Friday, April 1, 2016

Bulletin: Daniel Dougherty: Philadelphia; On-going arson/murder retrial: Philadelphia Inquirer reports the jury is still out; (Returning back to court on Monday); "The judge told the jury that all questions must be made in writing, to him, then sent the panel back to its deliberations. Less than an hour later, jurors had a question: Could they have a definition of reasonable doubt? The judge told them, that's a doubt that would cause a reasonable, careful person to hesitate before acting in an important matter." Reporter Jeff Gammage;




"Sixteen years ago, a jury took less than three hours to convict Daniel Dougherty of murdering his two young sons by setting the family home on fire. A new jury, now hearing his retrial, has deliberated for a day and a half - and returns to continue its discussions on Monday.........The judge told the jury that all questions must be made in writing, to him, then sent the panel back to its deliberations. Less than an hour later, jurors had a question: Could they have a definition of reasonable doubt? The judge told them, that's a doubt that would cause a reasonable, careful person to hesitate before acting in an important matter. Earlier in the day, the jury asked to see, and was given, photos of the burned living- and dining-rooms of the Oxford Circle rowhouse. Dougherty, 56, has spent the last 16 years in prison, convicted and sentenced to death in 2000 for killing 3-year-old John and 4-year-old Daniel Jr. in the 1985 fire."
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160402_Jury_still_out_in_arson_murder_retrial.h