Agree which is what makes the laundry list of charges so interesting....was there concern with the prosecutor's office that they wanted "something/anything" to stick or why pile on all the additional little charges on top of Murder 1 which is life in prison? Bragging points if he gets 100+ years? Willing to settle for 5 years or 10 years on all the additional charges? And then a day or two later ask for a sentence enhancer? Why? I just gotta assume they have more than circumstantial "stuff" and if so, then why all the add ons? I'm super curious where this all goes.
BBM for discussion:
The “STUFF” you referenced:
The “public perception” of proof is usually “direct evidence”, which proves a material element of a crime. My grandson, Johnny, was sitting on the kitchen floor with chocolate cake all over his face. The cake is gone. I pretty much know Johnny ate the cake. But.... no one saw Johnny eat the cake. That’s a circumstantial case. The prosecution (me, grandma) needs to prove to mom Johnny ate the cake.
Direct evidence is a clear confession by a killer, a video of the murder itself, or an eyewitness to a murder that was committed. If someone saw BM murder SM and testified to that, that’s an example of direct evidence.
I think most of us who think BM probably killed SM believe he was the only one there when she was killed with no witnesses around. That means this is going to be a circumstantiacase. Most people don’t realize that DNA, hair, body fluids, blood, fibers, fingerprints, all digital data, GPS, cellphone, recordings, etc. are all examples of circumstantial evidence. Circumstantial evidence is everything other than eye witness or confessions, iirc, including forensics, witness’ statements (other than witness to the murder), and anything else you can imagine.
The
conviction of the majority of murder cases are built around circumstantial evidence. Very few murders have eyewitnesses or confessions. MOO
So the prosecution needs to fit the puzzle pieces together for the jury “beyond a reasonable doubt” to garner a conviction, which I have zero doubt they will be successful doing.
The Extra Added on Charges: I’m following Gannon Stauch case (11 yr old CO BOY) who’s step mother is facing
murder1 + a multitude of other charges. DA’s charge what’s valid to charge they feel they can be successful prosecuting, so they should!
This isn’t “be nice to BM week” just in case he’s found not guilty of Murder 1. 70 investigators, 1400 tips, 400 interviews, 135 search warrants later these LE & DA want to get the accused convicted for a long time. Life Without Parole + another 100 years would be fine with me. The more charges, the more to use as bargaining chips to be told where SM’s body is, maybe. MOO
To the Legal Beagles and those that know far more than me, Please correct me where I’m mistaken and wrong. I more than welcome it.
PS to say “
more than circumstantial "stuff" feels like gaslighting to me because many murderers are convicted on that “
circumstantial stuff.” Just my 2 cents, my own opinion, my 2 centavos.