General Discussion

ohheckyeah

(9,314 posts)

26. And therein lies the differences of

Sun Jul 14, 2013, 12:23 AM

Jul 2013

opinion - what is or isn't reasonable? What constitutes reasonable doubt is not definitive, and purposely so, in the law:

reasonable doubt n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt to a moral certainty. Thus, a juror (or judge sitting without a jury) must be convinced of guilt of a crime (or the degree of crime, as murder instead of manslaughter) "beyond a reasonable doubt," and the jury will be told so by the judge in the jury instructions. However, it is a subjective test since each juror will have to decide if his/her doubt is reasonable. It is more difficult to convict under that test, than "preponderance of the evidence" to decide for the plaintiff (party bringing the suit) in a civil (non-criminal) trial.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Reasonable+Doubt

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Do you think the jury got it right or wrong? [View all] hrmjustin Jul 2013 OP

He's not innocent Shrek Jul 2013 #1

Uh, how about "the jury got it right and he might be guilty?" pipoman Jul 2013 #2

That is why I put other. hrmjustin Jul 2013 #3

The fact of our justice system pipoman Jul 2013 #23

Other: he is probably guilty, but the jury got it right Nye Bevan Jul 2013 #4

What you said. nt. premium Jul 2013 #6

What this guy said... nebenaube Jul 2013 #7

That's what I think, too Aerows Jul 2013 #17

And therein lies the differences of ohheckyeah Jul 2013 #26

There is no reason they couldn't have found him guilty of manslaughter. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #29

If they found self defense they cannot convict of manslaughter cthulu2016 Jul 2013 #32

Just because you pick a fight with someone doesn't necessarily mean you intend to kill them. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #37

Picking a fight armed only with fists Art_from_Ark Jul 2013 #55

There is "imperfect self defense." morningfog Jul 2013 #79

self defense applies to manslaughter as well as to second degree onenote Jul 2013 #63

Sadly, yes magellan Jul 2013 #31

I disagree that Zimmerman was the one defending himself, but that does not mean that Zimmerman liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #43

And that's where it got tough for the jury, I guess magellan Jul 2013 #48

Why is the bar so high that every second has to be absolutely accurately reconstructed? NoOneMan Jul 2013 #61

the jury got it right as far as the system is concerned burnodo Jul 2013 #74

There WAS enough evidence to find him guilty of manslaughter. n/t Tx4obama Jul 2013 #5

You and I agree on something. Rex Jul 2013 #10

I think the jury didn't understand 'manslaughter'. They should have asked Judge more questions. Tx4obama Jul 2013 #12

I think we also can't overlook Aerows Jul 2013 #22

+1 HiPointDem Jul 2013 #27

'Not innocent but not guilty' is not justice. Rex Jul 2013 #8

manslaughter was the appropriate verdict BainsBane Jul 2013 #9

How was he picked/selected? bobduca Jul 2013 #11

I think he's the DA of Seminole County BainsBane Jul 2013 #13

State Prosecutors represent the state - families/victims do not get to pick them. n/t Tx4obama Jul 2013 #21

Right, I was confusing civil cases where the victim/victim's family can pick bobduca Jul 2013 #40

Remember, the police initially covered up for Zimmie meow2u3 Jul 2013 #15

and the police deliberately threw the case in court BainsBane Jul 2013 #18

I finally agree with you on something. CokeMachine Jul 2013 #34

That's nice. BainsBane Jul 2013 #38

Thanks for showing an interest in me!! CokeMachine Jul 2013 #49

Not at all BainsBane Jul 2013 #50

Have a great weekend!! CokeMachine Jul 2013 #53

So why did you vote other? BainsBane Jul 2013 #47

Just to get your attention!! CokeMachine Jul 2013 #52

I'm heart broken BainsBane Jul 2013 #59

You'll get over me. CokeMachine Jul 2013 #62

though as pointed out, one factor hampering the prosecution treestar Jul 2013 #54

And a police force who handled the evidence appropriately. Avalux Jul 2013 #64

You are right. nt hack89 Jul 2013 #72

Other: The poll options are not very useful vis-a-vis American law cthulu2016 Jul 2013 #14

This was bullshit. Agschmid Jul 2013 #16

I agree 100% hrmjustin Jul 2013 #20

Regardless of the jury, I believe he is morally and ethically petronius Jul 2013 #19

There is a very distinct legal difference between pipoman Jul 2013 #24

do you think he is innocent? hrmjustin Jul 2013 #25

don't know beyond a reasonable doubt..he's "not guilty" (in the legal sense) pipoman Jul 2013 #42

Ok an honest answer I believe. hrmjustin Jul 2013 #44

These facts, with this evidence, gets this result. DirkGently Jul 2013 #28

"Other" Lizzie Poppet Jul 2013 #30

Yes BlueJazz Jul 2013 #33

An armed George Zimmerman follows, engages and shoots and kills an unarmed Trayvon Martin enigmatic Jul 2013 #35

other. jury got it right. He is not guilty rollin74 Jul 2013 #36

There's a reason the form says "not guilty" rather than "innocent" Azathoth Jul 2013 #39

The jury got it right LittleBlue Jul 2013 #41

No way to know 100%. n/t Skip Intro Jul 2013 #45

We "know" ForgoTheConsequence Jul 2013 #46

Well, that's one hell of a strawman... bobclark86 Jul 2013 #77

The jury is always "right" but treestar Jul 2013 #51

I feel absolutely sick to my stomach. I cannot believe this. Whisp Jul 2013 #56

I feel really empty after this verdict! hrmjustin Jul 2013 #57

An armed man stalked and killed an unarmed teenager because of his race. mick063 Jul 2013 #58

+1,000,000 hrmjustin Jul 2013 #60

You would be a very poor jurist, then Orrex Jul 2013 #73

If I believed in our justice system, you would be correct. mick063 Jul 2013 #81

If you're willing to risk contempt of court, I say go for it Orrex Jul 2013 #82

Jury got it right: Z's guilty, but reasonable doubt was there. Decoy of Fenris Jul 2013 #65

Some of these people are just new arrivals, others, not so much. Warren Stupidity Jul 2013 #66

Makes my ignore list easier... Blue_Tires Jul 2013 #68

The prosecution failed to make a case Lurks Often Jul 2013 #67

All things being equal DearAbby Jul 2013 #69

Righteous, Abby. A very rare sight, your post. Decoy of Fenris Jul 2013 #71

Your last pipi_k Jul 2013 #76

Guilty but inadequate evidence due to the lack of eye witnesses. nt hack89 Jul 2013 #70

Other... pipi_k Jul 2013 #75

The state presented a good deal of evidence showing Zimmerman was a liar... Demo_Chris Jul 2013 #78

Voluntary manslaughter in that Zimmerman was looking to start a The Second Stone Jul 2013 #80

Kick hrmjustin Jul 2013 #83