Hi nickcarraway, I hope you are well.
Years ago (35) I heard Mike Turpen, the District Attorney lecture about the first capital case ever tried in Oklahoma with no dead body. He laboriously detailed all the circumstantial evidence he presented, but expressed his concern that there may be some doubt within the jury. He told of the defense lawyer mightily arguing reasonable doubt in his closing argument. Towards the end of his close, the defense lawyer suggested there had been no murder as old Miss Ella was still alive - and she would walk through the rear door to the courtroom in 5 minutes. Five minutes came, and while every juror and prosecuting attorney, and judge were looking at the door, the defense lawyer, looking at his watch, and observing the courtroom, said that Miss Ella would not come through the door. But, he said, that the fact that all were looking at the door was proof that there was a reasonable doubt about her death. He then sat down, and Turpen said that even he began to have doubts. The jury went out. The jury came back with a verdict of guilt.
Turpen asked the jury about the verdict and professed even he had doubt. The juror told him that not everyone had been looking at the door - ol’ John looked at the defendant the entire time. He told the jury that the defendant did not look at the door. The thought was that the defendant knew Miss Ella would not be coming into the courtroom.
Morals of the story:
24 eyes and 24 ears see everything in a courtroom.
Never take actions which will reveal your knowledge.
Justice triumphs.
Gwjack