For those interested in what the jury will have to decide at the end of this trial......I think this article gives an easy to understand account.
**NOA means name of accused.
The article talks about all aspects of a trial.....from jury selection to sentencing.
One question often brought up on the forum is the taking of notes by jurors. They are allowed to take notes during the trial, but cannot leave the courtroom with them. The jurors are expected to pay attention to the witnesses and note taking would be a distraction. Notes are not allowed during deliberations.
Jurors may discuss the case ONLY when they are all together in the jury room and MUST NOT form an opinion of guilt or innocence until after the trail is completed and they have received the Judge's instructions.
I think that (7) bolded may be the most difficult for the jury to consider.
I will post a link at the bottom of the page for the full version.
5. Fundamental Principles
5.1 Presumption of Innocence, Burden of Proof and Reasonable Doubt
(Last revised March 2011)
[1] The first and most important principle of law applicable to every criminal case is the presumption of innocence. NOA enters the proceedings presumed to be innocent, and the presumption of innocence remains throughout the case unless the Crown, on the evidence put before you, satisfies you beyond a reasonable doubt that s/he is guilty.
[2] Two rules flow from the presumption of innocence. One is that the Crown bears the burden of proving guilt. The other is that guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. These rules are inextricably linked with the presumption of innocence to ensure that no innocent person is convicted.
[3] The burden of proof rests with the Crown and never shifts. There is no burden on NOA to prove that s/he is innocent. S/he does not have to prove anything.[22]
[4] Now what does the expression “beyond a reasonable doubt” mean? A reasonable doubt is not an imaginary or frivolous doubt. It is not based on sympathy for or prejudice against anyone involved in the proceedings. Rather, it is based on reason and common sense. It is a doubt that arises logically from the evidence or from an absence of evidence.
[5] It is virtually impossible to prove anything to an absolute certainty, and the Crown is not required to do so. Such a standard would be impossibly high. However, the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt falls much closer to absolute certainty than to probable guilt. You must not find NOA guilty unless you are sure s/he is guilty. Even if you believe that NOA is probably guilty or likely guilty, that is not sufficient. In those circumstances, you must give the benefit of the doubt to NOA and find him/her not guilty because the Crown has failed to satisfy you of his/her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
[6] I will explain to you the essential elements that the Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to establish NOA’s guilt. For the moment, the important point for you to understand is that the requirement of proof beyond a reasonable doubt applies to each of those essential elements. It does not apply to individual items of evidence. You must decide, looking at the evidence as a whole, whether the Crown has proved NOA’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
[7]
If you have a reasonable doubt about NOA’s guilt arising from the evidence, the absence of evidence, or the credibility or the reliability of one or more of the witnesses, then you must find him/her not guilty.
[8] In short:
· The presumption of innocence applies at the beginning and continues throughout the trial, unless you are satisfied, after considering the whole of the evidence, that the Crown has displaced the presumption of innocence by proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
· If, based upon the evidence, you are sure that NOA is guilty of the offence(s) with which s/he is charged, you must convict him/her of that offence since that demonstrates that you are satisfied of his/her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
· If you have a reasonable doubt whether NOA is guilty of the offence(s) with which s/he is charged, you must give him/her the benefit of that doubt and find him/her not guilty.
http://www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca/english/la...I-Jury-Instruction-Preliminary-2011-03_en.asp
