Jury cannot convict Donald Trump on Michael Cohen's testimony alone as he is an 'accomplice', judge says

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Judgement day looms over former President Donald Trump in hush money trial as the jury begins to deliberate on Wednesday, May 29, in Manhattan, New York. 

Trump's fate is now in the hands of 12 citizens of his native New York as they retire for deliberations after six weeks of trial.

The burden of proof to decide whether Trump a former president and presumptive GOP nominee is guilty or not is on seven men and five women jurors, a task no other jury has faced before.

Donald Trump is not required to prove he is not guilty, says judge Juan Merchan

Juan Merchan, the judge who presides over the case, started with jury instructions ahead of the deliberations. He detailed how the jury can come to the verdict. 

Merchan told the jury cannot convict Trump on the testimony of Michael Cohen, the star witness and Trump's former attorney in the case as according to Merchan he was an "accomplice."

"Under our law Michael Cohen is an accomplice," Merchan said during jury instructions. 

"Even if you find the testimony of Michael Cohen to be believable, you may not convict the defendant solely upon that testimony unless you also find it’s corroborated by other evidence," he said, according to CNN.

Juan Merchan told the jury that they can't hold it against Trump for not testifying. "The defendant is not required to prove that he is not guilty," Merchan told the jury.

"In fact, the defendant is not required to prove or disprove anything," he said, adding, "If people satisfy their burden of proof you must find the defendant guilty."

Judge Juan Merchan tells the jury that judging the evidence is not 'my responsibility' 

Merchan also guided the jury about not speculating "about matters related to sentence or punishment," as it was up to the judge to decide. 

He instructed, "You must set aide any personal opinions you have in favor or against the defendant," CNN reports. He told them it was not his responsibility to judge the evidence.  

"It is yours. You are the judges of the facts and you are responsible for deciding whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty," Merchan said.

Judge Juan Merchan says jury's verdict 'must not rest on speculation'

Judge Juan Merchan also instructed the jury against speculating and that decision should rest on full and fair evaluation of evidence.

"Whatever your verdict may be, it must not rest on speculation," he told the jury, adding that their decision should be guided "solely on a full and fair evaluation of the evidence."

"If you are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of the charged crime, you must find the defendant not guilty," he said. He also told them they could disregard any witness testimony entirely or in parts if they found they "intentionally testified falsely." 

Internet reacts to judge Juan Merchan's jury instructions 

As the jury started deliberations, some sections on social media suggested it would be a hung jury given that the case presented by the prosecutors against Trump was poor. However, some suggested there was other evidence too to prove him guilty. 

"Jury will find Trump not guilty or will be a hung jury," suggested one. 

"Nor can *anyone* "prove beyond a reasonable doubt " that Cohen lied during his testimony!" wrote on more. 

"That's ok because there's evidence from every witness that worked for Trump. Lol," wrote another. 

"I'm betting on a hung jury... Despite my dislike for Trump, I cannot see 12 people voting to convict him based on the poor case presented by the prosecution," wrote a user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.