LIVE! Real Lawyer Reacts: Judge Explains Charges in Apple River Case + Closing Arguments 

One thing I have learned about watching these cases is that the jury instructions are so much more important than I ever realized

Defense closing was excellent, he had my full attention. "Clean", clear & concise.

No matter what the cops say your lines are always this. I want to speak to my lawyer. It doesn’t matter if you’re innocent or not.

I am an older man (in my 50s). I was once attacked by a 19 year old. I live in a non-stand your ground state. Retreating sounds great on paper, but is dangerous if you are older and slower than the attacker. You have your back to the person or you are walking backwards. I just know it is not that easy.

I live in Minnesota. Appears to me the added charges would indicate even the state is confused

This defense attorney is sharp

This trail was so interesting, thanks for covering it. I don't no how anyone can watch that video and not see self defence.

"Normal is a setting on a hair dryer" - what a gem, THANK YOU GRANDMA LYK!

Btw, i have a teen and I'm now explaining to her that this is what can happen in a mob mentality and videoing instead of calling 911 is super wrong.

Sad I missed this live. I thought the defense closing argument was one of the best I’ve ever heard.

I think the way the defense broke down the jury instructions gives the defense an edge. The instructions are so complex and it helps if you know what is to be broken down.

Prosecutor seems relatively young and inexperience because his argument sounds like a middle school project

The young adults incited a mob with their false accusation of the defendant being a paedophile. The second group that arrived having heard the accusation of paedophile did not arrive to make peace but instead, they joined the mob. The defendant was the target of the mob, a mob that showed no fear and no self-control. The water even though not deep makes it a deadly situation, when the defendant ends ou on his back in the water, he is one punch from being KO'ed and drowning. Tragic someone lost their life, but if you corner someone and make them fear for their life they will fight with everything they have.

I would want that Defense lawyer--he is thorough and on such a difficult case.

I respect that you have a great knowledge of the facts of this case. Nothing disturbs me more than commentators that are uninformed. Viewers/subs, like jurors, are not stupid. Your viewers a intelligent and informed and the respect that you show us by knowing the facts are greatly appreciated. I hope I’m not alone in feeling that whether we agree with you or not, you are well informed with the case and the law. Great job!

In fact this man on trial is actually using personal space in a correct description

I've been fascinated by this trial, however, with all due respect, when the judge read the jury instructions, *I* wanted to take a nap, and I'm not on the jury!

He was imn the military. Could he have acted out of P TSD?

People act like he knew for a fact that his stabbing would 100% kill people yet at the same time they act like there's a 0% chance that Miu could have died from getting even punched or pushed into the river once, like what if his head hit a rock?

Now that trial has ended, I remain at Not Guilty. What has bothered me the most throughout this trial is the constant mischaracterization of key elements by the prosecution. This prosecutor has spent so much time trying to frame the minutiae a certain way and pushing this narrative that being middle aged in a river reasonably indicates you're a pedophile. If your facts are good and accurate, why even do that? There have been so many times I have felt like the prosecutor was literally more concerned with the jury not seeing the teens as arseholes than he was about proving his case for murder/maybe-not-murder. I also have huge problems with prosecutors being able to charge every level crime between indifference or recklessness to murder one for a single offense. Either it's murder or it isn't. Charge the crime. When you argue to a jury in your closing that it's definitely murder but it might be something else, you've given them reasonable doubt. Charge the crime you have and advocate hard to prove it. The video is the best evidence for the defense. They were also organized and focused on their case. If you feel you are in imminent danger and you are being closed in on by a dozen or more people, some of whom have already assaulted you, you swing like your life depends on it. Because it might.

I had a judge fall asleep during a bench trial during the defendant’s case. I knew my case was won.

Thank you LYK absolutely love your channel and the discussions we have, I always learn something ❤

My guy was a King Co bailiff in WA. He said sleeping jurors happen

I was on a jury once and watched the plaintiff's attorney sleep through quite a bit of the trial.

Also,to prove he was in shock didn't he say he pooped his pants (words yo that affect) he tried to disassociate himself from the horrible events

Verdict Watch! My mind changed over the course of the trial.

