The Georgia man told the jury he was guilty. Knowing he could face a felony conviction, he still testified that he grew marijuana and possessed what had been lumped together as "drug-related objects."
And the jury found him not guilty of all charges.
The man testified that the cannabis he grew was for his own use, not for sale. He said the drug helped to treat the chronic headaches he has had since surviving a severe beating and subsequent coma in 2003.
His trial lasted three days. It took the jury two hours to render its verdict through what is known as jury nullification.
The jury, it seems, was moved by his truthfulness and realized his reasoning for growing cannabis didn't deserve his being saddled with a felony conviction on his record. He also could have spent one year in prison for cultivating the plant.
In the end, it was the jury's understanding – and the right to nullify the law, in this instance – that allowed the man to walk free. The jury used its best judgment, in effect, to decide that someone doesn't deserve a punishment even if he was guilty.
Breaking the law isn't advised. Sometimes, however, legal issues aren't black and white. There are gray areas in many cases, and the jury found a gray area in this one.
If you find yourself facing either a felony or misdemeanor charge, your case could have some gray areas, too. An experienced criminal defense attorney in Georgia can review your case with you and let you know the avenues open to your defense.
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