A criminologia midiática no tribunal do júri e a preservação dos princípios da presunção da inocência e da imparcialidade

Abstract

The present study deals with the media influence on the verdicts of the Jury's Court, especially in relation to the Sentencing Council, composed by jurors. The presence of controversial issues is constant in the Jury procedure, being the object of several criticisms. However, it has remained unchanged as regards its nature of judging intentional crimes against life. Due to their violent character, these crimes, usually cause a pronounced repercussion in society. In this way, the media, when it acts uncontrollably in this scope causes unwanted interferences that hinder the activity of the Jury. In view of the fact that the decisions taken by jurors must be taken in an impartial manner, the verdicts being informed only by the evidence produced by the parties in the trial and by their free conviction. In order to achieve this objective, the Court of Justice, its jurisdiction, its composition and the procedural and specific principles that instructed it were discussed, giving greater attention to the principles of impartiality and presumption of innocence and how they are affected by the activities journalism. Adhering, in this context, to the method of documentary research, also called bibliographical research.