Yesterday, the verdict was returned in the Casey Anthony trial. Not guilty on all the murder charges. Like many others, I was shocked at the outcome. By all accounts, through the testimony and newspapers, she sure seemed guilty to me. However, after a small amount of critical thinking, I applaud the jury in this case. In the U.S. we should not be convicting people of crimes on the basis that the person "seemed guilty". Our system works, and works well, when the jury takes to heart the premise that those accused are innocent until proven guilty, and that a guilty verdict is arrived at "beyond a reasonable doubt". Cases that are solely based on circumstantial evidence should not be tried by prosecutors. With only that type of evidence, the issue of reasonable doubt is automatically evident. I was stunned that a person was being tried for murder with the possibility of the death sentence solely based on circumstantial evidence! Hopefully, this case leads to prosecutor restraint, either by choice or by law.
