Ugly defendants 'more likely to be found guilty than attractive ones'

thisislondon.co.uk ^ | 21.03.07 | Staff

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I'll bet a whole lot of money helps just as much as being pretty. And if you've got both...

[bkepley]

I think its crap. I've been on juries before and I've never heard any jurors arguing anything except the facts in the case.

[rhombus]

I think its crap. I've been on juries before and I've never heard any jurors arguing anything except the facts in the case.

I've been on juries before too and I know for a fact that people oftentimes don't have a clue about how or why they come to decisions. They often call it "gut" feelings and an ugly person can really twist one's gut. :-)

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Just the sight of Debra Lafave is so intimidating.

[sneakers]

Well I guess I'm screwed!

Of course, I have a GREAT personality! :-)

[Erasmus]

"Bath Spa University" who the h3ll goes to a school named that?

Kids who want to party hardy.

[CharlesWayneCT]

There's also studies that show that jurors tend to believe attractive witnesses more than ugly ones, thin ones more than fat ones, and tall ones more than short ones.

[colorado tanker]

"Bath Spa University" who the h3ll goes to a school named that?

It's in the city of Bath, England, which has mineral baths and spas. It has been a resort since Roman times. A very cool, er warm, place to visit.

[rogue yam]

Well, of course! The fact is, ugly people are more likely to be guilty! Duh!

[rhombus]

Isn't Valerie Plame beautiful...she must be innocent. ;-)

[bkepley]

I've been on juries before too and I know for a fact that people oftentimes don't have a clue about how or why they come to decisions.

Fine..show me someone convicted for being ugly. People do have gut feelings about testimony but that doesn't mean beauty has anything to do with it. Actually I think it's more probable that attractive people are more likely to be able to afford a good lawyer and that's the main thing.

[Kenny Bunk]

I took my Masters there, after graduating from Slippery Rock.

[null and void]

It's not so much a matter of what they say, or even think, it's what they do.

[LIConFem]

If this is true, then how does one explain Michael Jackson?

[null and void]

An 'outlier'?

[rhombus]

Fine..show me someone convicted for being ugly. People do have gut feelings about testimony but that doesn't mean beauty has anything to do with it. Actually I think it's more probable that attractive people are more likely to be able to afford a good lawyer and that's the main thing.

Nobody gets convicted for being ugly... they get convicted because juries don't believe them and that they "didn't show remorse" the way a beautiful people shows remorse (whatever that really means). And who is believed less but someone who is ugly? When was the last time you believed Helen Thomas for instance? As for the beautiful person discount for better lawyers, sadly I never received that discount so I must be guilty. :-)

[bkepley]

As for the beautiful person discount for better lawyers, sadly I never received that discount so I must be guilty

You misread. I didn't say anything about a discount.

[JZelle]

Just watched that with my kids. They liked the Black Knight.

[tacticalogic]

think its crap. I've been on juries before and I've never heard any jurors arguing anything except the facts in the case.

I think it considerably more subtle than that, but still valid. People tend to sympathize with those they can identify with, and they all like to think they're attractive.

[bkepley]

I think it considerably more subtle than that, but still valid. People tend to sympathize with those they can identify with, and they all like to think they're attractive.

If there is such a bias I suspect it is more along the lines of whether a person looks respectable or not rather than beautiful or not.