re: #320 palomino

SYG laws broaden the possible use of self-defense either to mitigate or vitiate completely the criminal culpability of the defendant.

If a jury is confused about self-defense and SYG—and most people in FL probably are—they’re likely to misapply it. We have no idea if that’s what happened, contra the assertion by the article’s author that we know for sure SYG played no part. It shouldn’t have played a part, but the author’s certainty is absurd and baseless, as he has no more access to intimate details of the jury’s deliberation than the rest of us.

Jurors get very specific instructions and opportunities to send questions out to the judge. That should serve to minimize any confusion. SYG keeps getting brought up by it’s critics before and or instead of actual defense attorneys. This guy got is getting decades in prison, at his age a likely life sentence. Obviously SYG was no help to him in this case. I don’t like SYG, but the critics need to chill just a little. Stick to where it actually matters for instance. Plenty of those cases.