Just found you. Thank you so much for playing the judge’s complete instructions of the various charges. It was very, very helpful. I don’t completely agree with the verdict but a life was taken so that changes many people’s perception of justice. Maybe even skewing it a bit.

I think the point of the procesutions argument in the beginning was to say afraid people dont turn their back on a threat, but angry people might which turns him checking for his weapon to an offensive act to attack someone that pissed him off.

Im so.confused with these instructions because: I 100% believe he was defending himself even if his actions AFTER the events did show disregard for human life. So how are you not allowed to use excessive force to defend yourself regard for your attackers safety at the same time? That is absurd. If you fear for you life and happen to have a bazooka in your hand you will use it! You won't think, "oh this might be excessive" I don't get how your actions after a self defense act have anything to do with the fact you did what you could to save yourself. All he had was a knife. Anyone who says they would not go down swinging if a drunk mob of 13 swarmed you, is lying.

@Azam, thank you so very much for the gifted membership ❤️❤️❤️

Playing Devils Advocate…Is it completely unheard of for someone to not have remorse for inadvertently killing someone you believed tried to kill you? Personally, I’d feel bad, but I could see how someone might not be remorseful.

Right at @29.29 I thought the same thing, it was the prosecutor that was mischaracterizing the situation. I’m so glad you said that LYK, Nic testified he had tunnel vision, he was being surrounded. He wouldn’t know how many people were a potential threat. They all were.

Why have none of these young adults been charged with anything at all? I think that is a major political play on the part of the justice department here - and what is actually 'just' would be to charge them accordingly based on their actions as well.

Nic's lying durin interrogation does not negate what happebed on the river.

There is nothing worse than the prosecution stretching the truth in order to gain a conviction. The state should never editorialize. This should not be allowed in our justice system.

It doesn't seem just that they can include lesser charges to the case.

He never touched anyone that did not touch him.

I don’t think he lied because of shock. I think he lied because either way he was ending up here. He was wanting to avoid it all together.

This poor man was swarmed. He may have been drowned. The young people should be charged with attacking him etc. They should be charged with manslaughter.

Not guilty.anybody can see that

I think this is the first case that I disagree with Peter on and I've been a member since memberships began. But I still love how he gives examples of how he would've done things on either side and really does his best to point out good and bad points of each side in every single case he breaks down. Edit: Happy Birthday Azam!! My membership is at 1 year, 11 months exactly and I truly love my OG LYK tribe!!!!

Love that you show the recaps on 1.5x 🎉

If I was a juror I would be so turned off by the state’s characterization of the situation. Two against 1 at most? When you have people screaming at you l, laughing at you, slapping you or knocking you down, you don’t know if there are 2 or 3 people provoking you 3:15 or 1 people Surrounding you.

Lawyer You Know, Subscribed because your videos are so much fun!

Everyone says mui should have walked away, why didnt the 2 groups walk away??

Any time with your analysis is good time spent! Thank you for all you do!!

It shows the reason the young men got cut so bad is because he was pushing him down which caused his arm to go up. Its reflex while falling back.

It seems like a due process problem if the state adds charges after the trial strategy was decided. I would defend myself differently if I had lesser included charges, but I wouldn't waste time or witnesses to defend against elements that I'm not charged with.

Could "kle goggles" (snorkel goggles) sound like "little girls" when asked what he was looking for? With his accent? The timing kinda fits.

Not Guilty…one hundred present not guilty. This poor man was taunted by a lot of drunken teenagers…disgusting….they had no respect for an older guy with health problems. I had two knee replacements and I am so protective over my knees, if I was in this situation, I would have been completely upset.

17-20 year olds aren’t kids!!!

If he pushed her and that started things, didn't she push him first?

If he was defending himself, why lie?

The young men also had a route to retreat.

Not guilty. The poor guy was being surrounded by a group of bullies, and it was being recorded by them to humiliate him

I'm 40 yrs old and grew up in a Louisiana town with nice rivers. When I was 18 we had 12-20 man groups all over South Louisiana that fistfought each other in every parish. We could really do damage to an outnumbered opponent.

