penny4theguy
I like to think I am the type of person who doesnt say "of course he/she did it" of course we form opinions without knowing all of the facts,I dont know if James Hanratty was guilty or not,I did grow up thinking there was reasonable doubt,the trouble with our legal system is you can be found guilty even if all of the jury do not agree,(is it beyond reasonable doubt when all of the jury do not agree?) I think more time should be allowed to sum up (I know the jury's do get a lot of time to sum up,but if they cannot agree I would think this is reasonable doubt)I used to think a hung jury should be reasonable doubt,it is so easy for the judge to say I will except a majority verdict,(this saves a retrial of course)but back in those days it was a life at stake,a pardon after you are dead is not much use
I really do not know how do we define what we consider reasonable doubt.In James Hanratty's case he was found guilty by jury of twelve (I do not know if all found him guilty or not)while at the same time a petition was signed by 90,000 people.Perhaps the fact we still question the verdict raises a point,of course some people will say he was/ wasn't guilty,but I will always think at the time there was reasonable doubt,today's DNA suggests otherwise but ,Hmmm.
I really do not know how do we define what we consider reasonable doubt.In James Hanratty's case he was found guilty by jury of twelve (I do not know if all found him guilty or not)while at the same time a petition was signed by 90,000 people.Perhaps the fact we still question the verdict raises a point,of course some people will say he was/ wasn't guilty,but I will always think at the time there was reasonable doubt,today's DNA suggests otherwise but ,Hmmm.