Hookes Jury Still Out.

[Baby Blue]

They have just finished their second day of dileberations and gone back to their hotel for the night. Is it strange that it is taking them this long to come to a decision or is it normal in manslaughter cases for the jury to be out for several days?

 

[Carmichael]

Is it strange that it is taking them this long to come to a decision or is it normal in manslaughter cases for the jury to be out for several days?

Yes.

 

[UNIT]

If they dont come back with a guilty verdict Kerry Packers media attack dogs will crucify them. I can just see the A Current Affair story about the 'Hookes Verdict Outrage' now.

 

[Dr AlfAndrews]

Did Smart-Mouth ever walk?

Will Zdravko walk?

This is like waiting for the 3rd umpire ... the suspense is killing me ... but at least I'm not as killed as much as Smart-Mouth

 

[- PC -]

This would tell me there is a few holdouts. Maybe they didnt like the ''stories'' told by the witnesses. The option to the judge is possibly a majority verdict.

 

[Baby Blue]

This would tell me there is a few holdouts. Maybe they didnt like the ''stories'' told by the witnesses. The option to the judge is possibly a majority verdict.

We don't do that in Victoria, all 12 have to agree or it'll have to be tried again if the DPP wants to pursue it.

 

[la47]

It's not murder, so we do do it. After 3 days the judge will offer a majority verdict, but majority is 11-1

 

[Baby Blue]

It's not murder, so we do do it. After 3 days the judge will offer a majority verdict, but majority is 11-1

You are right, sorry i got that mixed up.

 

[- PC -]

We don't do that in Victoria, all 12 have to agree or it'll have to be tried again if the DPP wants to pursue it.

Then he will walk free

 

[Baby Blue]

Then he will walk free

well if they don't get 11 of the 12 agreeing then he will. But he can be charged again if he's not acquitted.

 

[demon_dave]

If they dont come back with a guilty verdict Kerry Packers media attack dogs will crucify them. I can just see the A Current Affair story about the 'Hookes Verdict Outrage' now.

the bottom line is this bloke king hit Hookes and killed him, doesn't matter who it was, he should get 5 years. The same thing happened in Brighton and the thug bouncer got 5 years

 

[Diesel_2000]

Let's not forget that he may have been a great cricket player, but it doesn't mean he deserves any special treatment. They fact that he wore a baggy green does not grant permission to take away the defendents liberty.

 

[MSR273]

the bottom line is this bloke king hit Hookes and killed him, doesn't matter who it was, he should get 5 years. The same thing happened in Brighton and the thug bouncer got 5 years

Is it the bottom line, looks like the jury is still out on that one. Unfortunately, the media has been so incredibly biast in this case that they cannot be trusted for accurate information. But if he is guilty, 5 years is not enough, not even close.

 

[la47]

I personally think I would have reasonable doubt in this case, the bouncer's version of events is as believable as the prosecution's line

 

[UNIT]

We don't do that in Victoria, all 12 have to agree or it'll have to be tried again if the DPP wants to pursue it.

How hard would it be to get someone behind bars in Victoria under that system ....geez

 

[TheGnu]

Like someone said above, there's bound to be holdouts in a majority verdict, let alone a unanimous one. His chances of walking are probably improving by the day...

 

[Baby Blue]

How hard would it be to get someone behind bars in Victoria under that system ....geez

they don't seem to have too much trouble locking up people in the USA with the same system in just about all states.

 

[la47]

How hard would it be to get someone behind bars in Victoria under that system ....geez

Well the point is we'd rather 100 guilty people go free than 1 innocent person go to prison, and if 12 people can't agree that he's guilty then it can't be likely that there's no reasonable doubt at all and you need that for a case like murder

 

[Arabian Goggles]

How the hell can there be any answer other than guilty? Bouncers certainly have a right to eject punchy patrons but to follow them a couple of hundred metres away from the pub and king hit them isn't in their jurisdiction.

 

[MSR273]

How the hell can there be any answer other than guilty? Bouncers certainly have a right to eject punchy patrons but to follow them a couple of hundred metres away from the pub and king hit them isn't in their jurisdiction.

Once they leave the pub, then it will be the same as judging a fight between any normal members of the public. The obvious question is, was it a king hit or a reflex defensive punch as claimed by the defence. From what I read in the paper, there is no witness who saw Hookes throw any punches, but the testimony from the witnesses against the bouncer is so inconsistent that there is a big question mark over whether it is credible. Tough call for the jury.

 

[ralphmalph]

Is it the bottom line, looks like the jury is still out on that one. Unfortunately, the media has been so incredibly biast in this case that they cannot be trusted for accurate information. But if he is guilty, 5 years is not enough, not even close.

Are you suggesting that the media has been biased towards Hookes or the bouncer?

 

[MSR273]

Are you suggesting that the media has been biased towards Hookes or the bouncer?

I am doing more than suggesting it, I am stating it as fact. The media feeding frenzy after Hookes death was a disgrace. You could have been forgiven for thinking that Hookes was Australias greatest ever citizen and it was only a matter of time before he became a saint.

At least the media coverage of the trial has been a bit more rational.

 

[Baby Blue]

The jury came back earlier today and asked the judge to explian to them what to do if they thought that there was equally credible evidence from both sides, the judge told them in that instance they should quit as it is not a civil case where its based on what is more likely, they have to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. So don't be surprised if he is acquitted or there is a hung jury.

 

[FIGJAM]

If they have to ask what "beyond reasonable doubt" means, then they have reasonable doubt.

Let the bloke go.

 

[MSR273]

If they have to ask what "beyond reasonable doubt" means, then they have reasonable doubt.

Let the bloke go.

That is how the judge should have responded.