WTF is wrong with that Dunn jury?

[Swede Atlanta]

82. Respectfully, it is clear you have never served on a jury in a murder case.....

I was foreman on an armed robbery and attempted murder case about 4 years ago.

If the jury takes their responsibility seriously it takes quite a bit of time to reach a verdict.

First thing is they elect a foreman and agree on a process. The next thing they must do is to read the jury instructions and make sure no one has any questions. if they do the foreman will request a clarification from the judge.

He has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and I believe the jury can consider two lesser and included charges of 2nd Degree Murder and Voluntary Manslaughter. Then he is charged with 3 counts of attempted murder.

The jury must look at the legal elements or requirements for 1st Degree Murder and determine if the facts support the charge. If not they move onto the next lesser charge. This is a lengthy process because each charge has specific elements or requirements.

If they find for any of these charges they then have to assess the murder and/or attempted murder charges against the affirmative defense of stand your ground. The defense also has several prongs that must be satisfied before the defense can nullify a finding of guilty.

Only when they have gone through all of this can they advise the judge they have reached a verdict.

The jury on the case on which I sat took 4.5 days to find the defendant guilty of armed robbery and attempted murder. We worked very long and hard to be sure we were following the judge's instructions and applying the law to the facts/evidence.

While I agree with you Dunn is guilty, he is presumed innocent until found guilty. We know our system is not perfect and we do convict and sometimes even execute innocent defendants so I would rather the jury take it's time and get it right.