Viewing ‘Verdict’ Category

Dr. Conrad Murray convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson

Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted on Monday for Involuntary Manslaughter in the death of mega pop star Michael Jackson.  After the jury’s verdict of guilty was announced, Murray was handcuffed and remanded into state custody to await his sentencing hearing.  The Involuntary Manslaughter conviction indicated that the jurors believed that Dr. Murray acted with criminal negligence by administering the drug propofol to Michael Jackson as a sleep aid and that such actions ultimately were a major cause of Jackson’s death.

In trial, the defense argued that Jackson administered the drug to himself thereby causing his own death.

Dr. Murray faces up to four years in prison at his sentencing.  The sentencing is set for Tuesday, November 29, 2011.

Share

Amanda Knox appellate verdict coming soon

Did she or didn’t she?  That is the question an Italian Court of Appeals in Perugia, Italy must soon decide.

The appellate process is almost finished.

Amanda Knox was convicted and sentenced in December of 2009 to 26 years in an Italian prison for the murder of her college roomate, Meredith Kercher.  Kercher was found with her throat slit in what was described as a very gory crime scene back on November 1, 2007.  Since that time her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito and another man have also been found guilty in the murder.

The appeal included testimony from two Sapienza University forensic experts who were independently appointed by the court.  The expert’s reports and testimony concluded that the DNA testing, largely used to convict Knox, was completely flawed and unreliable.

It is likely that Knox will address the appellate court later this week to declare her innocence.

In Italy, the appellate court may decide on a wholly different sentence depending on their determination of the evidence.  Prosecutors have asked for Knox to receive a sentence of life in prison with 6 months in solitary confinement.  The defense has asked for an acquittal.

Share

Breaking News: Casey Anthony found Not Guilty of 1st Degree Murder

After deliberating for a day and a half the jury of 7 women and 5 men has found Casey Anthony not guilty of the murder of her 2 year old child Caylee Anthony.

Casey Anthony – Not Guilty Verdict

The final verdict was as follows:

  • Count 1:  1st Degree Murder – Not Guilty
  • Count 2:  Aggravated Child Abuse – Not Guilty
  • Count 3:  Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child – Not Guilty
  • Count 4:  Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty
  • Count 5:  Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty
  • Count 6:  Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty
  • Count 7:  Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer – Guilty

Providing False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer is a 1st degree misdemeanor punishable by 1 year in jail.  See Florida Statutes §837.055.  Sentencing is set for Thursday at 9 am.  Casey Anthony will likely receive credit for the time she has served and be released from custody.  She has already served 3 years pending her trial.

 

Share

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich found guilty on 17 counts including trying to sell or trade President Obama’s old Senate seat

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

CHICAGO — A jury has found former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich guilty on 17 corruption-related charges, including trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.

Blagojevich had faced 20 charges, including the Senate seat allegation and that he schemed to shake down executives for campaign donations. He was convicted on all charges regarding the Senate seat.

The jurors delivered their verdicts Monday after deliberating nine days.

Blagojevich testified for seven days, denying wrongdoing.

According to Chicago Tribune reporter Stacy St. Clair, Blagojevich turned to his wife Patti and whispered “I love you” after the verdict was read. Patti kept shaking her head and remained seated as the jury exited the trial room.

Prosecutors said he lied and the proof was on FBI wiretaps. Those included a widely parodied clip in which Blagojevich calls the Senate opportunity “f—— golden.”

Blagojevich was in court for the verdict.

Jurors in his first trial deadlocked on all but one charge, convicting Blagojevich of lying to the FBI.

Blagojevich already faces up to five years for the lying conviction.

Deadlock at first trial
Jurors at the first trial came back deadlocked after deliberating for 14 days. They agreed on just one of 24 counts, convicting Blagojevich of lying to the FBI.

Despite that, hung juries are rare. According to one federal study, using data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, just 2.5 percent of federal trials from 1980 to 1997 ended hung — a lower rate than for juries in state courts.

When jurors do deadlock, it is often at trials where the charges are complex and where the evidence appears ambiguous, a 2002 federally funded study by The National Center for State Courts found.

“You have both in the Blagojevich case — complexity and evidence that’s not straightforward,” said Gal Pissetzky, a Chicago defense attorney who tries cases in federal court.

Prosecutors almost certainly factored that in going into the retrial. They streamlined the case by dropping racketeering counts against the ex-governor and dismissing all charges against his then co-defendant brother, Robert Blagojevich.

And at the retrial, they presented just three weeks of evidence — half the time taken at the first trial. They called fewer witnesses, asked fewer questions and played shorter excerpts of FBI wiretaps that underpin most of the charges.

There was also a new variable at the retrial: Testimony from Blagojevich himself. At the first trial, the defense rested without calling any witnesses and Blagojevich didn’t testify despite vowing that he would.

But retrial jurors saw a deferential Blagojevich look them in the eyes and deny each and every allegation, telling them his talk on the recordings was mere brainstorming. This time, jurors must decide if they believe him.

The article on the MSNBC website can be seen here.

Share