I really miss you.
More than I ever thought I would.
And…quite frankly?
As a nation, we need you back.
Like, immediately.
I remember the day you left us, as if it was yesterday. I discovered your obituary precisely on July 6, 2007 at 12:35 pm. And while I mourned your passing, somehow, I was naive enough to think we could get by without you.
Alas, that is NOT the case.
With the state of our economy, health insurance, and housing issues, your lack of presence has become painfully obvious. And, without your guidance, I just don’t know how much more we can handle.
Yet, no one else seems to be reaching out to you. So here I am, on bended knee, with a handwritten invitation, begging you to rejoin this decrepit society.
Fear not, Common Sense.
I will not be taking you down the trodden path of endless debates and inevitable conflict. Because I am not here to discuss: politics, race, war, religion, economics, and/or the government.
Nope.
I am only here to discuss the Justice System.
Specifically, “reasonable doubt.”
I have to admit, over the last few years, I’ve been silently living inside my man-made bubble of ignorance. The E! Channel has gracious provided endless hours of escapism. And, I was living fairly well under the guise of denial.
It’s a well-known fact that I am a Television Junkie. I have watched nearly every episode of ‘Judge Judy’ – ‘Law & Order’ – ‘CSI’ – and ‘The Killing’. However, that does not make me an expert on crimes, or crime scenes, by any stretch of the imagination.
And even though I was on the edge of my seat during the Menendez Trial, the O.J. Simpson fiasco, and the Anna Nicole Smith debacle, I still cannot wrap my head around the events surrounding the Casey Anthony Trial.
Seriously.
As a Libra, it is in my very my nature to look at every scenario with an open mind. And I am built to weigh all sides, seeking what’s fair and just – for all of the parties involved. After a very heated debate on Facebook with respects to the outcome of the Casey Anthony Trial, I’ve come to one conclusion.
* I truly believe “Reasonable Doubt” should work BOTH WAYS.
And here’s why….
Maybe the state of Florida dropped the ball. Maybe they weren’t able to prove their case 100%. Maybe too much of the evidence was circumstantial. I also understand that you can’t convict someone of murder, based on the accused behavior, after the victim died.
However, on the flip side: Where are the phone records for the “babysitter” of two years? Why was the baby found with duct-tape on her mouth? Why were there all of those chloroform searches on the computer?
As far as I am concerned all of those things ARE evidence + proof [which in a perfect world] should = “reasonable doubt” in favor of a guilty verdict.
Now, I’m NOT saying we should throw logic out the window and only think with emotion. Conversely, I wish the jury was allowed to use Common Sense.
And, I guess the part that shocked me most? Was the fact that she wasn’t even charged with neglect, at the very least.
I’m sorry, ya’ll.
But if ‘Common Sense’ refuses to make a come back, and right quick, I’m just going to have to enlist this guy.
So tell me people…
What did YOU think of the “Not Guilty” verdict?
I’m dying to know.
———————————————————–
PS: The Federal Prosecution’s office recently stated that a case must be brought to them in order to take action. Double Jeopardy does not apply if federal charges are filed against Casey for violating the civil rights of her child; she can receive a life sentence if convicted. Anyone who waits a month to report their child missing has violated his or her civil rights.
Will you, please SIGN THIS PETITION!
I did!
We went over this before and I don’t want to rehash but I just need to point out that you are leaving out a very important word. Its not “reasonable doubt” its “beyond a reasonable doubt”. That is the standard for conviction. Plenty of countries that don’t have that. I don’t want to live in any of them.
I think that even the jury believes that Casey Anthony had something to do with her daughter’s death. I think the problem was that they couldn’t convict her of the charges. I do believe the prosecutor proved child abuse, but I agree that murder wasn’t proven.
I know how you feel about this.
We already had our debate on Facebook!
Thanks for your input though, Kenny.
Much appreciated.
I believe this b*tch is totally guilty. However, the prosecutors went for the wrong conviction for the evidence they had to offer. I’ve set on several juries and can honestly say it is a burden. I would have come to same conclusion as they did when we are talking about the death penalty. A different charge with a different sentence and I think we would have seen a very different outcome.
