Convictions and Penalties

Some of the jury members made a great deal about the flat affect of Peterson during the trial and through the sentencing phase. It sounded like that was the single most important factor for those jurors. As the morning newstainments conducted the interviews and pundits commented on the flat affect of Peterson, I waited for the big question. What display of emotion that would be adequate to at least prevent the death penalty and at most prevent a conviction? The question was never asked.

Renee Syler of the CBS “Early Show,” interviewed the jailer at the county jail where Peterson lived for the past year. She tried to express outrage a couple of times because of what she saw as totally inappropriate behavior described on the part of Peterson. The jailer brushed off her outbursts by explaining in essence that people were still people and the behaviors were normal. Syler fell into the trap that we can dictate what others must feel and project. After all, if this person were just given the death penalty, they are required to become somber and contrite.

Of course, this does not bode well for those of us with a flat affect. It seems that conviction rests less on fact than on appearance. One must present a face that is socially acceptable. When declared guilty, defendants are expected to show remorse, even if innocent.

In addition, one juror believed that Laci Peterson and son were trapped in a ghostlike state until she voted for death. “They can rest in peace.