So - the prosecutor achieved only one thing with this question - he showed us that the writers of this movie know nothing about murder trials.
The post is old, and I don't think I have the strength to go through all the replies, but your conclusion struck me as odd compared to the introductory reasoning...
That wasn't the key scene. But, as you noticed, it was legally quite relevant. So no, they did not "deserve to die"... BUT WAIT - not by the hand of a vengeful man. The film does point that out, as both defendant and lawyer realise what they did was not quite honourable.
There's also a significant scene where somebody (sorry, can't quite remember who) asks whether it was right to kill them because they did such a terrible thing.
Now... Can't the same be asked about the state inflicting the death penalty?
It's clear he shouldn't have done it (morally). And any honest person would admit that they MIGHT have done the same or at least considered it. So private citizen: no. State: possibly, maybe, probably - depending on factors that have nothing to do with the actual deed, but rather social background, defence, skin colour, etc. Here's the supposed difference.
The actual point of the movie (or the story - but it's not about the legal system, but rather double standards, hypocrisy, unconscious racism) is McConaughey's closing speech. Would the same have happened had the defendant been a white girl's father?
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"A right must exist independently of its exercise."
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Inside I'm Dancing
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elduderino09
11 years ago
Good post Dylangod. I would say the state would have a responsibility to execute those men, had the girl died and they were convicted. I believe some crimes are too heinous to not be dealt with in that manner.
And while one cannot condone vigilantism, I'm not sure I would have voted to convict Carl Lee Hailey.
But I agree, the significant part of the story was the double standards and racism displayed with the ending speech. "Now imagine she was white." As a side note, the book did not have the defense attorney give that speech. It was uttered by one of the jurors during deliberations. It was a good read.
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