Innocent until proven guilty

I didn't follow the Casey Anthony case at all. I saw snippets on the news during the long trial, but I didn't really pay attention. I did, however, see the explosion on Facebook when she was found "not guilty" of the first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter charges in the death of her daughter, Caylee.

Not one person on Facebook, at least that I saw, thought Casey was innocent and should be free. Many of them posted things like: "Our system is flawed..." "There is no justice for Caylee..." "Casey should rot in hell..." etc.

One friend posted something really good and really smart - "If you feel the jury was wrong, do not buy her book. Do not go to her movie. If you are disgusted wit her, do not put money in her pocket. Turn your backs on her and do not let her profit from any of this. This is our only way to try to get some justice for little Caylee."(Thanks Angela!)

After the explosion of disbelief and sadness at the verdict, I did some surfing around. From what little I read, I could surmise that she was indeed guilty... just as OJ was.

But what some people don't understand is that the system DID work. We learned in our social studies classes in school that it is an American right that we are innocent until proven guilty. This strongly held American certainty is touted by defendants - and their lawyers - all the time. It is the job of the prosecution to convince these 12 people that she is guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt.

I have sat on two juries, one for a domestic abuse charge and one for an assault charge. Nothing major, but I learned a lot from those two experiences.

Once you hear the case, and you go into the room to discuss the charges, you are given a sheet. Basically it is a checklist of criteria that all of you - unanimously - have to agree that the prosecution's argument fulfilled to come back with a guilty verdict. Those criteria are very specific, and I can imagine that for murder and manslaughter, those criteria are even more defined and strict. The decision HAS to be unanimous.

I agree that this is a horrible, terrible story. How anyone can do that to a chid is beyond me. I don't know if Casey was guilty. She probably is, and for that, she SHOULD burn in hell. But you can't lay the blame at those 12 citizens who did their best to make the decision they thought was lawfully correct. The prosecutor, Jeff Ashton, who probably did the best he could (He is quoted saying, "We presented every shred of evidence we had") just didn't have enough solid evidence to prove the case.

Let's just hope that new, solid evidence can be found, and little Caylee will get the justice she deserves. Whether it's karma, fate or God, Caylee's murderer will be punished. After the devastating results of this trial, that's the only thing we can hope.