Thanks, John. Yep, the standard in American jurisprudence is "guilt beyond a reasonable doubt" (a much higher "threshold" than "preponderance of evidence"), and the Burden of Proof does, indeed, lie with the Prosecution. In the Kennedy assassination case, the Prosecution (in the form of both Texas and Federal investigators, and--ultimately--in the form of the WC (in a kind of post mortem trial)) decided in 'a priori fashion that there was one, crazed killer, firing only THREE shots (from behind)(with no foreign involvement and no conspiracy). Like someone presenting a foolish "proof for the existence of God," the reasoning lies strongly along "Special Pleading" lines.
It is also very like the "SIGNATURE" behavior of members of a cult, who will provide a creed statement, then produce all kinds of "evidence," such as excerpts from scripture, or little parables in an attempt to bolster the "formula." This is the VERY antithesis of legitimate reasoning (as well as the scientific method and the principles of legit. criminal investigation). It is "backwards reasoning" and COMPLETELY and UTTERLY bogus. Put another way, the "default position" in this case should be that Mr. Oswald is innocent. Now let's see if the Prosecution can produce a case which "blows out of the water" this assumption. They are NEVER, EVER able to accomplish this. In fact, 'tis even worse than this in that all the other suspects were summarily released, there was ample manipulation of the evidence in this case (such as missing or altered photographic documentation, broken chains of possession, and impugned witness testimony) (and the sole suspect was denied "due process" (including legal representation)), and was never even properly arrested and indicted (for either Texas murder). Echoes from the Dreyfus case, anyone?
Finally, in this SNAFU of a case (a BLATANT 'burlesque of justice" with strong suggestion of duplicity on many fronts), Mr. Oswald was merely the "poor schnook" who was given the role of assigned perpetrator...the "schlemiel" who was to be the scapegoat, to put the case to bed...and assuage the fears of the traumatized American public.
