Oswald in the doorway: the blog of the Oswald Innocence Campaign, by Ralph Cinque

Well, I was right, but just barely. It was a hung jury, and there was a preponderance of votes to convict. But, it was close: 6 to 5. It seems that the 12th juror didn't show up today. But, how was that not noticed until now?

I really should admit that this is a better result for the defense than I expected, even though it falls within my parameters. When it's this close, the prosecution can hardly claim a mandate. 

So, what will the mainstream media do? My prediction: nothing. I expect no coverage of this by the corporate media. First, because the very idea of a hung jury is embarrassing. And, if they can't mitigate it by pointing to an overwhelming majority of votes to convict, then it just stands out as continued doubt about Oswald's guilt. 

One thing lacking from the trial is that the judge should have instructed the jury that even if they think there was another shooter, as long as they think Oswald was "a" shooter, they have to convict him. 

I'm saying that because most of what the defense presented had to do with establishing that there was another shooter, and their arguments in no way precluded Oswald being on the 6th floor and also shooting.

So, the question now is, why did the defense get off so easy? They did a miserable job. I have to assume it was because of the last witness Brian Edwards who made some good points. But, I'll add that the jurors looked different than I expected. We were told that the jury would consist of law students from Southwestern College of Law. Well, you expect law students to be young, right? But, there were some older people in that jury, and it's hard to believe that they are law students. But, since they were older, I have to wonder if they may have already had firm opinions about the case. We don't know anything about how the jury was chosen. We did hear the judge say that they needed to consider only the evidence presented at trial and not anything else. But, let's be honest: this is the JFK assassination, and people tend to have firm opinions. And remember too that this was two days of their lives without pay. Who would volunteer to do that except those with an interest in the case? And if you are interested in the case, then you probably have an opinion about it.  

I must say that I am very glad and also relieved that Oswald wasn't convicted. Because: it would have done a lot of damage if he was convicted. As I said, the mainstream media would have jumped on it, and now they won't. And, as I have previously said, a hung jury is better for Oswald than it is for the State. The 6 to 5 spread means nothing; it might as well have been 6 to 6. 

So, am I saying that this is actually a partial victory for Oswald? Yes, that's what I'm saying, and it's true. And, that is why we are not going to hear about it in the media. However, I give zero credit to the defense lawyers. None at all. They are stupid men, the three of them: Robert Tannenbaum, Larry Schnapf, and Bill Simpich. They are just mediocre, run-of-the-mill, dim-witted minds who just happened to get lucky. Oh, were they ever lucky that they are not going to have to live the rest of their lives as the lawyers who got Lee Harvey Oswald convicted. 

Overall, Gerry Spence did a much better job defending Oswald than they did, and he lost. Oswald got convicted. But, I suppose it's fair to say that Vince Bugliosi was stronger and more effective and aggressive than these prosecutors were. And that is another way in which these defense lawyers were extremely lucky.

And, the best thing about this result is that it reverses the conviction from 1984 and puts the question of Oswald's guilt back to neutral. 

And, it is also means that there is a chance for more mock trials in the future. If Oswald had been convicted, it would have meant two convictions in a row, and I think that would have ended the mock trials. But now, it's possible they will continue. 

So, I am greatly relieved that there was no great damage done to the cause of Oswald innocence and JFK truth. However, at the same time, I am infuriated at those stupid, incompetent, imbecilic lawyers: Robert Tanenbaum, Larry Schnapf, and Bill Simpich. They got mighty close to blowing it for Oswald and really hurting all of us who have worked so hard to exonerate him. 

I will NEVER forgive them.