Linux guru Hans Reiser convicted of first-degree murder

The 'news' article is one thing, read the commentary at elReg and Wired for why this is (has to be!) a dumbass, stupid verdict (all together now: "only in America!") :rolleyes:

Case in point from Wired commentary:
the last sentences sum up the American justice system.

"*You are rude,* he said. *You are arrogant. There are not enough words in the English language to describe the way you are.*

But the jurors found a word on Monday: guilty."

The man was convicted for murder, not because he was guilty, but because he was "rude and arrogant".

The man knows for sure he is more intelligent than most of those apes around him. And he has some disdain for them. And it shows - not openly, but enough for them to understand. And they choose to stick it to him.

This is not justice. This is mob rule. It is sick and perverted. Anmerica, the land of the lynch mob.(sic)
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...HOW is that acceptable behaviour for a judge, least of all in a capital case?! Sure, from what I've read, ol' Hans was a less than pleasant individual and he 'n the (possibly, but not conclusively proven!) ex (as in a parrot) missus weren't exactly getting along but abrasive personality alone isn't grounds for a first degree murder conviction, specially in the absence of that vital link, the body!

Oh, and for extra g33k points, /. commentary is required reading! :D
 
bdt said:
The 'news' article is one thing, read the commentary at elReg and Wired for why this is (has to be!) a dumbass, stupid verdict (all together now: "only in America!") :rolleyes:

Case in point from Wired commentary:
...HOW is that acceptable behaviour for a judge, least of all in a capital case?! Sure, from what I've read, ol' Hans was a less than pleasant individual and he 'n the (possibly, but not conclusively proven!) ex (as in a parrot) missus weren't exactly getting along but abrasive personality alone isn't grounds for a first degree murder conviction, specially in the absence of that vital link, the body!

Oh, and for extra g33k points, /. commentary is required reading! :D
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To be fair to the jury, although the evidence against him is all circumstantial... there is a whole lot of it. Blood evidence in the car, removing the seat of his car, washing the interior of the car, books on crime investigation in the car, hiding his hard drives etc... plus he contradicted himself on the stand. I'm sure it didn't help that he acted like an arrogant prick on the stand, but it looks like there was enough evidence to convict him.

Also, a bit of context:
After the jury left, judge Goodman summed up his opinion of Reiser.

"You are rude," he said. "You are arrogant. There are not enough words in the English language to describe the way you are."
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