VA - Joseph Ryan shot, Christine Banfield stabbed, both deceased, in home - Herndon 24 Feb 2023

[mrjitty]

Agree!

What bothers me, but I can't articulate so well, is proof beyond reasonable doubt is an evidential standard - you don't collect up reasonable doubts in a bucket, nor edge ahead on the scoreboard.

Traditionally, one made analogies about a braided rope, with evidential strands - maybe you could cut one but the rope held. Or a puzzle with missing pieces but you could still see the picture etc etc

So to take the issue of whether or not the defendant was genuinely upset - the defence may have succeeded in undermining an allegation from which guilt could be inferred. Which is like cutting a strand of the rope. What they didn't do is score some points or collect a reasonable doubt.

As a question of logic, we ask juries to first consider all the facts that have been established, then make logical and obvious inferences, and only then ask if the burden of proof is met. Analysing cases in terms of landing heavy blows and collecting up reasonable doubts as you go along invites logical fallacy IMO. Whether or not he was crying doesn't raise any reasonable doubt of itself. You just maybe cannot infer anything from it now.

Apologies if anyone finds this pedantic, but to my old school tradition, this style of analysis seems wrong headed.

IMO

 

[mrjitty]

Its interesting that the overwhelming view of posters here is that the CW have proved the case? I guess it shows the limits of the creators to pretend the defence is making a good case

 

[Megnut]

I don't think the jury has to understand how CB's devices were manipulated to find that they were. The CW hasn't emphasized BB's career, surprisingly. It's his career IMO that accounts for the how he was able to do it, even to the point of confounding the experts.

I liken it to someone who wears protective gear.m during the commission of a crime. Just because there's no transfer of DNA doesn't mean they weren't there. They were there, they just took countermeasures.

BB took countermeasures. Digitally.

IMO if there's juror doubt -- that maybe it was CB on her own devices, setting up the sexual encounter -- it's not because the Defense has been successful in creating reasonable doubt; it's because BB was successful in his countermeasures.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

Current Weather/Operating Status​

The Fairfax County Courthouse and all Courts are OPEN Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

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Willtherebe or Wontherebe testimony in this trial today? Originally canceled through Wednesday, I thought. Still canceled or now reinstated?

 

[Pyrite]

Its interesting that the overwhelming view of posters here is that the CW have proved the case? I guess it shows the limits of the creators to pretend the defense is making a good case

I enjoy Peter’s videos and the way he sees things. It doesn’t bother me that he calls balls and strikes on both sides. He does bend over a little backwards to be fair to both sides, unlike say Bob Mota, another creator, who is mostly defense side only.

I’m not at all surprised that the overwhelming view here is that the CW has proved its case. As a voracious reader on Webseluths, the overwhelming opinion here is guilty on almost every thread here, even before a trial starts. Karen Read is the only exception to that I can think of. MOO

I’m glad you are posting again. I haven’t seen you much lately on any of the threads I keep up with and I always enjoy reading your posts.

Edited to correct spelling and grammar.