Recent content by AndresEscobar

Age of consent in Mass is 16. Statutory rape is having sex with someone under the age of 16. This is a strict liability crime. Basically, if you did it, you get convicted. The boys charged with statutory rape are 17 and 18. Most states have what is called Romeo and Juliet laws preventing...

Interesting . . .

This also isn't much of a surprise to me. But good to know for our purposes that this happened. Good job, hellinor. ETA: what this means is that they are going to bring in jurors from out of town.

I would be shocked if trial started in a year, personally.

This would be best used during sentencing.

Let me explain this a little better woe and anyone else. I'm sure you know that the burden of proof is on the state to prove whether someone is innocent or guilty in a criminal case. However, when you assert a defense like Insanity, the burden shifts to the defense to prove that the person is...

snitchin' on killers records!

I know what you're saying. I'm saying that I don't think the prosecution would take that route. And if they were to subpoena horrorcore artists as a type of witness, I don't think they'd be very good witnesses.

I don't really think horrorcore rappers are going to be that great of witnesses for the prosecution. First of all, they're not very compelling, believable, or sympathetic characters. Secondly, there is a strong "anti-snitching" ideal held in most rap communities. It would be career suicide...

What they could do is introduce specific lyrics from the songs, if they wanted. I don't really see a need to. I wouldn't introduce any of the songs because their quality and subject matter aren't going to help him. Furthermore, portraying him as a "rapper" is not a point I would hammer home.

Well, during Voir Dire they can ask questions and strike jurors. More importantly, though, Sam's music will be limited if not completely barred from the trial. I really don't see any probative value to playing "Burning Churches" in the court room besides to prejudice the jury.

the "Jesus told me to do it" thing will probably be inadmissible unless the defense really wants to let that in, which I think would backfire. Without going into too much evidentiary law, not everything or anything he says to the doctors is automatically admissible.

Yes. Attorney will present is some capacity at these interviews .

This is the test for insanity under VA law. A few important things to note before we begin debating whether Sam is insane per VA law: 1. This is for the verdict of Not Guilty by reason of Insanity. This is a high burden to satisfy and typically in Southern states specifically carries an...

These are the formal procedures of an insanity defense in Virginia.