What is capable of undermining the presumption of innocence and distracting the jury from the business of determining guilt or innocence based on proof of the charges in the indictment?

Question

Prior convictions

Height of the defendant

Time of the crime

Value of the crime

Answer 1

One possible answer could be "prior convictions." If a jury becomes aware of a defendant's past criminal history, it could potentially bias their perception and undermine the presumption of innocence. This information might distract the jury from focusing solely on the current charges and evidence presented in the case, leading them to base their decision on the defendant's previous actions rather than the proof presented for the current charges.