A tragic case was reported in Los Angeles recently, when police revealed that a local soccer star was killed in his front yard following a big soccer match, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Now, police have arrested and charged two people with murder in Los Angeles . Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard recognizes that this is a sensitive matter. All murder cases are. But because of the severity of the accusations, the state must have strong evidence.
Murder in California can lead to life in prison or the death penalty in the most egregious cases. They are the most serious penalties on our books, and therefore the most care should be taken when the state prosecutes.
This means that the state must not rely on poor eyewitness testimony and shaky circumstantial evidence. Circumstantial evidence is when assumptions are made as to the defendant's guilt, without strong proof through physical evidence, such as DNA, fingerprints or the murder weapon found on the person.
Unfortunately, this happens a lot. If police make an arrest for murder, the state does all it can to try to prove it and make the charges stick. This isn't to say they are always doing something unethical in murder cases. But sometimes, they use less-than-credible evidence in trying to convict someone of murder.
Not every case is perfect, but that's why the criminal justice system is so important. There are checks and balances in place so that people don't get convicted without strong evidence. Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard has seen many charges be filed by prosecutors who don't have strong evidence.
This is where reasonable doubt comes in. Reasonable doubt means that if a juror believes there is any doubt that the person is guilty, they must vote not guilty during deliberations. If there are any gaps in the state's case, the person is to be set free. Those are the rules we must follow, and jurors shouldn't make assumptions when determining whether a person's liberty should be permanently stripped.
In this case, the 17-year-old soccer player had just returned to his home after a soccer game. Police say a girl knocked on his front door and moments later he was shot to death.
Authorities believe the motive for the shooting was a love triangle. Family members said the girl who knocked on the door had red hair and that they didn't recognize her. They said that shots came from a sport utility vehicle that was parked in front of the house. It's unclear if the girl was part of a setup.
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Vincent Howard believes it is hard to assess this case with so little information being known at this point. Officials haven't released much information yet. If the motive was a love interest, it's likely that witnesses may end up being teenagers, whose statements must be scrutinized for accuracy, as with all witnesses. Either way, this is a tragic case.
If you or a loved one would like to speak to a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles or in any of the surrounding areas, contact HOWARD LAW PC for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-872-5925.
More Blog Entries:
Aleman v. Village of Hanover Park Show Aggressive Nature of Los Angeles Murder Investigations: January 15, 2012
Additional Resources:
2 arrested in high school soccer player's killing, police say, by Andrew Blankenstein and Alan Zarembo, Los Angeles Times
