[Hugh R]

A few years ago, I was on a jury for a home invasion double execution case, actually it was almost a triple execution, but the son lived. DNA, confession, stolen property in the perp's possession. Broke in to former neighbors in the middle of the night, tied them up robbed, beat, and then raped the husband and wife while 12 year old son had to watch. Put plastic bags over the head and duct tape around their necks, Dad starts kicking like crazy, they shoot all three in the head. Split cases for the two defendants, his lawyer blames the other perp for pushing our young (19) defendant into doing it. Says he was Captain of his Basketball team (guess the race), only charged with "minor" stuff in the past, etc. Here in Cali, we barely convicted him and hung on the capital punishment. It was sickening and jurors were saying "he's so young", he had a bad childhood, bs, bs, bs. I was the jury foreman and I feel I let down the victims cause best we could get was life without parole. Me, I didn't give a ratsa$$ about his childhood, or any of that stuff, all I cared about was did we have the right guy, nothing else should matter.

If your ever charged with a crime, go for a jury trial. There are lots of stupid people out there on juries, especially in Cali.