You did not read the articles on Stevens. The cops/sherriff were said to be furious that the prosecuter dropped the charges after being visited by defense lawyers that were U of W alum. Where do you think the money came from to pay off the girl? And if they had nothing to go on and were going to drop it why was the girl paid off for something poor lil Jerramy didn't do? He makes me sick too. Any of you pigs have a teenage daughter?
Im sure the cops think everyone they arrest is guilty. Otherwise they wouldnt make the arrest, correct? But the police do not decide who is guilty and not guilty. We have a justice system that makes that final decision.
Why was the girl paid off? The reason has to do with the burden of proof in criminal and civil court. There wasnt enough evidence to persue the case in criminal court. However the burden of proof in civil court is much lower and much easier to get a judgement. So the reason the girl was "paid off" was to settle the civil case out of court.
To get a criminal conviction you need all 12 jurors to agree the defendant is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If even a single juror holds out, the prosecutor's case is blown up.
Now in Civil court, it's different. You only need a majority of the jury (in most states), and more stuff is admissible. So what they did was settle out of court.
Should the case have gone to trial and let a jury decide? Maybe. But that's not our decision. It didnt go to trial. The case is close. Life goes on.
Kobe paid off his girl too. Why arnt we still bashing Kobe for that?
