Pulling the Wool

I think I'm an unlikely person ever to be charged with committing a murder.

But having followed some of the high profile trials that have taken place recently - I can't help but notice a pattern developing.

One that's intended to help the accused person to literally - 'get away with murder'.

Here are some of the key points that defendants make on a regular basis - to both excuse and play down the seriousness of their alleged crimes.

1 Always say that a lethal weapons was never meant to be used - only to frighten the victim

2 Blame the victim for their own demise - for resisting or not cooperating

3 Another good tactic is to trash the victim's character - since they are no longer around to say anything 

4 Always deny that the person's death was a deliberate and premeditated act - just say the incident got out of hand

5 Even better claim that you have no memory or a poor memory of what happened - that everything's gone blank

6 Discover a previously unknown mental illness or condition

Now I've never sat on a murder trial - and the chances are I never will.

I'm sure I would listen carefully to the proceedings - and make a decision based only on the evidence presented at the trial.

But I can't help feeling that the arguments put forward by the defendants - are often  cynical, calculating and set out quite intentionally - to make a mockery of justice.

By trying to pull the wool over the jury's eyes.

And on some occasions the legal profession appears to go along with the whole charade - on the basis that lawyers are simply following their client's instructions.