We do have a problem in this country and the law system is messed up. It is driven by politics, money and fame. What is really crazy is that murders get off and yet people get all kinds of money from companies for choices they made themselves. It is all insane. We have forgotten personal responsibility. Why take responsibility if someone can get us off?
On a side note: My favorite tweet from all the hoopla.
Reminds me of the time your dad helped OJ get away with murder. RT @KimKardashian WHAT!!??! CASEY ANTHONY FOUND NOT GUILTY! I am speechless!
She wouldn’t have her “fame”, money, fancy shoes, etc if it wasn’t for her dad getting off murderers. Oh, how quickly some people forget.
That’s fine.
But the fact that she wasn’t convicted of any of the lesser charges is
what’s most baffling, to me!
Seriously.
And now, I bet she will walk away from all of this with a million dollar
book deal.
I can only hope COMMON SENSE will prevent people from buying it.
My favorite tweet of that day was:
“Maybe she also has the missing glove”
If only I could fix my comment’s grammar mistakes as easily. Sigh.
Seriously anyone who buys her books, watches her movie or in any way supports something that will result in her getting money is an accomplice to a murderer getting off. Fine – she had her trial and was found guilty of 1st degree murder. Doesn’t mean she is innocent. I haven’t participated in anyway.(except a few blog comments) The quickest way to punish someone like this is to pretend she doesn’t exist. Ignore her.
Yanno, that’s a REALLY good point.
And, I almost didn’t write this blog post for that very reason.
I am just so worked up over this, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
I honestly did not watch one second of the trial BUT I certainly read about it and heard enough crap so here is the my two cents worth!! People have been found guilty on LESS evidence. See, I believe all those shows you named played a factor CSI, especially. WHY? Because I think the JURORS have WATCHED TOO MUCH television and they believe that in the REAL WORLD we really get all that BULLSHIT evidence that those shows come up with! Hello, it is TELEVISION!! So, yeah,the jurors threw out their common sense and forgot how to connect the the dots and they wanted a CSI show with all the PROOF wrapped up in a bow!! I mean they probably expected HORATIO to walk in and testify LOL. Sorry for my rant and CAPS, not hollering really just STRESSING my thoughts, you know I am Italian, it is like me using my HANDS LOL
You definitely make an argument for common sense as far as our Congress goes. As for the Anthony trial. Didn’t follow it. No opinion on the outcome.
Although I totally agree with you about the unrealistic expectations of juries and the public due to some of the “science” shown on these shows, it is not up to the jury to connect the dots. That would call for speculation. It is up to the prosecutor to connect the dots. For what its worth the day after the verdict I was having lunch with 6 other detectives. Not one was surprised by the verdict. The prosecution did its best with what it had but there just wasn’t enough there.
But Lucy, I totally LOVE it when you SHOUT in ALL CAPS!
Especially when you rant WITH me!!
And, you’re 100% right here.
Many other people have been convicted with MUCH less evidence.
I’m so sick over this.
Poor Caylee will never have justice.
I can only hope Karma steps in soon.
Thank you, Jayne!
It just makes me so angry.
I didn’t follow it at all, so I can’t even venture an opinion. Sad, though, if she was guilty and will now walk free.
It certainly is.
lawyers do not practice justice, but the law. i blame the law the jurors had to follow. everyone could see the holes in her story, but the law states….
I know, Val. It’s just very upsetting!
I didn’t follow the trial very closely, but from what I recalled over the course of the few years was that it sounded as though Kasey was guilty of something. Maybe she didn’t kill her daughter outright, but she certainly didn’t seem to care for her daughter at all. I’m still shocked by the verdict, and especially the sentence she was given (seriously? a few more days of jail?) but one day the truth will come out.
The fact that she wasn’t even found guilty of NEGLECT makes me sick.
