Not Guilty

[maddy]

The jury has deliberated for nine days, and delivered the verdict of not guilty for Robert Blake in connection with the charge of murdering his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley.

He was also found not guilty on one of the charges of solicition, and were not able to reach a verdict on the other charge.

[Cheyanne]

Well...... I guess he will be headed to a bar near Lilith.

[BIBI]

I saw the verdict and thought he was going to keel over and die with shock.

[Irish]

For many years,at the local town police depts. suggestion,I had a concealed
weapons permit.Robert Blake had a weapon,supposedly,to protect,his wife!
1:I know,from experience,that carrying a loaded weapon,is a very awsome
responsibility.You don't FORGET it in the restuarant,as he said that he did!
2:Why,if he was so worried,about protecting his wife,would he leave her alone,in the car,while he went back,to the restaurant,to retrieve his weapon?
Something smells as phoney as the OJ case to me! Irish
P.S.Granted she was a strange person,but he married her!

[IAKaraokeGirl]

I have been watching this trial, and I'm not sure you can blame the jury on this one. From what I understand, the evidence was not solid in the prosecutor's favor, and, as most of us know, it's the prosecution's job to ensure that the evidence backs their suppositions.

[maddy]

I'm not an expert in law... but I find it interesting - an article I read this morning said that Blake spent $10 Mio in 5 years on his defense and is now broke. Surely it can't be so costly to defend yourself when you are *innocent*

[IAKaraokeGirl]

Maddy, you might be surprised at what a good legal defense can cost, guilty or otherwise. Heck, I have been shocked many times to see what a "simple" divorce--which, of course, turns out to be not-so-simple--can run, often several thousand dollars up to one I know of that was sent to the Iowa Court of Appeals...the person awarded primary care of the child alone spent about $20,000, in addition to the cost to his adversary.

[maddy]

It's a good thing I've not had a need to hire an attorney :) I'd need to be a pro-bono case :p

[IAKaraokeGirl]

:) Yes, I understand...fortunately there are many attorneys who also do cases pro bono or at a substantially reduced rate--and not all legal services are quite that expensive.

Blake's former step-daughters and family are proceeding with a civil suit, much in the same way O.J. was handled. If Blake is as broke as he says he is, I'm not sure what financial benefit the family will receive. Criminal law is funny in that it is so unjust in many ways--the victims, obviously, both families (the victim and that of the accused), those who are wrongly accused, those who are rightly convicted but given a lenient sentence, etc.

[dicksbro]

I have been watching this trial, and I'm not sure you can blame the jury on this one. From what I understand, the evidence was not solid in the prosecutor's favor, and, as most of us know, it's the prosecution's job to ensure that the evidence backs their suppositions.

I also know that the jury often doesn't hear or see everything we do. I was on a jury years ago, and we were out of the court room more than we were in it. :(

Even in the OJ case, I understand for all the time the trial went on, the jury was present only a very small amount of time while most of the time, the lawyers and judge were alone while they "discussed" stuff. :rolleyes2

The news always makes it seem like the jury knows all we're hearing and they don't.

[GingerV]

Makes one wonder how many juries would have changed their mind if they'd seen what the TV audience sees. I'm not saying it's wrong that they have access to limited info...just curious how big an impact the restricted information would have.

[PantyFanatic]

Maddy, you might be surprised at what a good legal defense can cost, guilty or otherwise. ........
I'm not.

[BIBI]

I'm not.

....and you know this by??????