You will continue with the case study that you started in W1 Assignment 3. Georgia vs Troy Davis,The 1989 murder of police officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia. For this assignment, you will create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation; include a cover slide, a reference slide and minimum of 5 slides to describe the trial itself. Be sure to include the following:
Review the jury selection process. How many peremptory challenges are allowed in your state?
Describe the purpose of the opening statement and summarize the attorneys' opening statements from your case, if available.
Summarize the evidence presented against the defendant. Did the defendant take the stand? Which evidence seemed most vital to the case?
Explain the verdict. Do you agree with the verdict? Why or why not? Were the attorneys effective? Would you have done anything differently?
Here's a structured outline for a PowerPoint presentation on the case of The State of Georgia v. Troy Davis. You can use this outline to create your slides in Microsoft PowerPoint.
Slide 1: Cover Slide
- Title: The State of Georgia v. Troy Davis
- Subtitle: The 1989 Murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail
- Your Name
- Date
Slide 2: Jury Selection Process
- Overview of Jury Selection:
- The jury selection process involves selecting jurors from a pool of potential jurors.
- Both the prosecution and defense may challenge potential jurors for cause or use peremptory challenges.
- Peremptory Challenges in Georgia:
- In Georgia, each side is allowed six peremptory challenges in capital cases.
Slide 3: Opening Statements
- Purpose of Opening Statements:
- To provide the jury with a roadmap of what each side intends to prove during the trial.
- They outline the evidence that will be presented and frame the issues at stake.
- Summary of Attorneys' Opening Statements:
- Prosecution's Opening Statement:
- Argued that Troy Davis was guilty based on eyewitness testimonies.
- Presented the narrative of the night of the murder, emphasizing the tragic loss of Officer MacPhail.
- Defense's Opening Statement:
- Asserted Davis's innocence and questioned the reliability of eyewitnesses.
- Highlighted inconsistencies in testimonies and emphasized lack of physical evidence linking Davis to the crime.
Slide 4: Evidence Presented Against the Defendant
- Summary of Evidence:
- Key eyewitness testimonies from individuals who claimed to have seen Davis at the scene.
- Ballistics evidence suggesting that the weapon used to kill MacPhail matched a gun owned by Davis.
- Defendant's Testimony:
- Troy Davis did not take the stand in his defense, which is a common strategy in criminal trials to avoid self-incrimination.
- Vital Evidence:
- The most vital evidence appeared to be the eyewitness accounts, despite later claims of mistaken identity and recantations.
Slide 5: Verdict and Reflection
- Verdict:
- Troy Davis was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1991. However, his conviction faced numerous appeals and public scrutiny over the years.
- Personal Agreement with the Verdict:
- Explain whether you agree or disagree with the verdict. You could state that while there was a conviction, significant doubts surrounding eyewitness reliability raise questions about justice being served.
- Effectiveness of Attorneys:
- Discuss whether the prosecution and defense were effective in presenting their cases. Consider their strategies, use of evidence, and overall courtroom presence.
- What I Would Have Done Differently:
- Suggest alternative strategies that could have been employed by either side, focusing on aspects like gathering additional evidence, more effective questioning techniques, or public relations strategies to address media bias.
Slide 6: References
- Include references for all sources used in your presentation (books, articles, legal documents, etc.). For example:- Davis, T. (2011). The Troy Davis Case: A Look at Justice. Journal of Criminal Law.
- CNN. (2020). Troy Davis: The Case That Divided a Nation. Retrieved from CNN.com.
Feel free to expand on each point with relevant details and visuals to make your presentation engaging!