Important legal concepts seem to have been lost on some Warren County jurors who convicted Ryan Widmer of murder, experts say, based on interviews reported in local news media since Tuesday’s verdict.

But Widmer’s lawyers have no recourse unless they can legally substantiate that jurors disobeyed orders, experts say.

Even so, the topic is worthy of public debate, “because we’re seeing an increasing trend of jurors disregarding judges’ simple instructions,” says attorney Mike Allen, a former Hamilton County prosecutor and municipal court judge.

Judge Neal Bronson clearly explained to the jury during Widmer’s 17-day trial:

• The defendant doesn’t have to prove he’s innocent; he’s presumed innocent and the prosecution must prove his guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
• The defendant’s decision not to testify cannot be considered for any purpose.
• “Murder” is an intentional killing while “involuntary manslaughter” would be an assault that unintentionally caused a death.

Yet one juror, quoted by WKRC-TV, Channel 12, said, “It’s just the evidence, to us, did not prove innocence.”

Another juror, quoted in the Western Star, a Warren County newspaper, said: “The fact that we couldn’t hear Ryan’s side of the story was bad,” indicating he should have testified.