Jeana (DP) said:Its been a while since I studied the case, but I'll be happy to try and remember what I can. I've got the book and I think one of the documentaries, so I may need to refresh my memory, but I believe they're guilty too. A while ago, I found Damien's psychological records on the internet and they were pretty interesting. The dude's a wack job for sure. I have nothing against heavy metal music (rather like it actually) and nothing against "black" clothing and the like. I don't think it helped their cause at all, but I don't think it got them convicted either.
Welcome!!
Well I see here that you may not be as informed on this case as you may believe you are... If you only read one book, I'd be interested in knowing which book that was. And you really need to watch both PL & PL2 to really understand all the in's and out's of the case.... I would also like to ask you on what grounds you believe these boys are guilty... just because a judge and jury decided there guilt? These boys were already found guilty before the cases ever went to trial. The real question is where is the evidence linking these boys to the crime? If these three teenagers...one of who is mentally handicapped, committed this crime, and left not one scrap of evidence...DNA, blood, fingerprints, hair, fibers,ect. Then they have done something impossible in the eyes of modern forensic science... they are utterly "genius"!!!Jeana (DP) said:Thanks for your post Amy. I've read and seen it all too and think the complete opposite. I believe they're guilty.
Amy Noel said:Well I see here that you may not be as informed on this case as you may believe you are... If you only read one book, I'd be interested in knowing which book that was. And you really need to watch both PL & PL2 to really understand all the in's and out's of the case.... I would also like to ask you on what grounds you believe these boys are guilty... just because a judge and jury decided there guilt? These boys were already found guilty before the cases ever went to trial. The real question is where is the evidence linking these boys to the crime? If these three teenagers...one of who is mentally handicapped, committed this crime, and left not one scrap of evidence...DNA, blood, fingerprints, hair, fibers,ect. Then they have done something impossible in the eyes of modern forensic science... they are utterly "genius"!!!
Where did you read Damien's Mental health records from? I don't believe they were ever released for public record, I know that excerpts were read from the full report in court, and therefore in the transcripts. But I'd be very interested to know how you got your hands on his records or if they were on the internet, what site that was?Jeana (DP) said:Darlin, I'm not sure where you got the impression I only read one book. I've seen and read everything I could get my hands on with regard to this case, including Damien's mental health records. Its been some time, but I don't remember hearing or seeing anything that lead me to believe they are anything but guilty.
Amy Noel said:Where did you read Damien's Mental health records from? I don't believe they were ever released for public record, I know that excerpts were read from the full report in court, and therefore in the transcripts. But I'd be very interested to know how you got your hands on his records or if they were on the internet, what site that was?
Charlie said:The fact still remains they were convicted of murder without suffcient evidence - reasonable doubt was cast everywhere in that court room. Even if they are guilty they deserve another trial.
I found this very interesting, informative, and fitting to this topic...Jeana (DP) said:Reasonable doubt is in the eye of the tryer of fact -- in this case the jury. We've heard of cases where a conviction was had based solely on circumstantial evidence. We've heard of cases where the body of the victim hadn't even be located. Of course, all are entitled to their opinions, but the only ones that matter in this case belong to the jury and the appeals courts. I agree with them.
Amy Noel said:I found this very interesting, informative, and fitting to this topic...
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/Prison-Innocent-People19apr04.htm
Jeana (DP) said:Interesting, but hardly applicable to the case we're discussing.
Amy Noel said:Here is an excerpt.....
On the other hand, the study found that the leading causes of wrongful convictions for murder were false confessions and perjury by co- defendants, informants, police officers or forensic scientists.
A separate study considering 125 cases involving false confessions was published in the North Carolina Law Review last month and found that such confessions were most common among groups vulnerable to suggestion and intimidation.
"There are three groups of people most likely to confess," said Steven A. Drizin, a law professor at Northwestern, who conducted the study with Richard A. Leo, a professor of criminology at the University of California, Irvine. "They are the mentally retarded, the mentally ill and juveniles."
Professor Drizin, too, said that false confessions were most common in murder cases.
"Those are the cases where there is the greatest pressure to obtain confessions," he said, "and confessions are often the only way to solve those crimes."
Professor Drizin said that videotaping of police interrogations would cut down on false confessions.
Jeana (DP) said:Thanks Amy, but the words didn't change once you copied that from the thread to here, and neither did my opinion. Yes, it happens. Did it happen in this case? No.
The whole idea of having reasonable doubt is that if there is one piece of the puzzle that doesnt fit and hence casts doubt on the defenders perpetrating this crime then they shouldnt be found guilty. I would say then u would need every part of the puzzle to fit in order to guarantee a conviction.Details said:You don't need to be 100% - that's beyond any doubt - and I can't even say beyond any doubt, 100% sure that I'm here typing this message - could all be an elaborate dream...
The standard is beyond a reasonable doubt.
Amy Noel said:Where is the evidence linking these boys to the crime? If these three teenagers...one of whom is mentally handicapped , committed this crime, and left not one scrap of evidence... DNA, blood, fingerprints, hair, fibers,ect. Then they have done something impossible in the eyes of modern forensic science... they are utterly "genius"!!!
Charlie said:How can u be 100% positive that Jessie's Misskelley's confession wasnt false? U need to be 100% to send someone to jail for life....i dont know how anyone could be 100% when they are big holes in his confession
1. time of death
2. nature of attack on the boys
Jeez his account doesnt even match up with the medical examiners.
Jeana (DP) said:You DO NOT have to be 100% certain. The Tryer of Fact needs to decide beyond a REASONABLE DOUBT. That juror's reasonable doubt -- not your's.