Seven Most Sinful Criminal Defense Trials

7si MOST WORTHY SINFUL OF AN IMMORAL DEFENSE CRIMINAL DEFENSE TRIALS The Seven Deadly Sins were originally conceived by the early Christian church as a way to educate their followers about the sinful tendencies of humankind. While not the only sins recognized by the church, The Seven Deadly Sins were selected because they were believed to be the origin of all other sins. Below are seven examples of famous cases involving the Seven Deadly Sins. GREED BERNIE MADOFF The Charges: Pulling off the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, Bernie Madoff used his wealth management firm to greedily defraud thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Madoff and company used their ill-gotten gains to live like kings with multiple homes, yachts, cars, and more. Including fabricated "gains", the amount missing from client accounts reached almost $65 billion! Reports filed with the SEC by a competitor who investigated the company had no effect, but the stock market crash brought Madoff's greed to light. Criminal charges were filed, but Madoff entered a guilty plea to 11 federal felonies, including securities, wire, and mail fraud; money laundering; perjury and more. The Verdict: JEFFREY DAHMER Guilty and sentenced to 150 years in prison. The Charges: SLOTHFULNES The product of a broken home, Jeffrey Dahmer became addicted to alcohol early in his life. He committed his first murder at the age of 18. He was forced to enlist in the army but was kicked out of for his alcoholism. He moved in with his grandmother, and became increasingly odd. He killed sporadically, but picked up the pace when he moved into his own apartment. CASEY ANTHONY Later known as The Milwaukee Cannibal, no one had an appetite for The Charges: murder more than Jeffrey Dahmer. Over his fourteen year criminal spree, Dahmer killed 17 men and boys. His murders involved When 2-year-old Caylee Anthony went missing, her mother Casey didn't tell rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism. anyone - including her mother Cindy, who requested repeatedly to see her granddaughter. After finding Casey's car, the trunk of which smelled like "a dead body," Cindy called the cops to report Caylee missing. GLUTTONY The girl's skeletal remains were found in a wooded area near her home and medical examiners were unable to show conclusively how the victim died. Casey's slothful and conflicting response to her daughter's disappearance was suspicious enough that she was brought up on charges for killing her daughter, allegedly because she The Verdict: wanted to free herself from parental responsibilities. Sentenced to 957 years in prison, the longest The Verdict: sentence allowed by law. Later, was beaten to death by an inmate. Not guilty of homicide, aggravated child abuse, or manslaughter of a child, but guilty of four misdemeanor counts of providing false in- formation to a law enforcement LUST officer. The Charges: Turning lust into a lucrative business venture, Deborah Jeane Palfrey ran a high-end escort service in Washington D.C. Dubbed the D.C. Madam by news media, Palfrey was under investigation for almost 4 years before being brought up on charges for prostitution-related racketeering, money laundering, and mail fraud. DEBORAH JEANE Palfrey's service satisfied the lusty appetites of many government officials, most of whom were never identified, though Senator David Vitter; USAID am- bassador Randall Tobias; and military strategist Harlan Ullman were identified as clients. During the trial, over a dozen escorts took the stand to recount in graphic detail their many misadventures in the bedroom. PALFREY The Verdict: Guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison but committed suicide before she could serve her time. The Charges: Born into a noble family with connections to the Hungarian royal family, Elizabeth Bathory was raised in privilege in the late 1500s. Elizabeth took pride in her appearance and was known for her delicate good looks and creamy complexion. But her vain, narcissistic nature held a darker side. After her husband's death, she and four of her collaborators were accused of torturing and killing hundreds of girls through the years. Unsubstantiated rumors spread that she bathed in the blood of young virgins to stay youthful. Her accomplices were brought to trial and sentenced to death, though Elizabeth wasn't be- cause of her standing and the negative effects it could have on the noble class. The Verdict: Assumed guilty and imprisoned in a tower with only one small opening to provide her with provisions until she died 4 years later. COUNTESS BATHORY ELIZABETH KACZYNSKI TED The Charges: Referred to as the Unabomber by the FBI before his identity was known, Ted Kaczynski raged against modern technology by mailing or hand delivering numerous homemade bombs between 1978 and 1995. His bombs killed 3 people and injured 23 more and triggered one of the most expensive investigations in FBI history. With the publishing of Kaczynski's manifesto, his wrath at modern technology became well known, and his brother and wife were able to tip off the FBI, leading to his arrest. He was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of illegally transporting, mailing, and using bombs, as well as the killing of 3 victims. He pled guilty to all the charges, though later tried to withdraw his plea. The Verdict: Pled guilty and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. WHATS IN THE BOX?? OJ The Charges: Equally known for his football career, a police chase in a white Bronco, and his infamous criminal trial, O.J. Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in a jealous rage. SIMPSON Although the envy of many, the couple shared a troubled past, according to witness accounts, and a relationship riddled with jealousy, anger, and abuse. The trial was sensationalized in the news and dubbed "the trial of the century." The Verdict: Not Guilty, because "if the glove don't fit, you must acquit." ENVY COPYRIGHT 2012 THE LAW OFFICES OF BASIL D. BECK II wwW.BBECKLAW.COM PRIDI WE 7si MOST WORTHY SINFUL OF AN IMMORAL DEFENSE CRIMINAL DEFENSE TRIALS The Seven Deadly Sins were originally conceived by the early Christian church as a way to educate their followers about the sinful tendencies of humankind. While not the only sins recognized by the church, The Seven Deadly Sins were selected because they were believed to be the origin of all other sins. Below are seven examples of famous cases involving the Seven Deadly Sins. GREED BERNIE MADOFF The Charges: Pulling off the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, Bernie Madoff used his wealth management firm to greedily defraud thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Madoff and company used their ill-gotten gains to live like kings with multiple homes, yachts, cars, and more. Including fabricated "gains", the amount missing from client accounts reached almost $65 billion! Reports filed with the SEC by a competitor who investigated the company had no effect, but the stock market crash brought Madoff's greed to light. Criminal charges were filed, but Madoff entered a guilty plea to 11 federal felonies, including securities, wire, and mail fraud; money laundering; perjury and more. The Verdict: JEFFREY DAHMER Guilty and sentenced to 150 years in prison. The Charges: SLOTHFULNES The product of a broken home, Jeffrey Dahmer became addicted to alcohol early in his life. He committed his first murder at the age of 18. He was forced to enlist in the army but was kicked out of for his alcoholism. He moved in with his grandmother, and became increasingly odd. He killed sporadically, but picked up the pace when he moved into his own apartment. CASEY ANTHONY Later known as The Milwaukee Cannibal, no one had an appetite for The Charges: murder more than Jeffrey Dahmer. Over his fourteen year criminal spree, Dahmer killed 17 men and boys. His murders involved When 2-year-old Caylee Anthony went missing, her mother Casey didn't tell rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism. anyone - including her mother Cindy, who requested repeatedly to see her granddaughter. After finding Casey's car, the trunk of which smelled like "a dead body," Cindy called the cops to report Caylee missing. GLUTTONY The girl's skeletal remains were found in a wooded area near her home and medical examiners were unable to show conclusively how the victim died. Casey's slothful and conflicting response to her daughter's disappearance was suspicious enough that she was brought up on charges for killing her daughter, allegedly because she The Verdict: wanted to free herself from parental responsibilities. Sentenced to 957 years in prison, the longest The Verdict: sentence allowed by law. Later, was beaten to death by an inmate. Not guilty of homicide, aggravated child abuse, or manslaughter of a child, but guilty of four misdemeanor counts of providing false in- formation to a law enforcement LUST officer. The Charges: Turning lust into a lucrative business venture, Deborah Jeane Palfrey ran a high-end escort service in Washington D.C. Dubbed the D.C. Madam by news media, Palfrey was under investigation for almost 4 years before being brought up on charges for prostitution-related racketeering, money laundering, and mail fraud. DEBORAH JEANE Palfrey's service satisfied the lusty appetites of many government officials, most of whom were never identified, though Senator David Vitter; USAID am- bassador Randall Tobias; and military strategist Harlan Ullman were identified as clients. During the trial, over a dozen escorts took the stand to recount in graphic detail their many misadventures in the bedroom. PALFREY The Verdict: Guilty and sentenced to 5 years in prison but committed suicide before she could serve her time. The Charges: Born into a noble family with connections to the Hungarian royal family, Elizabeth Bathory was raised in privilege in the late 1500s. Elizabeth took pride in her appearance and was known for her delicate good looks and creamy complexion. But her vain, narcissistic nature held a darker side. After her husband's death, she and four of her collaborators were accused of torturing and killing hundreds of girls through the years. Unsubstantiated rumors spread that she bathed in the blood of young virgins to stay youthful. Her accomplices were brought to trial and sentenced to death, though Elizabeth wasn't be- cause of her standing and the negative effects it could have on the noble class. The Verdict: Assumed guilty and imprisoned in a tower with only one small opening to provide her with provisions until she died 4 years later. COUNTESS BATHORY ELIZABETH KACZYNSKI TED The Charges: Referred to as the Unabomber by the FBI before his identity was known, Ted Kaczynski raged against modern technology by mailing or hand delivering numerous homemade bombs between 1978 and 1995. His bombs killed 3 people and injured 23 more and triggered one of the most expensive investigations in FBI history. With the publishing of Kaczynski's manifesto, his wrath at modern technology became well known, and his brother and wife were able to tip off the FBI, leading to his arrest. He was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of illegally transporting, mailing, and using bombs, as well as the killing of 3 victims. He pled guilty to all the charges, though later tried to withdraw his plea. The Verdict: Pled guilty and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. WHATS IN THE BOX?? OJ The Charges: Equally known for his football career, a police chase in a white Bronco, and his infamous criminal trial, O.J. Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in a jealous rage. SIMPSON Although the envy of many, the couple shared a troubled past, according to witness accounts, and a relationship riddled with jealousy, anger, and abuse. The trial was sensationalized in the news and dubbed "the trial of the century." The Verdict: Not Guilty, because "if the glove don't fit, you must acquit." ENVY COPYRIGHT 2012 THE LAW OFFICES OF BASIL D. BECK II wwW.BBECKLAW.COM PRIDI WE