Star Reporter J.D. Mullane Reports "Guilty" In 3 out of 4 Murder Counts

Old Post/Previous Speculation: Obviously, and thankfully, my speculation/wargaming out the verdict was wrong.

It seems likely they had agreed on two counts of murder, and disagreed on the remaining two. And then split the difference.

...
I don't understand this.

The verdict is in, and is going to be read, and the media are in the courtroom, permitted there by the judge... but they have to turn off their cellphones (their method of instantly reporting the news out) during the reading of the verdict?

I don't understand the reasoning. Is it that the official protocol is that the jury reads the verdict, and then the verdict is read publicly on the courthouse steps?

No idea.

Anyway, cellphones off or not, they'll only be off for a bit, and then we'll have the verdict some minutes later.

As I wrote earlier, I'm pessimistic about the verdict. I wrote:

I think this way because if they were split 2-2 on guilty/not guilty for the baby murders, they would simply split the difference and present their verdict of 2 guilty, 2 not guilty. They would have still convicted him twice for capital murder; the third and fourth conviction are of less consequence after the first two.

So it's my guess what's going on is that the jury has agreed that on two deaths, there isn't enough evidence to say the baby was alive (and hence murdered), and then there are one or more jurors who are against imposing the verdict of guilty in these cases whatever the evidence.

So I think the fight is between those who want 2 guilty, 2 not guilty verdicts as to the baby murders, and those who want 4 not guilty verdicts for all of them.

With the verdict now in, it seems likely to me those pushing for the murder convictions have given in to the ideologically-opposed jury nullification person or persons.

Alternate Headline:

Verdict Reached in Local Crime Story

via @jimgeraghty.

Star Reporter J.D. Mullane Reports "Guilty" In 3 out of 4 Murder Counts&bodytext=Phila abortionist Kermit #Gosnell guilty 1st degree murder in 3 of 4 babies.— jdmullane (@jdmullane) May 13, 2013 Old Post/Previous Speculation: Obviously, and thankfully, my speculation/wargaming out the verdict was wrong. It seems likely they had agreed on two counts...&topic=world_news"> posted by Ace at 02:27 PM

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