An insider's view of what is really happening in the Harris County Criminal Courts
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
New Post on Chronicle Blog
My prosecutor friends are probably going to yell at me for this Chronicle post on the Casey Anthony verdict, but I think it was a gutsy call by the jury, no matter how much I disagree with their verdict.
16 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Doing something irrational and stupid isn't "gutsy" (I should know). It's merely stupid and irrational.
The DA couldn't prove how the kid was killed, and the jury hung their hat on that. They were presented with a lot of red herrings, and ignored the simplest explanation. Guts has nothing to do with it.
Interestingly, the only real evidence of on what the jury hung its collective hat is the version of events provided by an alternate juror who cannot speak to what occurred in the jury room.
Both the prosecution and defense versions required listeners to accept facts not in evidence and the simplest explanation is not necessarily the only explanation for what happened.
I think she did it, but the question is whether the prosecution proved its case and moved the jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Apparently they did not.
We resolve to live by rules, even when they violate our personal sense of reason and make our blood boil. The rules are so much more than a mere convenience to permit behavior we'd prefer to entertain. We define the rules and the fidelity with which we follow the rules defines us.
I guess neither does evidence or the Constitution, in your book.
Do me a favor. If you're a prosecutor, quit now. I don't want or need a prosecutor protecting me or my family who would prosecute a case without evidence.
I agree with Rage in regards to the prosecutor needing evidence. I'm a citizen and would hate to be convicted based on someone's lies and no evidence to back them up! Look at all the cases currently being overturned because we now have exoneration through DNA testing that wasn't available back when they were initially tried. If I were on that jury, I'd need to see evidence....doesn't mean they didn't do it, just that the DA didn't prove it.
There would have been a hell of a lot more evidence if Casey Anthony had 1) reported her daughter missing and 2) told the truth to investigators. How Caylee died may have been discoverable if she had told a scintilla of a truth and hadn't wasted everyone's time.
Birds that waddle, quack and lay duck eggs are fucking ducks even if the feathered little fuckers are shot, killed, plucked and grilled without leaving untainted DNA evidence at the killing fields.
I'll laugh my ass off if you're a prosecutor. Y'all use junk science more than anybody on the planet. From eye nystagmus tests, to dog scent line ups, to canned air tests in the very case you complain about, the fact that you're complaining about CSI being on TV is absurd.
Sorry if you're actually going to have to work hard to get a conviction for once.
You and the Pat Lykos media can put this judicial atrocity on Kevin Fine all you want to; but the REAL question is: why did the ADA wait until the last juror was selected before offering up this bullshit deal?
Plea it or try it but don't bullshit a jury panel, the public and the county coffers as you politically grandstand instead of ethically prosecuting.
I might disagree with Kevin Fine on issues; but at least he is up front on his position.
Black Ink - Anon 12:16 here. If you read the post you'll see that I agree with you. Lykos made the ultimate decisions, and she decided to plea now instead of a year and a half ago.
My "misunderstanding" stemmed from the implication that Judge Pat Lykos was "cowering" to Judge Kevin Fine.
Judge Fine was simply used as a tool for Lykos to manipulate the pliable media for political favor.
Cowering had nothing to do with any decision in the criminal courthouse that day.....Ringmaster Lykos continues to run the DA's office like her own personal Machiavellian circus.
16 comments:
Doing something irrational and stupid isn't "gutsy" (I should know). It's merely stupid and irrational.
The DA couldn't prove how the kid was killed, and the jury hung their hat on that. They were presented with a lot of red herrings, and ignored the simplest explanation. Guts has nothing to do with it.
Interestingly, the only real evidence of on what the jury hung its collective hat is the version of events provided by an alternate juror who cannot speak to what occurred in the jury room.
Both the prosecution and defense versions required listeners to accept facts not in evidence and the simplest explanation is not necessarily the only explanation for what happened.
I think she did it, but the question is whether the prosecution proved its case and moved the jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Apparently they did not.
We resolve to live by rules, even when they violate our personal sense of reason and make our blood boil. The rules are so much more than a mere convenience to permit behavior we'd prefer to entertain. We define the rules and the fidelity with which we follow the rules defines us.
The jury did the right thing.
Anonymous 7:59-
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
H. L. Mencken
Guts has nothing to do with it.
I guess neither does evidence or the Constitution, in your book.
Do me a favor. If you're a prosecutor, quit now. I don't want or need a prosecutor protecting me or my family who would prosecute a case without evidence.
Rage
"If you're a prosecutor, quit now. I don't want or need a prosecutor protecting me or my family who would prosecute a case without evidence. "
Lol. Good old Rage. Always willing to chime in like a moron. Greenwich and Rage--ever reliable.
I agree with Rage in regards to the prosecutor needing evidence. I'm a citizen and would hate to be convicted based on someone's lies and no evidence to back them up! Look at all the cases currently being overturned because we now have exoneration through DNA testing that wasn't available back when they were initially tried. If I were on that jury, I'd need to see evidence....doesn't mean they didn't do it, just that the DA didn't prove it.
There would have been a hell of a lot more evidence if Casey Anthony had 1) reported her daughter missing and 2) told the truth to investigators. How Caylee died may have been discoverable if she had told a scintilla of a truth and hadn't wasted everyone's time.
You should do a post on Lykos cowering to Kevin Fine and letting the capital defendant plea to 40
NEWS ALERT: CSI is a TV series NOT reality.
Birds that waddle, quack and lay duck eggs are fucking ducks even if the feathered little fuckers are shot, killed, plucked and grilled without leaving untainted DNA evidence at the killing fields.
NEWS ALERT: CSI is a TV series NOT reality.
I'll laugh my ass off if you're a prosecutor. Y'all use junk science more than anybody on the planet. From eye nystagmus tests, to dog scent line ups, to canned air tests in the very case you complain about, the fact that you're complaining about CSI being on TV is absurd.
Sorry if you're actually going to have to work hard to get a conviction for once.
Rage
Anon 12:16,
You and the Pat Lykos media can put this judicial atrocity on Kevin Fine all you want to; but the REAL question is: why did the ADA wait until the last juror was selected before offering up this bullshit deal?
Plea it or try it but don't bullshit a jury panel, the public and the county coffers as you politically grandstand instead of ethically prosecuting.
I might disagree with Kevin Fine on issues; but at least he is up front on his position.
Black Ink - Anon 12:16 here. If you read the post you'll see that I agree with you. Lykos made the ultimate decisions, and she decided to plea now instead of a year and a half ago.
If you read the post you'll see that I agree with you.
He's too busy bashing Lykos to actually read what people say. Even those who agree with him.
Rage
Anon 12:16,
My "misunderstanding" stemmed from the implication that Judge Pat Lykos was "cowering" to Judge Kevin Fine.
Judge Fine was simply used as a tool for Lykos to manipulate the pliable media for political favor.
Cowering had nothing to do with any decision in the criminal courthouse that day.....Ringmaster Lykos continues to run the DA's office like her own personal Machiavellian circus.
Black Ink - Lykos did cower to Fine. She is a coward, as all bullies are.
http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2011/07/13/fbi-visits-craig-watkins-offices-today/
Rage
Post a Comment