08-06-2014, 04:43 PM
JURY IN DELIBERATIONS -- RENISHA MCBRIDE MURDER TRIAL
POSSIBLE VERDICTS
Theodore Wafer, an airport maintenance worker who lives alone, is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. The jury could convict him of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter or clear Wafer of all charges if it believes had a "reasonable and honest" belief that his life was at risk, even if he was wrong.
PROSECUTION'S CLOSING
"She was a young girl looking for help," prosecutor Patrick Muscat told jurors. "What he did had to be immediately necessary and it wasn't. It was reckless. It was negligent. I don't know how to describe it. It was horrific."
DEFENSE CLOSING
"He armed himself. He was getting attacked," defense attorney Cheryl Carpenter said in her closing argument. "Put yourselves in his shoes at 4:30 in the morning."
Earlier this week, Wafer testified that he was terrified by the pounding on his house. He had been sleeping in a recliner and said he couldn't immediately find his phone to call police.
In her closing remarks,defense attorney Carpenter said race isn't a factor for the jury. She said Wafer was just a homeowner who was aware of crime in a neighborhood that borders Detroit and wanted to protect himself. "In the heat of the moment our instincts are to survive," she said. "He did not know it was a 19-year-old who got in a car crash at 1 a.m. What he knew was someone was trying to get in. It's not for a good reason - it's to hurt me."
Source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/renisha-mcbr...igan-jury/
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Wafer made no effort to determine who was banging on his door before deciding to open it and fire point blank in the face.
I understand freaking out a little at continuous banging at 4:30 in the morning. But, he knew the person wasn't in his house and he didn't even ask who it was or say "look, I called the police" or anything like that.
It's not justified to shoot someone because you're afraid and armed; not when you have other options and there is no imminent life threat. It was someone knocking hard on the door, FFS. But, just like the Zimmerman case in Florida, under Michigan's self defense laws, the jury considers what was in the defendant's mind rather than what's reasonable by common standards under the circumstances. I really dislike such laws from a legal and justice perspective. In this case, Wafer changed his story to fit the law and I hope that is transparent to the jury.
Anyway, I think second degree is appropriate here and hope the jury does too. But, involuntary manslaughter would be much better than another acquittal or hung jury.
POSSIBLE VERDICTS
Theodore Wafer, an airport maintenance worker who lives alone, is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. The jury could convict him of the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter or clear Wafer of all charges if it believes had a "reasonable and honest" belief that his life was at risk, even if he was wrong.
PROSECUTION'S CLOSING
"She was a young girl looking for help," prosecutor Patrick Muscat told jurors. "What he did had to be immediately necessary and it wasn't. It was reckless. It was negligent. I don't know how to describe it. It was horrific."
DEFENSE CLOSING
"He armed himself. He was getting attacked," defense attorney Cheryl Carpenter said in her closing argument. "Put yourselves in his shoes at 4:30 in the morning."
Earlier this week, Wafer testified that he was terrified by the pounding on his house. He had been sleeping in a recliner and said he couldn't immediately find his phone to call police.
In her closing remarks,defense attorney Carpenter said race isn't a factor for the jury. She said Wafer was just a homeowner who was aware of crime in a neighborhood that borders Detroit and wanted to protect himself. "In the heat of the moment our instincts are to survive," she said. "He did not know it was a 19-year-old who got in a car crash at 1 a.m. What he knew was someone was trying to get in. It's not for a good reason - it's to hurt me."
Source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/renisha-mcbr...igan-jury/
-------------------------------------------------------
Wafer made no effort to determine who was banging on his door before deciding to open it and fire point blank in the face.
I understand freaking out a little at continuous banging at 4:30 in the morning. But, he knew the person wasn't in his house and he didn't even ask who it was or say "look, I called the police" or anything like that.
It's not justified to shoot someone because you're afraid and armed; not when you have other options and there is no imminent life threat. It was someone knocking hard on the door, FFS. But, just like the Zimmerman case in Florida, under Michigan's self defense laws, the jury considers what was in the defendant's mind rather than what's reasonable by common standards under the circumstances. I really dislike such laws from a legal and justice perspective. In this case, Wafer changed his story to fit the law and I hope that is transparent to the jury.
Anyway, I think second degree is appropriate here and hope the jury does too. But, involuntary manslaughter would be much better than another acquittal or hung jury.