tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post4330266645733508952..comments2024-03-28T01:36:51.952-06:00Comments on Mysteries and More from Saskatchewan: “Why?” in Legal MysteriesBill Selneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post-66327127427629744352014-01-20T22:32:26.329-06:002014-01-20T22:32:26.329-06:00Prashant: Thanks for the comment. Whether other de...Prashant: Thanks for the comment. Whether other defence counsel look for "why" specifically I cannot really tell you. Certainly every defence counsel looks for statements that do not make sense and can be challenged.Bill Selneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post-59702931999504261682014-01-20T04:56:58.207-06:002014-01-20T04:56:58.207-06:00Bill, thanks for an engaging post on the "Why...Bill, thanks for an engaging post on the "Why?" aspect of legal cases in real life and in fiction.Do defence lawyers overlook the "why" when it comes to defending their clients? Is it significant at all for them?Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post-61335216604897736572014-01-17T23:28:54.123-06:002014-01-17T23:28:54.123-06:00Moira: Thanks for the comment. There is no require...Moira: Thanks for the comment. There is no requirement to prove a motive in Canadian criminal law. On the other hand many a reasonable doubt has been raised when there is no clear motive.<br /><br />Bill Selneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post-75631401389598369182014-01-17T03:48:26.860-06:002014-01-17T03:48:26.860-06:00I really enjoyed that - and a great explanation fo...I really enjoyed that - and a great explanation for why real life is different from novels. In crime stories I hate it when the motive is unclear, or someone says "we'll never know exactly why X did this..." but I know very well that real life is much less sure. Is it true that, although juries like a motive, there is no obligation to prove one?Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post-76737278556097464482014-01-16T22:41:18.181-06:002014-01-16T22:41:18.181-06:00Margot: Thanks for the comment. To Kill a Mockingb...Margot: Thanks for the comment. To Kill a Mockingbird has an excellent exploration of "why". We all long for life to be rational but .... Ultimately it is hard to explain what does not make sense. Bill Selneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268006369157307593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1644690488802388716.post-51824222999188261322014-01-16T18:21:03.898-06:002014-01-16T18:21:03.898-06:00Bill - What a fascinating post. As I read through ...Bill - What a fascinating post. As I read through your examples, I was thinking about how it is that an attorney handles seemingly irrational acts of clients, witnesses and other interested parties. We all do things that we really can't explain, but of course in a courtroom, the attorney has to make very solid case. And that includes all of the 'whys.' I think one of the truly excellent discussions of 'why' in novels with a legal theme is <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, when Atticus Finch shows why the events that get his client arrested really happened, and what actually motivated them. Thanks for giving me something to think about..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com