Superfreaks/ACRA: The Ten Jobs of Edward Bailey

[Martin Phipps]

On Jan 10, 1:21 pm, Tom Russell <milos_par... at yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Jan 9, 11:11 pm, Martin Phipps <martinphip... at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Forensic psychologists are useful in court cases to establish motive
> > (why the suspect did it), intent (if he actually wanted to do it) and
> > state of mind (if he knew what he was doing and that it was wrong) so
> > they'd be useful on shows where you actually see cases go to trial. :)
>
> Though it should be noted that, at least in the American justice
> system and contrary to popular belief, there is no requirement that a
> prosecutor show motive or intent, even in a murder trial.  The burden
> of proof only refers to matters of fact, which the rest of the various
> jobs you've cited come into play.  You're right, however, that they
> can be useful in supporting the actual evidence.

Except that intent makes the difference between manslaughter, second
degree murder and first degree murder.

Martin