This reminds me of a post that I remember reading a while back.
OK, I've posted this before, but it's so perfect here:
Why I Now Look Forward to Being Called to Jury Duty...
(Condensed, because this took more than 1/2 day. It was 30 years ago and I still hope to see it's like again.)
I’m on jury duty; we have to sit. Charge is arson - supposedly a farmer burned down his barn for insurance money. Prosecutor outlines the case: the farmer moved most of the stuff out of the barn into a second barn over a period of a week. A neighbor in a subdivision that backed up to the farm noticed the unusual activity, said neighbor being outdoors a lot building a deck on his vacation. Next, the neighbor saw the farmer walking slowly around the outside of the barn pouring something from a ‘blue gas can’ on the lower part of the barn walls. Farmer goes out of sight to the front of the barn, and flames erupt all along the base of the barn. Neighbor calls 911, but by the time fire department arrives 5 minutes or so later the barn is fully involved and they just act to contain, which is essentially just standing by as they note the nearby ground has been closely mowed, possibly to prevent spread. They note the smell of diesel fuel. Police collect the farmer and take him to station. Fire investigator says definitely arson. Insurance company says the barn was insured.
Defendants lawyer says essentially nothing.
Prosecutor calls witnesses; neighbor confirms that’s what he saw. Firemen say flames spread with a rapidity that was out of place even in a wooden barn, and they smelled petroleum. Investigator says there were clear marks on the ground where accelerant burned, and it still smelled of fuel after the fire died down. Police / fire investigators said there was virtually nothing in the burned barn (ruined tools or equipment) but that there was a good supply of items in the other barn that appeared to have been recently place, including some that was sitting on grass that was still green underneath the box.
No cross examination.
Defense calls the farmer, and first question asked is “Let’s cut to the chase. Did you burn your barn down?” “Yup.” “Why did you do it?” “It was old, and rotten, with termites. Going to fall down. Not safe.” “Hm. Have you always burned down old farm buildings?” “Yep, and my daddy did before me. It’s a farm.” “Are you aware that you need a permit to burn debris in this county?” “Been doin’ it that way on this farm since we had dangerous injuns, never had no permit.” “The fine is up to $50. Oh, wait, I forgot, you are zoned ‘active agriculture’, and are exempt. So, no permit needed. But, why didn’t you tell any of this to the police?” “They didn’t ask till after they put handcuffs on me and took me to the police station. They told me anything I said would be used against me, and said I had the right to remain silent, and THEN some lawyer guy came in and told me I was going to prison for insurance fraud. I remember Perry Mason said don’t talk to anyone but your lawyer. So I didn’t.” “Did you file an insurance claim?” “What for? The barn wasn’t worth anything in that state, and I moved all the stuff out.” “I suggested we try to talk them out of this. You said you wanted your day in court. What’s up with that?” “They came on my land, arrested me without telling me what for. Told me later it was for arson and insurance fraud, and put that in the papers. All my friends, relatives, and neighbors know about this. They made me look dishonest. I want to make sure everyone knows the real facts. I figure this is better than them just dropping it, and everyone wondering whether they just decided not to send an old man to prison.” “Defense rests.”