A recent New Yorker article about a fourteen year old ‘boy’ who was convicted for murdering his grandfather and sentenced to life without parole, featured, as part of the sentencing, the crucial fact that he showed ‘no remorse’. [The actual murder was stipulated]
I notice that almost every time I read or hear about a trial involving a capital crime, I hear things like “no remorse”, or “the defedant showed no visible remorse”. Perhaps I am biased since this is not scientific of course, but what is with the lack or remorse comments? Is this common? Are the defendants supposed to pull their hair out at trial?
Also, whenver the jury gives the verdict, and presuming it is guilty, the defendants are always reported as having ‘no reaction’ to the verdict, although sometimes family members are reported to be ‘wailing’. How common is this? It seems like, according to the news broadcasts and articles about these trials, the defendants 1) never show remorse despite their lives on the line, and 2) never show reaction when verdict pretty much ends their (free) life.
Am I deluded by the media or is there some weird psychology happening to criminal defendants where they are either incable of remorse (like a psychopath) or too dumb to fake it (not like a psychopath)?
What kind of reaction should one expect? Sobbing? Laughing? Pulling a Jerry Maguire on the judge?
By the time a sentencing shows up (particularly for a major crime), the defendant knows what (s)he did, what the potential repercussions are, and (usually) what the sentence will be. Also, most folks who commit criminal acts while sober and sane don’t think they did anything wrong. Like, “yes, I killed him. He was doing horrible things and needed to be stopped.”
I have seen screams, protests, cries of anguish, pleas for mercy, silent tears, and yes mostly they remain silent. Most of the time their Counsel will have at least prepared them for the worst. Its not a surprise.
BTW, why was a fourteen year old treated as an adult?
There was a recent case here in Connecticut where a man declared his intention to murder his ex-wife from behind bars during his sentencing hearing (for kidnapping and arson).
“I feel it’s a waste of time for me to rot in a cage for the rest of my life without a purpose,” he declared. “Killing Nancy Tyler gives me that purpose. Ending Nancy’s life while I’m in prison makes the sentence worthwhile.”
The article the OP references notes that the killer expressed no remorse or emotion immediately after the shooting. He calmly explained what he had done and waited for police to arrive. He did in fact express remorse at his sentencing.
We had a case here recently where a group of teenagers accused of beating a man in a knockout game had charges dismissed because the lead witness was too scared to testify. The teenagers high-fived each other on the way out of court. A couple of weeks later, the victim encountered one of the accused, who acted like he was going to hit the victim, then laughed and walked away.
Well, if you are actually innocent, you can’t by definition feel guilt and remorse for something that you didn’t do (c.f. the sentencing scene in Shawshank Redemption).
Yeah, in a serious trial, it’s likely been a year or two. The defendant has been over the stories and probable outcomes ad nauseum with his lawyer.
Where you might get a reaction from the defendant or audience is when the actual verdict is in question - Casey Anthony or OJ, for example. With the level of defence and the evidence, there is a real risk the person may or may not be convicted, and it’s a toss-up. Where the case is cut and dried, the defendant has known for a year or more that the only question is 30 years or 50 years or 3 times life…
