Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice - Essay Example The case was categorized as a second degree murder because Mary Barnett was charged with intentional murder without premeditation. I have been asked to be on the jury to review the testimony and claims of the defendant, prosecution, and witnesses, and to come up with a fair verdict. Caroline Hospers’ statement clearly indicates that Mary Barnett was addicted to liquor products, and she could never carry out the duties and responsibilities of a good mother. In other words, Barnett had been following a bad lifestyle mainly because she lived without a husband. Hospers’ argument that Barnett went to visit her fiancà © ‘just to party and have a good time’ with him cannot be taken into account because it is Hospers’ personal view only (Chaffee para 4). Perhaps, Barnett and Caroline might not be in good terms, and therefore Hospers’ observation that ‘the baby was not taken care of properly’ should not be considered in order to support prosecution arguments (Chaffee para 4). Officer Mitchell tells that Barnett intentionally left her baby to get to California in time and she was aware that she would not be back for a while. Referring to Barnett’s initial responses, Mitchell asserts that Barnett was really informed of what she was going to do when she planned to leave the baby unattended in the apartment. Taking care of the baby was not the first priority of Barnett because she was extremely excited to visit her fiancà © at that time. Although Barnett had tried to arrange a babysitter for Alison, she could not find one, and therefore she just decided to leave her baby in the apartment for a few days. While analyzing the view of Dr. Parker, a professional psychiatrist, the defendant is competent to stand the trail on the charges she was accused of because Barnett developed depression and anxiety problems only after the shocking death of her daughter. According to Dr. Parker, Barnett â€Å"was mentally competent on