it from the court room feed. I am glad it is over with. I don't think trials should be broadcasted like a reality TV show. Clips during the news is enough. She still faces sentencing for 4 counts of miss leading police. I wonder if that family will ever heal.

My feeling was that Anthony

Donal — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:49:38 +0000

In reply to Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials

My feeling was that Anthony was guilty of criminal neglect. She didn't care much for her daughter and probably caused her death. I doubt she was trying to kill the child, I think she just wanted to keep her quiet. But how to prove all that?

I don't believe it deters

bwakfat — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:35:42 +0000

In reply to Strange Verdicts, Casey Anthony and Murder Trials

I don't believe it deters crime, I don't believe that a government that I barely trust to maintain the highway system should have the power of life and death over criminals, I don't think a just and good society handles its problems in so violent a manner and I think that the ultimate penalty is most often meted out to the poorest defendants who are not always capably represented at trial.

That's succinct, and to the point. Beautiful.

Recently, I was going to be on a jury regarding a traffic fatality. I don't believe capitol punishment was at issue, although I went ahead and disqualified myself, since the second question was if I had ever been involved in a traffic fatality. I had, so bye and thanks for your time.

I'm not sure that I could have been impartial, though. If I am truthful with myself, most likely, no. One shouldn't lie during jury selection question as our system really does depend on impartial jurors.