I didn’t follow the case at all, with the exception of seeing the tailend of it when I was visiting you, so I can’t really offer an opinion. I will say that I think there are so many issues with the justice system (not just in the US, right here in my city, we recently acquited a father who murdered his 3 and 5 yr. old children because he was depressed. There was no question as to his guilt, just his state of mind and his lawyers convinced the jury that depression was to blame for him stabbing his children repeatedly. It just sickens and saddens me.) I believe that in our quest to ensure everyone’s rights are respected and there is no abuse of the law, we have twisted the system to the point where it FAVOURS the guilty.
“Approve”
Yep. The justice system really needs a make-over.
Honestly, I have to chime in with Jane and say that I did not follow it (I know, I’m horrible), so I cannot give you my opinion on the outcome.
However YOU being a Libra, and I loved this….
“As a Libra, it is in my very my nature to look at every scenario with an open mind. And I am built to weigh all sides, seeking what’s fair and just – for all of the parties involved.”
I trust YOU opinion 100%!
X ya, fellow Libra!
I knew you would, Ron!! xoxoox
I agree with this. I think the prosecutor’s office wasted the county’s money (taxes paid by real people) by taking a case to trial without the evidence to win it. They should be held accountable to the public!
They probably COULD have won if they had been going for a lesser charge than murder 1. Casey was clearly guilty of SOME things, and people were ready to smack her good. But you can’t send a person to her possible death if you don’t have rock solid evidence.
Again, Junebug, I agree. I don’t plan on doing anything that gives her money. But I feel I have a legal right to call her a liar. She was at least found guilty of that!
I like that you are angry about this!
In my country, if was in the current ruling dictatorship government we have, he’d be out without a fuss!
I can’t say I’ve heard much of anything about this trial, but as a law student, I would be utterly sickened by a justice system where the term “beyond reasonable doubt” could be used to ensure a guilty verdict. And especially so in a country where the horrific reality is that the death penalty is still in use. I also feel strongly that a trial shouldn’t be up to a jury of people who know nothing of the legal system, but instead it should be decided by professionals, people who have studied the law, know the law, and who don’t enter into a court room with prejudice or their mind already made up.
I won’t say anything about whether or not a guilty person was set free in this case, but I do know that if an innocent person had been convicted, that’s a life you never get back.
I was overseas traveling when all this went down, so I haven’t been following the saga aside of the constant barrage of Nancy Grace reports. I agree that the system is broke, but, to me, that is not a new deal. It’s been totally f#*&%d up for years and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. Compared to other places, I do agree that we have one of the best systems in the world, hands down, but it still doesn’t make it any better when this happens. I really hate it when the media tries a case in public and milks the story for every dime. Justice is blind (and sometimes stupid).
I do understand that. 100%. But there were lesser charges such as child
neglect, and she was found not guilty of that too. Hello, her child was
“missing” for 30 days and she didn’t call the police? That’s child neglect!
Ah yes. That was the ONLY charge she was found guilty. For lying to the
police. GAH!
🙂
HA!
I’m all for the idea of having “professionals” weigh the evidence.
Nancy Grace was FOAMING at the mouth when this went down.
Her reaction was almost comical to me.
I honestly didn’t pay attention to the trial and was surprised at the reaction of my friends on social media. Hence, my making light of all the legal experts on Facebook. Kids die every day without receiving justice. For me, that’s the real tragedy.
The jury system has been here for a long time, and I think it is still probably the best system around. I didn’t follow the trial, and if I had, I might have reached the same conclusion the jurors did. I think it’s most likely a tragic accident occurred and took the child’s life. There was some attempt of a “cover up” involving the father (a former homicide cop), and a baby died. As ugly as all this was, it was probably not murder. To take someone’s life and liberty, I think we need to be sure “beyond a reasonable doubt”. Showing a girl of 21 or 22 partying with friends does not prove murder. It may prove that she was insensitive and self absorbed, but it doesn’t prove murder. If the DA had gone for lesser charges, i.e., manslaughter, murder II, they might have gotten a conviction. Now what happens is between these people and their God. I really can’t say I think it was the wrong verdict.
Being in England, there hasn’t been so much coverage so I’m not really qualified to pronounce on the Casey Anthony case, but I do so agree that Common Sense seems to have gone missing and we need it back!!
