When the news broke about Casey Anthony’s acquittal, Facebook and Twitter exploded with comments about our legal system. How could someone who is so clearly guilty get away with murder? People seem to be convinced that our legal system is “flawed” because of this case, but I disagree.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe Casey Anthony to be innocent by any means. I am just saying that this case does not prove that our legal system is flawed, even if you don’t agree with the verdict. People who are protesting the verdict and criticizing the law are simply proving how little they actually know about our country’s legal system.
Let’s face it, most of what the average person knows about this trail was learned on television during the constant media coverage of the trail. What people saw was a seemingly open-and-shut case of a mother murdering her child. It is difficult to look at the pictures of Casey Anthony partying during the 31 days that her child was “missing” and not be filled with rage, but that doesn’t give the media the right to turn this case into summer entertainment.
The truth is, there was not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Casey Anthony was guilty of a death penalty murder. The prosecutor was overconfident and insisted on a capital murder charge, which requires absolute proof of intent. Had the case been pled down to a lesser charge, they might have put Anthony in jail for a long time.
Our laws require proof beyond a reasonable doubt so that we can protect the innocent and make sure the right people go to jail. Sometimes this leads to a bad verdict like this one, but that does not mean that we have an unfair legal system. I’m not at all happy with the verdict, but I understand it. The real world is not like a Law and Order episode. There were not enough witnesses, and not enough evidence to convict Anthony of the charges against her.
If the prosecution had not insisted on a death penalty murder trial, maybe the jurors would have made a different decision. It is a difficult burden to sentence someone to death in a case with so little definitive evidence. Clearly the jurors did not think the case was proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that is what they based their decision on.
It is possible to agree with the verdict and hate it at the same time. I hate that Casey Anthony is walking away from this. It really creeps me out to look at the pictures of her at clubs and parties after her child’s death. However, I don’t think that our legal system is flawed because of this case. There are other countries that have different standards of proof and would have convicted and executed her immediately, but I doubt any American would want to live under that kind of judicial system.
Matt Grippi is a senior journalism student and an assistant editor for the Summer 49er.
