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Home > NHPR News Features > Former UNH Student Goes It Alone In Criminal Court, Wins 'Not Guilty' Verdict
Podcast: NHPR News Features
Episode:

Former UNH Student Goes It Alone In Criminal Court, Wins 'Not Guilty' Verdict

Category: Government & Organizations
Duration:
Publish Date: 2015-03-25 18:55:50
Description: Last year, 29 year old Robert Wilson was accused of a felony-level crime and faced the possibility of three and a half to seven years in prison. On Monday, after representing himself “pro se," the jury found him not guilty. Generally speaking, this doesn’t happen. Litigants represent themselves frequently in civil court, but rarely do criminal defendants argue by themselves before a jury. Wilson had even refused stand-by council. Rockingham County Attorney Patricia Conway prosecuted the case. She says after 18 years as a prosecutor, “this is the second time I’ve had a jury trial with a pro se individual.” The first time, she won. Three attorneys from Conway’s office sat in the gallery as the trial began. They were there purely there out of curiosity, they said. The state doesn’t keep data on self-representing defendants. However, Superior Court Chief Justice Tina Nadeau says, from her experience, “they’re not likely to be successful.” Rob Wilson talks in paragraphs. He’s 29, grew up
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