[Mrs. Don-o]

Gotta say I agree with Ken Connor and Alan Dershowitz. If it were the kind of charge that could be decided by "preponderance of evidence," I'd say "Yes, my guess is that Casey A. is probably a killer; pretty clearly a depraved and worthless sociopath (I deleted a more repellant noun); and quite arguably a demon from hell." But First Degree Murder requires not "preponderance of evidence" or "my best guess." It requires proof. The proof that rotted away with Caylee's body. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Biblical standard for the Death Penalty was "two eyewitnesses." They didn't have videotapes and DNA, but they knew about "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Prosecutor's error, going for Murder One. I hate it, but there it is.

The jury system is really the only thing that stands between us and the utmost, crushing tyranny. Surely in these darkening days of the early 21st Century we can see that.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Gotta say I agree with Ken Connor and Alan Dershowitz.

Just kidding. Agreeing with Dershowitz had to involve some pain. Ouch! (g)

[Doe Eyes]

Prosecutor's error, going for Murder One. I hate it, but there it is.

I'll bet she would have plead to a lesser charge, say manslaughter with a 20 year sentence.

[Kaslin]

Here is what Alan Dershowitz says in an editorial in the Wall Street Journal

Casey Anthony: The System Worked

-- snip --

Casey Anthony was not found innocent of her daughter's murder, as many commentators seem to believe. She was found "not guilty." And therein lies much of the misunderstanding about the Anthony verdict.

This misunderstanding is exacerbated by the pervasiveness of TV shows about criminal cases. On television and in the movies, crimes are always solved. Nothing is left uncertain. By the end, the viewer knows whodunit. In real life, on the other hand, many murders remain unsolved, and even some that are "solved" to the satisfaction of the police and prosecutors lack sufficient evidence to result in a conviction. The Scottish verdict "not proven" reflects this reality more accurately than its American counterpart, "not guilty."

-- snip --

[eddie willers]

Excellent post.