Verdict Reached in John Muhammad Case (DC Area Sniper)

[Cush]

on all the local news stations (DC Area)

Verdict to be read soon (they just enetered the court room)

[Cush]

1. Guilty on all 4 counts

1) Guilty of killing during the act of Terrorism

2) Killing of Dean H. Meyers

3) Conpiracy to commit murder

4) Guilty of displaying firearm during a crime

[GOPFighter]

2. "...beyond a shadow of a doubt."

If you ask anyone in the DC area, where the snipers held the populace hostage for three weeks, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who doubted Muhammed was guilty. Even so, our system of justice demanded that Muhammed be given a fair trial and the jury presented with any and all evidence as to his guilt. Then the jury was told they could only convict him if they were certain he was guilty "beyond a shadow of a doubt." All of this just to convict one man of a heinous crime.

Contrast this with the way the Bush Administration and our society went to war with Iraq, which has resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent soldiers and thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. Np wonder the world thinks we're a rogue nation!

For Shame!

[Bunny]

6. Not to sidetrack, but isn't it supposed to be

beyond a "reasonable" doubt? Proving something beyond a shadow of a doubt would be very difficult.

[Terran]

13. No

Reasonable doubt is the standard in civil trials. "Shadow of a doubt" is the standard for criminal proceedings.

[acmavm]

14. "By a preponderance of the evidence" is for civil trials, beyond a

"reasonable" doubt is criminial.

[theboss]

22. Wrong.

Preponderance (50.01 percent) is civil.

Beyond a reasonable doubt is criminal.

[happyslug]

18. It is beyound a Reasonable Doubt is the test.

The rule for Civil Verdict is "Propondence of Evidence", i.e. one side has just a hair more evidence (that is believed by the Jury).

Now some litigation the test is "clear and convincing evidence" but that is mostly child negligent and other cases where the courts wants something more than Preponderance of Evidence but is NOT criminal.

Criminal is "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt".

[beanball]

9. A just nation

"justice delayed is justice denied" When will Bush and his gang of killers be brought to justice?,just like I figured NEVER.Wake up america we are running out of time.

[hlthe2b]

3. Did anyone have even a remote thought...

that he wouldn't be found guilty?

Just a formality, I think in this one. When does the sentencing hearing begin?

[underpants]

10. No he was done for when they arrested them

Not that thye shouldn't have had the trial but it was open and shut.

They are probably going to drag his dead corpse around to every state in which he is charged so they can have their shot at him. I acutally wouldn't be surprised.

[Gimel]

4. here's the MSNBC link

http://www.msnbc.com/news/980078.asp?0cv=CA01

[theboss]

5. Good

Fuck him. He made life absolute hell here.

[Gulf Coast J]

7. Amen to that

I had barely lived in the DC area a month when that shit started going down. I'll shed no tears when he receives his punishment.

[shawn703]

8. I live in the area too

But I still wouldn't want to see him get the death penalty.

[theboss]

16. Death Penalty?

This is why I always say I would be in favor of the death penalty in a perfect world. Because I think this fucker should be put to death. But then I realize I am a liberal and I can't feel that way.

Sucks, doesn't it?

[moroni]

17. If he is "awarded" the death penalty,

how should he be put to death? Do you have a preferance?

Would you rather he get life in prison without the possiblility of parole?

[theboss]

21. Oh, fun question

I would hold an auction. The top six bidders are given rifles with badly-fitted scopes and the opportunity to participate in the execution. Then, I contact Abe Pollen and rent the MCI center. I sell tickets in the range one would expect for a Mike Tyson fight. Then I set up the Pay-Per-View. This is going to be bigger than Wrestlemania, kids.

I set it up so the six shooters are on an elevated platform with the sniper in some sort of pit. But I make it fun. You know, he has burning oil drums and stacked car tires and other debris to hide around. I would have to rig some sort of protection so the audience doesn't catch any friendly fire. Probably a lot of plexiglass.

Charles Moose is your special guest ring announcer.

The proceeds go the victims's families (after expenses and my 12.5 percent fee).

Yes, I am joking. I am against the death penalty. (Unless there is a profit to be made).

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Is that the older one or the younger? (nt)

[Gulf Coast J]

12. Older

I think the trial for the younger one is just getting started.

[TexasMexican]

15. Obvious

It seemed pretty obvious that he would be found Guilty (I believe his accomplice will be too).

The real question is if they will get the Death Penalty. I hope they do.

[happyslug]

19. That is the sole purpose of this trial.

This trial is for the sole purpose of deciding if the defendant should be executed or not. In many ways this case is a waste of time and resources, think about it, without the Death Penalty BOTH of the shooters would have plead to the murder charge and sentence to life imprisonment. They had no hope of EVER getting off or convicted of a lesser charge than Murder. In states without the Death Penalty Both of these shooters would be in prison NOW, instead of getting out of Jail every day for the trial.

[Gulf Coast J]

20. Why would they have plead guilty to murder?

Say they have a .01% chance of being found not guilty and a 99.99% chance of being found guilty. The trial doesn't cost them anything. Why on earth would they plead guilty knowing they would be locked away for the rest of their lives? Are there no capital murder trials in states without the death penalty?