Trial Trick
A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating
guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing statement the
lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, decided to try
a trick:
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the
lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person
presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom!"
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all
looked, eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally, the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But
you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is
reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist
that you return a verdict of not guilty."
With that, the jury retired to deliberate. But after only a few minutes,
they came back and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" the lawyer asked. "You must have had some doubt, I saw all of you
stare at the door."
"Oh, yes," the jury foreman replied: "We all looked -- but your client
didn't!"
