jfh@netcom.COM (Jack Hamilton) (04/18/91)
The San Mateo trial of two AIDS activists charged with illegal distribution of clean needles ended in a hung jury. The vote was 11-1 for acquittal. The juror who voted to convict has a son who is a drug addict. The prosecutors have until April 23 to decide whether to retry the case. The defendents use a "necessity defense", claiming that they broke the law for a greater good - saving the lives of drug addicts who might otherwise have become infected with HIV. A similar trial is going on in New York, but has not been decided yet. The defense arguments were apparently quite effective. According to the AP, three of the jurors offered after the trial to help in the illegal needle distribution. -- Jack Hamilton jfh@netcom.com apple!netcom!jfh
cramer@uunet.UU.NET (Clayton Cramer) (04/20/91)
In article <1991Apr18.104556.22660@cs.ucla.edu>, jfh@netcom.COM (Jack Hamilton) writes:
# The San Mateo trial of two AIDS activists charged with illegal distribution
# of clean needles ended in a hung jury. The vote was 11-1 for acquittal.
#
# The juror who voted to convict has a son who is a drug addict.
#
# The prosecutors have until April 23 to decide whether to retry the case.
#
# The defendents use a "necessity defense", claiming that they broke the law
# for a greater good - saving the lives of drug addicts who might otherwise
# have become infected with HIV. A similar trial is going on in New York,
# but has not been decided yet.
#
# Jack Hamilton jfh@netcom.com apple!netcom!jfh
This is one of the reasons why the Fully Informed Juror Amendment
(now being circulated in California, and probably other states) is
so important. There are times that unjust and immoral laws have
to be overturned by jurors being willing to judge not only the facts
but the law.
--
Clayton E. Cramer {uunet,pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
You must be kidding! No company would hold opinions like mine!
Article IX, "Sec. 21. That the right of citizens to bear arms, in defence of
themselves and the State, shall not be questioned." -- PA State Const. of 1790