The Blago holdout juror speaks

[Swede]

She sounds very thoughtful and sincere.



In voting him not guilty, however, Chiakulas stressed that she did not find him innocent.

"I thought he was narcissistic," she told the Tribune. "I thought he was all over the place. I thought he was just rambling."

The 67-year-old juror said she also became concerned because some key witnesses against Blagojevich had cut deals with prosecutors before testifying.

"Some people in (the jury room) only saw black and white," Chiakulas said. "I think I saw, in the transcripts and in the testimony, shades of gray. To me, that means reasonable doubt."

Being the holdout caused a great deal of stress, and Chiakulas said she suffered headaches and stomach pains.

"I can't explain how badly I felt," she said. "I didn't sleep at night. I thought about it on the train. I wanted to make sure my reasonable doubt was reasonable."

http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=1932984&spid=

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Finding of "innocence" is not a legal hurdle.

:shrug:


Does anyone know how this country works?

[Better Today]

2. Good for her. Sounds like a person with true American spirit.

Having not been in the trial, I don't know if I'd agree with her position, but I agree with her recognizing shades of grey and taking the "reasonable doubt" aspect of trials fully into consideration despite her fellow jurors' black/white syndromes.

[UTUSN]

3. K&R #5 for, how did witnesses' cutting deals diminish the truth of their testimony?!1 n/t

[seattleblue]

4. If you say what the prosecutor wants you to say you get a lighter sentence.

The witnesses against Blago had no credibility and were just trying to save themselves.

[mopinko]

5. like any other witness, just because someone raises their

hand and swears doesn't mean they are telling the truth. if they were given money for their testimony, would that lead jurors to distrust them? do expert witnesses always tell the truth? or do you pay them to support your case? answer- some do, some don't. on both sides of the law.
well, what's the difference? and isn't freedom worth more than money?
they might tell the truth, but they might lie. up to the jury to figure that out. this lady thought it mattered. i would think so, too, i think.

[emulatorloo]

6. 11 out of 12 thought he was guilty.

He'll be convicted by the next jury.

Hope you saw Blago's interview with Jon Stewart.