12 Angry Men – The Value of Human Life | The Jaftaf Show 73

Connect The Jaftaf Show on

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thejaftafshow

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejaftafshow

Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/thejaftafshow

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/thejaftafshow

🎧 Stream The Jaftaf Show Episodes on Your Favorite Platform :

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/37NEaam61QvJLm5rle5Squ?si=e6331804f4e94b4c

Apple Podcast – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jaftaf-show/id1742624788

Amazon Music – https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9657c610-62fd-48c6-8d22-c75c520980e0/the-jaftaf-show

On a hot summer day in the New York County Courthouse, the trial phase has just concluded for an impoverished 18-year-old boy accused of killing his abusive father. The judge instructs the jury that if there is reasonable doubt, the jurors must return a verdict of “not guilty”. If the defendant is found guilty, he will receive a mandatory death sentence via the electric chair. The verdict must be unanimous.

At first, the case seems clear. A neighbor testified to witnessing the defendant stab his father, from her window, through the windows of a passing elevated train. Another neighbor testified that he heard the defendant threaten to kill his father, and the father’s body hitting the floor; then, as he ran to his door, he saw the defendant running down the stairs. The boy had recently purchased a switchblade of the same type that was found, wiped of fingerprints, at the murder scene, but claimed he lost it.

In a preliminary vote, all jurors vote “guilty” except Juror 8, who believes there should be some discussion before the verdict. He says he cannot vote “guilty” because reasonable doubt exists. When his first few arguments (including producing a recently purchased knife nearly identical to the murder weapon that was thought to be unique) seemingly fail to convince any of the other jurors, Juror 8 suggests a secret ballot, from which he will abstain; if all the other jurors still vote guilty, he will acquiesce. The ballot reveals one “not guilty” vote. Juror 9 reveals that he changed his vote; he respects Juror 8’s motives, and agrees there should be more discussion.

Juror 8 argues that the train noise would have obscured everything the second witness claimed to have overheard. Jurors 5 and 11 change their votes. Jurors 5, 6 and 8 further question the second witness’s story, and question whether the death threat was figurative speech. After looking at a diagram of the witness’s apartment and conducting an experiment, the jurors determine that it is impossible for the disabled witness to have made it to the door in time. Juror 3, infuriated, argues with and tries to attack Juror 8, yelling a death threat; jurors 5, 6 and 7 physically restrain Juror 3. Jurors 2 and 6 change their votes; the jury is now evenly split.

Juror 4 doubts the defendant’s alibi, as the boy did not recall specific details. Juror 8 tests Juror 4’s own memory to make a point. Jurors 2 and 5 point out the father’s stab wound was angled downwards, although the boy was shorter than his father. Juror 7 changes his vote out of impatience rather than conviction, angering Juror 11. After another vote, jurors 1 and 12 also change sides, leaving only three “guilty” votes.

After failing to convince the others of his argument, Juror 3 finally reveals that his strained relationship with his own son is the reason why he voted guilty. He breaks down in tears and changes his vote to “not guilty”. As the others leave, Juror 8 graciously helps Juror 3 put on his coat. The defendant is acquitted off-screen. As the jurors leave the courthouse, Jurors 8 and 9 reveal their surnames to each other before parting ways.

#thejaftafshow #podcast #moviediscussion #popculture