Alternative Defense

just finished the documentary; haven’t spent as much time on the case beyond that as many of you, but one thing that stuck out to me:

why wouldn’t Mackenzie’s defense team consider: the kids were screwing around, daring each other, “how fast can you go without hitting the brake”, type of crazy stuff in the car. By the time they realized the danger, it was just too late. kids do insane, self-harming things to “show off” all the time (who remembers tide pods??). it would explain the slow right turn followed by the 100% gas pedal and the controlled driving. you could point to their constant drug use and late night partying as evidence of risk taking behavior. if the judge buys it, it gets her down to reckless driving or manslaughter instead of premeditated murder - a conviction likely to carry AT MOST a few years prison time. Certainly seems better than “she has PODS so she could have passed out 🤷🏻‍♀️” at least more chance of creating reasonable doubt around intent.