Was there sufficient
evidence to indict for vehicular manslaughter? If so, the driver would be
brought to trial. Then a Trial Jury would decide if the evidence proved the
guilt of the driver beyond a reasonable doubt. But to indict, the Grand Jury used
a lower standard of proof – probable cause.
The State’s
Attorney presented the case, telling us when and where it happened and that the
cause of death was injuries sustained from the accident. The investigating
officer testified and answered our questions: the driver did not leave the
scene of the accident, was not speeding, and was not under the influence when
it happened. There were no eye witnesses to the collision. Then they and the
court reporter left the room so we could discuss the evidence and vote. It
would take nine yes votes for a Bill of Indictment.
This was only
one of a dozen or so cases we heard each week. Up until today the State’s
Attorney and investigating officers had presented sufficient evidence. Not
today. A youth on a bicycle and a car had collided; the youth, gravely injured,
had subsequently died. We were asked to decide if the driver should be brought
to trial. But it was unclear who had the right of way. No one had witnessed the
accident. We weren’t there when it happened. How could we decide after the
fact? In this kind of accident, we reasoned, the car would be damaged. Was it? We
weren’t told.
The Grand Jury
has the right to subpoena witnesses and documents. We issued a subpoena for
photographs of the accident and the next week examined them closely. Except for
the passenger’s side, the car looked brand new. The passenger’s door had fresh
scratch marks and indentations that corresponded to the damaged bicycle. It was
clear to us. The driver was not at fault. Sadly, the youth had failed to stop
for the car. We voted “No Bill.”
Pictures
provide evidence when eye witnesses cannot be found. For centuries men believed
that the universe was eternal. Not so! said the Bible, the universe had a
beginning. What standard of proof finally convinced scientists that the Bible
got it right?
Probable Cause
1931: Edwin Hubble's pictures of stars in distant galaxies were at odds with Albert Einstein's eternal universe.
Proof beyond a Reasonable Doubt
1992: It’s
‘like looking at God’! (Images taken by the satellite proved that the universe
had a beginning.)
Proof beyond a
Shadow of Doubt?
2012: WMAP all-sky
picture of the infant universe revealed how many years ago the universe was
created.
The heavens
declare the glory of God! From the musical The
Majesty of the Maker! this video is scrolling playback of the song.
Kathy
Click here to
download 50-page PDF of the musical: book, music in lead sheet format, lyrics.
Click here to read
how WMAP turned the study of the origin and structure of the universe into a
precision science.
Click here to
read about the duties of a Grand Jury.
You can get print (PDF) and/or digital (MusicXML™)
sheet music for A Prayer.
 |
| Click here for print sheet music (lead sheet format). |
 |
| Click here for digital sheet music. (MusicXML™ is the standard open format for sharing digital sheet music. Check the help files in your music notation app for directions on importing MusicXML™ files.) |
