in the case of jonbenet ramsey, the killer admitted it but they are still callng him a suspect....why?
2006-08-17 04:22:53 · 41 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
In our country, the presumption of innocence is a right. You cannot be guilty, until tried by a jury of your peers.
So, if you call him the Killer - you can be sued for slander for violating his inalienable rights.
Don't you worry, they will get this guy. Give it time, let them make the rock solid case.
2006-08-17 04:27:19 · answer #1 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Under the U.S. system of justice, anyone arrested and/or charged with a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty. As a result, even if the person confesses publicly to an act, until a court has had the opportunity to either reach a verdict regarding guilt or innocence, or else has accepted the guilty plea of the accused, that person must be considered to be "suspected" of committing the act...Of course, any other word which, when used, acknowledges the fact that the person is not yet convicted of such act(s) is also allowed.
..."alleged", "accused" and so forth.
2006-08-17 04:34:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because he has not been convicted of anything yet. Keep in mind that just because he has confessed that does not mean that he's actually guilty. And until that confession is formally accepted at trial and he allocutes the details of his crimes he is still innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. As such, he is only a suspect at this time.
It's not unusual for many people to come forward and confess to high-visibility crimes such as this yet have no involvement with the crime at all. Back in the 1970s in New York, probably dozens of people came forward and confessed to the so-called Son of Sam killings.
To have any meaning, a confession must either reveal evidence known only to the guilty and the police or must be substantiated by corroborating evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, or other trace evidence. We'll probably know more of that in this case in the next few days.
2006-08-17 04:34:48 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Option 1 - He is nuts and is just claiming that he did it (happens a lot in high profile cases, not likely, judging by the other evidence, but still a possibility)
Option 2 - Innocent until proven guilty by a jury of his peers. Officially he has to be considered a suspect until after a conviction.
2006-08-17 04:39:01 · answer #4 · answered by John J 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Innocent until proven guilty. Yes he has admitted it, but they have not proved it yet. I mean I could go up to a cop right now and say I robbed a bank. Now see that would be a confession, but they don't know whether I did it or not (could be I was covering for someone.) So I would be just a suspect until they prove I did or did not do it. You know what I mean? (By the way no I did not rob a bank, that was just an example.)
2006-08-17 04:32:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
think of it this way if someone you knew was murdered and the police drew up suspects but two days later a scared, man/women admits to the killing, however the police are unaware they have been blackmailed by the actual murderer, allowing the actual killer to roam the streets freely. I believe all suspects should be checked out first before arrests are made unless all evidence points to the admitter.
2006-08-17 04:34:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because he is innocent until proven guilty. For instance, what if the police interrogated him to the point where he just said it to get out of the room. Or maybe he is covering for the real killer. You never know if someone is tellign the truth. I hope he is the killer because then the case can be put to bed and she can rest in peace.
2006-08-17 04:29:05 · answer #7 · answered by Lilel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
beacause only the court can name some one guily not the criminal. Also in the case Jonbenet he could just a freak who wants publicity, and then the real killer would be home free.
2006-08-17 04:29:10 · answer #8 · answered by One Love <3 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are suspect until you are found guilty by the court of law.
He will need to enter his plea in front of a judge and given the right to hire an attorney before doing so.
2006-08-17 05:09:01 · answer #9 · answered by ktwister 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by law, he only becomes the crinminal when the judge say that he is gulty. he admit guilt, but he might be lieing, for example, if i go to the police station and say that i kill 3 men, and raped 2 women and a man, also steal some animals from the zoo, they will only called me a suspect until they have verify everything i had said is true.^^
2006-08-17 04:30:42 · answer #10 · answered by lippy19850528 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