Closing Argument

I tell the jurors that the Government just hasn’t proven its case against Yvonne. And I believe it.
“Where is there any evidence, let alone proof beyond a reasonable doubt, what Ms. Smith’s mental state was on the evening Mr. Rauther was shot? Seriously. I’m asking this quite seriously. What proof is there of mental state? What inferences can be drawn? What evidence do you have of shared intent whatsoever?
This is not a complex case ladies and gentlemen. Even taking the evidence offered by the Government at its face value, since, in essence it is entirely and solely the confession of Ms. Smith and hence words out of her own mouth. And what does she say? She says, ‘I went with my brother. I was with him when he got a gun. I went back to the apartment with him. I was there when he shot Dwayne Rauther.’
Please ladies and gentlemen, no one here is condoning the fate that befell Mr. Rauther. It was wrong. But it was neither at Ms. Smith’s hand nor by her will. She was present and that is all the Government has shown. And being present at the scene of a crime is no crime. The judge will tell you that in his instructions. The Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Smith shared Mr. Rauther’s intent. And there is absolutely no evidence of that either.