{"id":1875310,"date":"2023-03-13T03:29:07","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T07:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-defendants-who-testified-in-their-own-trials-and-were-convicted\/"},"modified":"2023-03-13T03:31:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T07:31:35","slug":"four-defendants-who-testified-in-their-own-trials-and-were-convicted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-defendants-who-testified-in-their-own-trials-and-were-convicted\/","title":{"rendered":"Four defendants who testified in their own trials \u2014 and were convicted"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffour-defendants-who-testified-in-their-own-trials-and-were-convicted%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1875310&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47-->\n<div class=\"RichTextArticleBody-body\">\n<p><span class=\"ArticlePage-articleBody-firstLetter\">T<\/span>Disgraced lawyer convicted <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/courts\/alex-murdaugh-appeal-conviction-sentence-wife-son-murder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alex Murdaugh<\/a> He displayed an emotional display during his trial and evoked many other cases. <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lawyers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The defense<\/a> We had to decide if calling the defendant would be beneficial or harmful. <\/p>\n<p>One of the few burdens that falls on defense in a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Criminal trials<\/a> The question is whether the defendant should be called to testify. An attorney must decide if the client&#8217;s testimony is more important than the evidence in court. <\/p>\n<p><b><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/biggest-criminal-murder-trials-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BIGGEST CRIMINAL MURDER TRIALS SET TO BEGIN IN 2023<\/a><\/b> <\/p>\n<p>A jury&#8217;s decision can be affected by the testimony of a defendant. It can work in the defendant&#8217;s favor, or it may raise suspicions of their guilt. <\/p>\n<p>These are the four defendants who were convicted after testifying in their own trials. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\">\n<figure class=\"Figure mb-1 mb-sm-3 mb-md-1 article-lead-photo data_invisible\" data-align=\"center\" data-image-size=\"fixed\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n<div class=\"Figure-container\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"512\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_md\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"512\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_md\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"645\" height=\"430\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_xl\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\" width=\"645\" height=\"430\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_xl\"><\/source><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"1060\" height=\"707\" data-image-size=\"1060x600\"><\/source><source width=\"1060\" height=\"707\" data-image-size=\"1060x600\"><\/source>                                 <\/picture><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\" itemprop=\"caption\"> Alex Murdaugh is the defendant.                <\/figcaption><div class=\"Figure-credit\" itemprop=\"author\"> (Joshua Boucher\/The States via AP and Pool)                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Alex Murdaugh<\/b> <\/p>\n<p>Alex Murdaugh is a disbarred lawyer <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">South Carolina<\/a> This was <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/alex-murdaugh-guilty-murder-wife-son\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">found guilty<\/a> His murders of Maggie his wife and Paul his son were committed in June 2021. <\/p>\n<p>Although the prosecution did not have any concrete evidence such as a guilty plea or murder weapon, there was plenty of circumstantial evidence including cellphone records and video that convinced the jury. <\/p>\n<p>Two <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/alex-murdaugh-witness-stand-biggest-evidence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Largest pieces of evidence<\/a> According to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Murdaugh was charged with financial misconduct and he faces 99 other charges. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When he took the stand, I think that was fatal for him ultimately,&#8221; Wilson said. &#8220;Alex had made [a] very successful career of giving closing arguments to juries and winning major cases and making a lot of money.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>On the stand, Murdaugh broke down and admitted he swindled millions of dollars from his clients and lied about his whereabouts the night his family members died \u2014 something he had hidden from investigators for nearly two years. <\/p>\n<p>His testimony helped the prosecution frame the case that his financial crimes were a motive behind the murders. Despite his defense <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/courts\/alex-murdaugh-trial-jury-visit-home-crime-scene\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Present him<\/a> The prosecution claimed that he was a man from a broken family who had been raped by violence. &#8220;his closing argument&#8221; The jury. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I believe in my mind that he believed that he could talk his way out of this,&#8221; Wilson said. &#8220;And at the end of the day, I think that&#8217;s what sealed it for him.&#8221; <\/p>\n<div id=\"dsk-banner-ad-g\"><\/div>\n<p>Murdaugh will serve consecutive life sentences for Maggie, Paul&#8217;s murders at a maximum security prison. <\/p>\n<p>Attorneys for Murdaugh filed on Thursday a notice to appeal his conviction and sentencing. