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The photo has nothing to do with the innocence/guilt of that particular defendant. All it can do is get the jury upset, filled with a desire to punish someone for the savage beating... and there's only one person they can possibly take it out on.

Imagine it were you in the defendant's chair, totally innocent of the crime, and you just watched the jury become turned against you without a shred of proof that it was you who committed that heinous act.

IF the defendant is the one who did it, I'm all for some very rough punishment... but he might be innocent, so let's make sure he has a fair chance to prove it, if he can. I think the judge probably acted properly (and the reporter is likely sensationalizing the story to get more papers sold).

See my post #17, and I'll expand on it a bit:

Certainly, the D.A. would be thrilled knowing his evidence got the jury all het up, but the jurors have to go in knowing that he's gonna try to do that, and the defense attorney should take every opportunity to make sure they know it.

The reason most attorneys wear neckties is well known.

Dave in Eugene

... but he might be innocent, so let's make sure he has a fair chance to prove it, if he can.

He pled innocent by reason of insanity, an admission of committing the act but with extenuating circumstances. It seems to me that these pictures may work in his favor.