Comment on Accused killer of US insurance CEO pleads not guilty to 'terrorist' murder
CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 1 week agoThe prosecution needs to prove their charges, the defence only needs to knock down the evidence presented. Superfluous charges waste the time of the prosecution.
Kellamity@sh.itjust.works 1 week ago
If they’re truly superfluous then they waste the time of both sides, but it’s the prosecution who get to decide whether or not to include a charge. The prosecution might not be holding out real hope of a conviction on the highest charges, but by including them they could include additional witnesses and evidence that will be heard by a jury and change their perception even on the more realistic charges, which the defense would have to react to.
Again, all hypothetical. For all I know theyre confident in the terrorism charge
But realistically criminal charges are a negotiation, and most of the work happens outside the courtroon