how to explain reasonable doubt to a jury

A reasonable doubt is a doubt that would cause a reasonably careful and sensible person to hesitate before acting upon a matter of importance in his or her own affairs. Although the Commonwealth has the burden of proving that the defendant is guilty, this does not mean that the Commonwealth must prove its case beyond all doubt and to a mathematical certainty, nor must it demonstrate the complete impossibility of innocence. On the other hand, if the Commonwealth’s evidence does prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty, then your verdict should be guilty.ģ.

If the Commonwealth’s evidence fails to meet its burden, then your verdict must be not guilty. The person accused of a crime is not required to present evidence or prove anything in his or her own defense, which I will discuss later]. Instead, it is the Commonwealth that always has the burden of proving each and every element of the crime charged and that the defendant is guilty of that crime beyond a reasonable doubt. It is not the defendant’s burden to prove that is not guilty. Furthermore, the defendant is presumed innocent throughout the trial and unless and until you conclude, based on careful and impartial consideration of the evidence, that the Commonwealth has proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.Ģ. The mere fact that was arrested and is accused of a crime is not any evidence against. A fundamental principle of our system of criminal law is that the defendant is presumed to be innocent. Pennsylvania Suggested Standard Jury Instructionsħ.01 PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE-BURDEN OF PROOF-REASONABLE DOUBTġ.

How to explain reasonable doubt to a jury