She was screaming in his face. Pushing her out of the way was ok. This poor guy was accosted, humiliated, belittled, attacked…if this was a woman, she would not have even been charged

When is sentencing folks? Very crazy case. Love to all from London.

Does anyone think that Maddy caused a lot of this to happen??

They were trying to strike a female juror

No marks on her face, no broken sun glasses, no black eye, did not drop her drink or her vape, cell still on her person.

All sides have been demonstarbly less than truthful, but ultimately from everything I have seen the "kids" were going way out of their way and doing basically everything in their power to harass, heckle, threaten and intimidate Mr. Miu, and then escalated the situation to physical violence at the very first opportunity. I knew at the age of 8 that this type of behavior (especially aimed at a random stranger you know absolutely nothing about) is a recipe for getting oneself hurt or killed. I'm not sure what the "kids" expected, but this outcome seems like it was exactly what they wanted based on their behavior... they just never imagined that a "weird" older gentleman alone and vastly outnumbered could possibly defend himself so effectly. Obviously another mistake on their part...

Love listening to you! Happy I found you & your podcast♥️

MO Miu was scared and without intention reacted to what he recognized as imminent harm. I think we all know mob-mindsets. These young people provoked and initiated a response from Miu. Mob mentality is frightening and he was stuck. Everyone at any time had the option to walk away so that argument holds no merit. I feel awful about the outcome and the families must be devastated and angry. However Miu does not deserve jail time he needs treatment for PTSD instead, along with everyone involved. Defense is grasping at straws giving Miu all the blame. These kids aren't 10 years old. Everyone acted juvenile and drunked juveniles are ridiculous, and it cost a young life that everyone have to live with. MHO Miu should get at worst house arrest and probation. The youth should be on probation for alcohol and drug use until 21 years of age. Due to magnitude of this case, everyone physically involved need to suffer consequences of sorts.

Thank you for great coverage and insight again. Take care Peter, and your family.

I said,not guilty

Love your channel. Thank you for always educating about law.❤❤

Can’t tell u how many times I’ve heard numerous Cops on the show ‘Body Cam’ explain about time slowing down and getting tunnel vision, even though the traumatic event lasted only seconds! And how their memories of the event are cloudy, and fragmented. And the only reason they can now recall it rather matter of fact like, is from Watching the video over and over and by and being briefed by the other Officers involved… verbatim

Lawyer You Know, This made me laugh so much! Thanks for sharing!

If I needed a defense attorney I would definitely hire LYK aka Peter Listen how his defense comes out 👍🏽

The reason that Miu's behavior After the incident is so important is because it shows his attitude towards what happened/his state of mind. The video only shows his Action.

Oh and I would vote not guilty.

I listened to this at work peter, the lawyer for the state was terrible.

Prosecuting attorney was an absolute boob… Disorganized, contradicting, and very blasé. The attorney who did the brief rebuttal was much more compelling.

Thanks!- missed live but watched this entirely, your additional analysis/education is great enhancement!

He started it, he continued it, he ripped their bodies with his own hand, he’s an angry middle aged man who thought he was in charge and could delve out his punishment and tried to cover it up tossing away the weapon and with all of his lies and he’s totally guilty!

Shoving an older man into water, hitting him, holding him under-- Utter disregard for human life

Even if Madison was pushed, if she put her hands on him first then he’s still not the initial aggressor.

Thank you for covering this trial. I think he had the right to defend himself but he shouldn't have lied because it made him look as if he knew he went too far to protect himself.

He pulled that knife out when girls were just standing in front of him, yelling for him to leave - so that made him fear for his life … WTF. His ego was hurt! He knew damn well what he was going to do, did it and smiled through it all, never speaking a word (like HELP! Or GET BACK!) Nothing.

The verdict is in, I would love any ones take on it , I agree on it, no spoil alerts do your own homework, hope to go over tonight

If the deceased hadn't advanced forward into Mui, he would not have gotten stabbed. He aggressed into Mui's knife Mui never stepped forward or reached out towards anyone who got sliced. Why weren't the "kids" charged with crimes? In exchange for their poorly crafted group story & testimony

Dude that was like going through 1L Crim la all over again listening to the jury instructions .