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\">\n<figure class=\"Figure mb-1 mb-sm-3 mb-md-1 article-lead-photo data_invisible\" data-align=\"center\" data-image-size=\"fixed\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n<div class=\"Figure-container\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"443\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_md\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"443\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_md\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"645\" height=\"372\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_xl\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\" width=\"645\" height=\"372\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_xl\"><\/source><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"1060\" height=\"612\" data-image-size=\"1060x600\"><\/source><source width=\"1060\" height=\"612\" data-image-size=\"1060x600\"><\/source>                                 <\/picture><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\" itemprop=\"caption\"> After his Chicago charges were dropped, actor Jussie Smollett left Cook County Court.                 <\/figcaption><div class=\"Figure-credit\" itemprop=\"author\">                 (AP Photo\/Paul Beaty)                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Jussie Smollett<\/b> <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jussie-smollett\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jussie Smollett,<\/a> Former <i>Empire <\/i>A TV celebrity was convicted in March 2022 for committing a hate crime against him. Prosecutors stated that it was an attempt to increase his Hollywood career. <\/p>\n<p>In 2019, he was accused of hiring two black men who attacked him and hurled homophobic and racial insults at him. After the incident, he made a false police report. &#8220;attack.&#8221; Although he was sentenced for 150 days, his unstable prison condition led to his early release six days later. <\/p>\n<p>Smollett maintained his innocence throughout, but legal experts think he did his defense by taking the witness stand. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Smollett testifying in his own defense is one of two things, or maybe both: a narcissistic criminal defendant who is doubling down on his charged lies to law enforcement or defense attorneys who know they are way behind and are throwing a low probability Hail Mary to try to get their client off,&#8221; Neama Rahmani, former U.S. lawyer, said in <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/five-high-profile-defendants-who-took-stand-their-own-trials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Interview<\/a> Fox News Digital December 2021 <\/p>\n<p>Five felony counts of disorderly behavior were convicted. On March 1, he appealed against his conviction in a 102-page document. &#8220;prosecutorial misconduct&#8221; This was &#8220;clear and egregious.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>His lawyers claimed that he was a defense witnesses. &#8220;pressured to change his statement,&#8221; And they claimed that the trial judge made these remarks. &#8220;biased&#8221; Smollett was convicted. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Enhancement\">\n<div class=\"Enhancement-item\">\n<figure class=\"Figure mb-1 mb-sm-3 mb-md-1 article-lead-photo data_invisible\" data-align=\"center\" data-image-size=\"fixed\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n<div class=\"Figure-container\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_md\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 768px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_md\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"645\" height=\"430\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_xl\"><\/source><source media=\"(max-width: 1440px)\" width=\"645\" height=\"430\" data-image-size=\"1060x600_xl\"><\/source><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"1060\" height=\"707\" data-image-size=\"1060x600\"><\/source><source width=\"1060\" height=\"707\" data-image-size=\"1060x600\"><\/source>                                 <\/picture><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\" itemprop=\"caption\"> FILE &#8211; Elizabeth Holmes, former CEO of Theranos, arrives at a federal court in San Jose on Oct. 17, 2022. On Friday, November 18, a federal judge will decide whether Holmes should be sentenced for deceiving investors and putting patients at risk while selling bogus blood-testing technology. (AP Photo\/Jeff Chiu, File)                <\/figcaption><div class=\"Figure-credit\" itemprop=\"author\"> Jeff Chiu\/AP                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Elizabeth Holmes<\/b> <\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth Holmes, Th&#8217;s disgraced CEO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>&#8220;Read More from&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/four-defendants-found-guilty-testifying-their-own-trials\">Four defendants who testified in their own trials \u2014 and were convicted<\/a>&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:11px\"><em>&#8220;The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author of the article and not necessarily shared or endorsed by Conservative News Daily&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TDisgraced lawyer convicted Alex Murdaugh He displayed an emotional display during his trial and evoked many other cases. The defense We had to decide if calling the defendant would be beneficial or harmful. One of the few burdens that falls on defense in a Criminal trials The question is whether the defendant should be called &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1897029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[3687,21072,3618,19639,11024],"class_list":["post-1875310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-convicted","tag-defendants","tag-riot","tag-testified","tag-trials"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1875310"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875310\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1897029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1875310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1875310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1875310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}