But in rare cases where defendants have remained anonymous throughout their entire prosecution, defense lawyers end up making arguments that can border on the surreal.
The defense, seeking an additional hearing on the matter of selective prosecution, made these arguments in papers filed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Jurors struggling with the intent issue will have a third option: Justice Robert W. Doyle will tell them on Tuesday, after the prosecution makes closing arguments, that they can consider a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter.
Under the Supreme Court ruling in Cheek v. United States, a defendant in a tax evasion prosecution who has made arguments that the federal income tax laws are unconstitutional may have the arguments turned against him (or her).
The long trial has now what is likely to be its last phase, as defence and prosecution make legal argument over what sentence the Olympic sprinter should receive, having been convicted of culpable homicide - South Africa's equivalent of manslaughter - but been found not guilty of murder.
While admitting none of the defendants was involved in the bombing, the prosecution made the argument that Lingg had built the bomb and two prosecution witnesses (Harry Gilmer and Malvern Thompson) tried to imply the bomb thrower was helped by Spies, Fischer and Schwab.
Throughout a morning marked by heated exchanges between defence and prosecution lawyers, Musharraf's team made arguments designed to postpone his court appearance.
Sweeting and Oakley remain on trial, and the prosecution made its closing arguments in the case today.
On April 24, Takeshi Oda, representing the prosecution, made his closing arguments, describing the alleged crime as "vicious and atrocious," and calling for a three year prison sentence for Brown.
They also heard the prosecution make a convincing argument that Gross planned the robbery and went to the Convenient Food Mart intending to kill Beers.
