Well, I am sad today, for Cooper, for the whole situation. I'm not one to argue just to be contrary, or one to just automatically take up for the defense, in this case I just truly
don't see where the malice was proven. I feel unsettled for lack of better word, about the entire investigation and trial. I know defense lawyers have to defend people they
feel are guilty all the time, but they don't get choked up by a verdict the way the DT did over this case, that along with every single person in RH's life believing he is innocent says a lot to me.
I in no way am taking up for RH, the guy is everything I hate in the opposite sex. He's a real creep, and though I would not say he is a pedophile or a dangerous predator, I do feel extremely sickened and uneasy about all of the much younger women he was chasing, especially while married. I wanted him punished for this. I also wanted him punished for forgetting. I just didn't think it should be for life. Especially when I am following other cases where guys kidnapped and raped/attempted to rape, most times with weapons who were let out to try again, and succeed.
None of that is to change minds or debate, just sharing my feelings. I learned on Sleuths that even if we disagree to the extreme on one case, I'll most likely follow another case with you in the future where we agree 100% so I don't take disagreements personal and mean no harm when stating mine.
I agree with you completely. I don't think malice was proven. I'm positive from everything I read and saw that the LE investigation was deeply biased and tainted. I think Staley was transparently pro-prosecution start to finish and that she tied the DT's hands, and that her refusal to sever the minors charges was egregious, though I doubt GA's reversal-averse appellate courts will right that wrong.
I think it couldn't be any more obvious that Kilgore, fgs, believes RH is INNOCENT OF MALICE MURDER, but of course not innocent of Cooper's death, and I empathize with him 100% for fighting with everything he had , but losing to a system stacked against his client.
I couldn't believe the risable, deeply offensive sight of Staley lecturing the jury after the verdict that in America, the rights of the accused matter.
There isn't any question whatsoever, as far as I'm concerned, that attaching the minors charges poisoned the jury, a position amply supported by the countless posts here that argued "if he was capable of that, then.....".
I find it absurd, with all due respect, how much weight was put on the man's choice of words, including "escape" rather than break, and for inserting "just" into a sentence about forgetting his child.
I think an alarming animosity towards Leanna and RH was at the heart of LE and the State's handling of this case, and there it was again, unappeased, at trial's end: Boring saying it was up to Cobb County to decide whether to not to press charges against Leanna. Unbelievable. Totally vile.
And totally in keeping with how this case was handled all along: assumptions of guilt being made without supporting evidence, and the strategic use of media to drain public support for Leanna and RH, though this final parting shot against Leanna by Boring was just plain vindictive, befitting his own caustic personality, imo.
I wish Kilgore the best. Watching him in action was for me the highlight of this trial.
I walk away even more convinced than I was at the start, that it is a dangerous mistake to give the State, in any state, the power to charge and prosecute a person for murder without having to prove intent. I hope other states don't follow GA's lead on this, but am hopeful they won't, based on the widespread legal and ethical criticisms I've read about this kind of end run by the State to shirk their duty of meeting a constitutionally required burden of proof.
