I disagree. It's subjective of course, but I believe the jury would've rendered a guilty verdict on a charge of 2nd degree because that's what was/is the truth. But, he would've gotten a reduced sentence had he confessed instead of going to trial. Since the trial the jurors have been asked as to why they chose not guilty and they all believed him to have been framed on some level. And they were right. 2nd degree would've been proveable and made the prosecution seem to be a little more sympathetic to the truth rather than simply trying to hang an 'uppity...' Which was how the case presentation was interpreted, and rightfully so, by the jurists.