I am stuck on fight or flight...why did Nic stay when first told to leave them alone (flight?)?

Yes the prosecutor does seem like a junior lawyer

I see many people saying he should have done something different. I think what many of these people are not considering, is the way teens these days mob fight. Every day there is a new incident at my daughter’s school. They mob attack amd the victims are almost always critically injured. Or worse. Last year, a 17 year old boy was killed and left on my lawn for me to find at 3 am. We live in a different world these days. No, this may not be the way many would respond, but I think that is because they may be pleasantly ignorant to what’s happening everywhere. It’s a different world. These kids teamed up and mob attacked. That’s what I see on that video. If he didn’t defend himself, that certainly would have escalated on him. I do not think Miu caused death. I think the teens who attacked him should be held responsible for the death of their friend.

I'd like to thank you for always giving a fair perspective on the cases you cover. I love listening to you talk about them. You are knowledgeable and informative! ❤

I do not think he should be found guilty… when talking to police about the knife I belief he was in shock.

Replay crew. I would hate to be the jurors right now. Everyone appears to have culpability, everyone has told lies at some point. It’s such a tragic incident but I have too much reasonable doubt so I’d have to find NG, especially to 1st and 2nd degree.

I hear people suggesting Miu’s upbringing in Romania may have affected his responses. How could that be an excuse at his age and given the amount of time he has lived in the US?

Almost anyone who has ever taught in a classroom has experienced situations where 13 or more teens and young people are around them with several of them heckling. Without any physical contact or direct verbal threat, it does not create a fear for ones own safety. If you were feared to the point of drawing a knife in those situations , you could not even walk through a shopping mall.

Something Mr Miu said about stabbing the guy who tried to break it up is that he didn’t know his intentions. That would indicate to me that Mr Miu overreacted to the amount of force he received.

The fact that he stood his ground goes to the fact that he was not scared. That’s the argument….. it has nothing to do with a duty to retreat. It’s what a normal person would do. Don’t be fooled by that straw man fallacy.

Initially, when I heard the lies from Miu, my inclination was Guilty. But, then ALL of those involved also lied. The State, in adding the lesser charges, gave me reasonable doubt on ALL the charges. If they have doubt about his perceptions and intentions, why wouldn't "A reasonable Person."(The Jurors)? It is said that you can't ride two bikes at the same time - The State are trying to ride four bikes, at the same time. Aside from that: Did he push Cohen? - Probably - but , only AFTER Cohen grabbed his arm. Did he punch Cohen? - I don't know Did a number of "The Kids push, slap and punch Miu? - Yes. all of the above. All create REASONABLE DOUBT

Multiple people are heard on tape saying that he struck a girl! Why would they simultaneously say it if he didn’t hit her?

The prosecution didn't seem convincing or professional for closing in my opinion

This is one of those "rare" trials where I really feel like it could just as easily go either way. A hung jury wouldn't suprise me with this one, either. I'm personally torn between guilty and not guilty... I can't even imagine the pressure a jury feels in cases like this. I think most times, a jury's verdict is easy to predict, but this one's not so easy. I feel like if it's a guilty verdict, it won't be first degree.

He's totally guilty. He lied and obfuscated at every turn., right up through his testimony yesterday. And he smiled while he was supposedly fearing for his life. Unless you buy the total liars explanation that he had "lock jaw"! If you do, I have an awesome bridge to sell you in Ukraine...

As a juror I would of been annoyed they call those so called kids victims they were the one responsible along with Maddison for there situation you can hate I feel this way.. Maybe am strange but the prosecutors is the reason and helps the fact that this was self defense. While I feel for the parents that want justice there kids were being very horrific! This was the consequence of there actions I missed Maddisons testimony I already don't like these girls so no loss lol

Everyone who thinks the defendant used reasonable force is insane. Why lie over and over if self defense. Why didn’t he leave. Why did he rush up on them? He was the aggressor first.