Captial Punishment

[Luciano]

What does the phrase "Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" mean to you?

[T.Jackson]

What does the phrase "Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" mean to you?

That's an easy one.

1. Eye Witness(s)
2. DNA
3. Motive
4. Possession of victim's belongings
5. The accused's belongings at the scene

Give me 3 or more of those and I'll give you a guilty verdict.
But in a rape case I'd probably return a guilty verdict from just DNA alone and a believable testimony from the victim.

[Luciano]

Man accused of killing his wife.

1. Eye Witness(s) = No.
2. DNA = Yes, this is his home.
3. Motive = Not known.
4. Possession of victim's belongings = Yes, this was her home.
5. The accused's belongings at the scene = Yes, this is his home.

[T.Jackson]

Man accused of killing his wife.

1. Eye Witness(s) = No.
2. DNA = Yes, this is his home.
3. Motive = Not known.
4. Possession of victim's belongings = Yes, this was her home.
5. The accused's belongings at the scene = Yes, this is his home.

No jury would convict on that. Those big 5 assume no association with the victim. I think a lot of people would convict with just DNA & motive, when it can be proven that the accused has never been associated in any way whatsoever with the victim. But as for the guy accused of killing his wife goes, the case really needs cold hard evidence like; murder weapon, blood stains on clothing, and a really sound motive. In cases like the one you describe that lacks psychical evidence, the police would be chasing a confession. The other thing to keep in mind is that, without motive, murder is impossible to trial (unless of course the accused is some sort of deranged psychopath) No one commits homicide without reason.