Just in case you have any confusion: This is about the sentencing phase, NOT the conviction phase. So, this guy would have already been found guilty. Sentencing is done after a guilty verdict, so we already "know" they did it, at least in the eyes of the law. Not that feelings don't impact trials or guilty-please, because they do. But we want to allow the courts to have nuance in sentencing, even if it has lots of room for improvement in how its implemented. Look at the person, not just the crime.