General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I accept the jury's decision [View all]ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)a court case.
reasonable doubt n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt to a moral certainty. Thus, a juror (or judge sitting without a jury) must be convinced of guilt of a crime (or the degree of crime, as murder instead of manslaughter) "beyond a reasonable doubt," and the jury will be told so by the judge in the jury instructions. However, it is a subjective test since each juror will have to decide if his/her doubt is reasonable. It is more difficult to convict under that test, than "preponderance of the evidence" to decide for the plaintiff (party bringing the suit) in a civil (non-criminal) trial.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Reasonable+Doubt
I think Zimmerman is guilty as hell of initiating the whole thing and thus for the murder of Trayvon, but I wasn't on the jury. They are given specific instructions and we aren't privy to all of the instructions and evidence they were given. It sucks, but it's the system.