ThinkTank
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I guess from watching a lot of TV, I always assumed the penalty phase was when the judge asked if anyone had anything to say before he pronounced the sentence. Family or friends would stand up and either condemn the accused or exclaim how much they needed them to be free for the family, etc. That's what I was thinking.
Now, I think I know it will be more like a mini trial with witnesses getting on the stand and being questioned by the defense. I imagine the questions will be very direct and to the point they want to make (yes, ICA was worried about Caylee because ICA was crying in bed; yes, ICA took good care of Caylee because she once changed Caylee's diapers, etc) without letting the witnesses explain anything in detail.
Will the SA be able to cross examine these witnesses to get the truth out?
When the family and friends tell the Judge how hurt they are over the loss of the victim, it is the "victim empact statements" that they are allowed to give to the Judge, before the Judge announces the sentence for the crime.
In the Penalty Phase of the trial - it comes after the first phase of the trial - the guilt/innocent phase has been completed, and the Inmate has been found guilty. Then, it is like another mini trial where the Defense will put up witnesses that hopefully will say something good about the convicted murderer (or something BAD about KC's mother or father...), and will beg the jury not to sentence the convicted murderer to DEATH, hoping that will sway the jurors to recommend a sentence of life in prison, instead of the death penalty. The State will cross examine each witness the Defense puts on the stand. Then the jury will decide what the sentence will be.