Except that is way too simplistic.
Someone can be factually innocent of a crime and yet be suspected or convicted. Someone can be factually innocent and yet seem hinky as all get out. Look at the neighbor in the Somer Thompson case: single male, liked kids, had a puppy to help attract kids to him, lived very close to Somer. He gave a terrible impression... even though he was factually innocent.
According to the Innocence Project, in a DoJ study, in more than 25% of cases, suspects were eliminated when DNA results came back. Obviously what those suspects had to say to LE didn't mean diddly-squat. What would have happened to those suspects had DNA testing not been available? History tells us that at least some of them would have been falsely convicted.
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/Facts_on_PostConviction_DNA_Exonerations.php
Many cases do not involve DNA at all. And in many states, the DNA testing backlog is over a year long.
According to the Innocence Project, various studies estimate that somewhere between 2.5% to 5% of all current prisoners are factually innocent. That translates into somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 innocent people are sitting in prison today. Being innocent really didn't help them.
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/How_many_innocent_people_are_there_in_prison.php
I honestly and truly believe that the only person who needs a good criminal defence lawyer more than a factually guilty suspect is suspect who is factually innocent. I have little to no faith in the whole "all you have to do is tell the truth and you'll be okay" meme.
I understand your answer and agree with it to a degree. But whether we like it or not, in these high profile cases, public perception can be equally deadly. While Terri may be protecting her rights ....her absolute silence and the legal demeanor of yesterday IMO do her no PR favors. We might wish that a perfect jury pool might someday be selected that is not already half-convinced of her guilt, but unfortunately, with today's media circus, is that really likely?
So, while this silence may protect her rights, is it helping her if she ever gets to court and faces a jury? This is where I have doubts.
I have always thought she should make a public statement, not laying out her timeline, not speaking any specifics...just as the innocent Duke Lacrosse kids did....letting the public get to know her, making herself REAL.
Let's face it, the public knows she was with this child since birth...why not hold a press conference where she balances out the pain we see from Desiree and Kaine ...with evidence of her own pain? Why not speak of her love for Kyron and plea for help in bringing him home? This is a woman who went before the public in a string bikini, affecting poses. This is a woman who (as Chris Coleman described the activity) was taking pictures of her "private parts" and sending them in texts. She cannot be THAT shy or retiring!
And why not show that she will answer
what she can...i.e. where the money is coming from for her attorney? Why create another mystery , more speculation. Why doesn't she cooperate in the SIMPLE THINGS?
Yesterday, everything her attorney said (or didn't say) added to the impression that Terri cannot speak because she has so much to hide. That may be an unfair impression, a wrong impression, or even an impression that only certain people believe. But that impression is BELIEVED in many places. Her great Attorney may be winning battles and losing the War because he's losing much of the public narrative.
Terri's avoidance of answers or statements about the simple things leave the impression that her involvement in this criminal matter is complex. She cannot say she loved Kyron because...well, maybe something may be in the hands of LE...that show Teri doing things no loving StepMom would do. She cannot say where the money came from...because it opens the door to other "activities."
If Terri can't make simple statements....it leaves a public impression that there are complex reasons.
And, in regard to the Landscaper with the alias, this takes the whole tragedy beyond hinky to me...almost like some poor piece of fiction writing on the Book Store mark-down rack.