Unreasonable Doubt

Yesterday, I heard on the radio that a Florida jury acquitted Casey Anthony in  the 2008 murder of her child Caylee.  I was disgusted.  I pulled into the local feed store and was greeted with several "How are you's."  I replied that until a few minutes ago I was fine, and then we entered a discussion of Casey Anthony.  Everyone at the feed store was shocked that she was acquitted.

The idea that someone can kill a small child is repulsive to me.  Having four small children, I know there are times when they can challenge your sanity.  I know there are times when you can get madder than you should.  I cannot sympathize with anyone who accidentally kills their child, but I can understand that it can happen.  But it is abominable to me that you would try to cover up the accidental death of your child by throwing their body out in the woods.  Certainly you were mad at them at the moment of their death.  But just as soon as that accident happens, a normal human would be overcome with love for that child.  How could you then deny that child a proper burial?  The only answer to that is because you are a monster.

When a jury is deciding on a verdict, they are required to find the accused guilty as charged unless they have a "reasonable" doubt.  I think the jury in Florida was confused by the definition of reasonable doubt.

REASONABLE DOUBT

The level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime. A real doubt, based upon reason and common sense after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence, in a case.

Proof beyond a reasonable doubt, therefore, is proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely and act upon it without hesitation in the most important of your own affairs. However, it does not mean an absolute certainty.

Reasonable doubt means that there is a conflicting point in the witnesses testimony.  Taking the trial in question, one reason to have reasonable doubt would be the testimony of Cindy Anthony.  She testified that she was the one who used the home computer to search for chlorophyll.  Doubt, however, arises when Cindy's boss testified that she was logged in on her computer at work when the search was made.  Now, having reasonable doubt that Cindy made the search for chlorophyll, one must assume that someone else made the search.  The prosecution provided a preponderance of evidence that that someone was Casey Anthony.

Unreasonable doubt can be achieved by the defense's claim that George Anthony molested Casey as a child. Not only is it irrelevant to the case, but their was no corroboration by any other witnesses.  Therefore, it is unreasonable to put any weight in that corner.

The whole thing is disgusting.  Casey Anthony's parents fought the prosecution at every turn.  In a normal murder case, the victim's family is on the prosecution's side.  In this case, Caylee Anthony stood alone.  Because the identity of her father is a mystery, she didn't even have the support of her paternal ancestors.  The whole situation is a sad documentary of the downfall of this country.  Grandparents raising children is obviously a bad deal.  If they were good at raising children, their kids would be raising their own children.