(Sure, on the face of it, she seems as guilty as hell … but I’m not a lawyer and don’t have all the information)
It IS a real tragedy.
I just hope Karma steps in soon.
i’ve always thought that the whole concept of “reasonable doubt” makes things like what happened here too easy for aquittal. A smart lawyer can produce reasonable dount more often than is morally right, imo.
I can’t comment on this particular case, as I know nothing of it. I can, however tell you of a case I was on the jury for, some years back.
It was a case of ‘Robbery with violence’ There were three charges withing the one incident, of which I can’t remember now, but the part that links this with your case is that we deliberated for a couple of days and could only find him guilty on two counts. Not because we didn’t think he was guilty. He was there, and he did the robbery, but because we couldn’t actually prove with tangible evidence, that he had actually done this particular thing. We had to find him not guilty. You have to have proof, with no doubt whatsoever before you can say ‘guilty’. We were comforted by the other two ‘guilty’ counts.
If you were found in a shop, behaving strangely and looking guilty and the shop assistant finds money missing, anyone there would say you looked guilty and was behaving weird and you were there at the time, so you must have stolen it. Enough to convict you? I don’t think so. This is where they need proof, beyond a reasonable doubt. They need to find your fingerprints on the till, or have you on CCTV. You just can’t find someone guilty without proof. That law is there to protect the innocent, though I know many guilty people with clever lawyers use it to their gain.
This woman may well have done all of these other awful things, She may have even killed her daughter, but without any actual proof she cannot be found guilty. My guess is that they charged her wrongly. (It is only a guess as I know nothing about it) If they had charged her with the other things that you talk of they may well have been able to find her guilty. I’m surprised that forensic couldn’t get any evidence from her remains though. We are solving unsolved murders from many years ago using DNA so I wonder why they failed to get any proof that way, like DNA on the duct tape or something.
I hope this is all clear 😉
I saw a news article yesterday that said she had been offered a deal to star in a porn flick. I think that shows there is a general view out there that she is a bit of a low life. To me, she didn’t appear remorseful at all. I can’t shake the feeling she is guilty. Her case reminds me of our case (here in Australia) where Lindy Chamberlain was convicted of killing her baby daughter and the conviction was later overturned (she’s the one everyone jokes about – A dingo ate my baby.) Talking about this case still incites a lot of passion among people I know. There are many people who believe she is guilty. I am sure the Casey Anthony case will continue to stir up the same emotions for years to come. When you think about it, it really is quite shocking. And so sad.
I saw a news article yesterday that said she had been offered a deal to star in a porn flick. I think that shows there is a general view out there that she is a bit of a low life. To me, she didn’t appear remorseful at all. I can’t shake the feeling she is guilty. Her case reminds me of our case (here in Australia) where Lindy Chamberlain was convicted of killing her baby daughter and the conviction was later overturned (she’s the one everyone jokes about – A dingo ate my baby.) Talking about this case still incites a lot of passion among people I know. There are many people who believe she is guilty. I am sure the Casey Anthony case will continue to stir up the same emotions for years to come. When you think about it, it really is quite shocking. And so sad.
Here’s to Common Sense making a come back! SOON!
AGREED!
Thanks, Babs! You rock!
It’s really very sad, and shocking, indeed.
Honestly, I did not watch the trial and I cannot argue or debate the issue intelligently. I have only heard bits and pieces from the media and I am intelligent enough to know that those facts come with a bias. As a parent I am baffled why a mother does not report a child missing? I am baffled why a mother buries her child that died accidentally with duct tape?Yes, I know people argue that doesn’t mean she murdered her but damn, Oh, well, who knows?
I do disagree that juries do not connect the dots and I am sure there are many BLACK men sitting in jail who would gladly debate with you on how juries think and how they were convicted with even less evidence, interesting don’t you think? But, as far as the case being discussed I truly did not watch one day of it and at this point I think people just have to live with what the Jury decided, such is life. Although, if I want to commit murder, well, that Florida County just might be the place to do it (totally joking, totally using sarcasm). Ultimately, I believe in Karma, it all works out in life.