The defense lawyer was doing his job. The argument was unfortunate (I don't think a North American lawyer would have used it), but the defense lawyer is an accused's only means to level the playing field against the vast might of the powers-that-be and public opinion. The lawyer is the only person standing beside you when all are against you. He is bound by the rules of his profession to act in your best interests regardless of his personal beliefs, and no matter who you are.
Stormrider says: "How about because lawyers like this are scumbags who deserve 1 pound of lead weight chained to them for every plain as day guilty scumbag that have had aquitted and then thrown over the side of a boat into deep water so as to let those many pounds of lead drag them to the bottom where they deserve to be."
Who says these "scumbags" are "plain as day guilty"? You? You whose knowledge only comes from the media reports of these matters? What if we left all justice to public opinion?
Oh, and if and when you are charged with a criminal offence, or if your wife wants to divorce you and take you to the cleaners, you better not call a "scumbag" lawyer to help you, okay? Do it yourself and see how it turns out.
Oh, same for you, Lenny.
"I suppose for the same reason people harp on people who willingly do these jobs:
1. Soldiers in 1989 in China who used assualt rifles on unarmed civilians in Tiananmen Square.
2. Nazi atrocities to Jews in concentration camps in WWII.
3. Abortionists who rip babies to pieces. "
Really? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha