I must have missed something. Why is the defence giving their closing argument before the prosecution?
Because that's how EVERY criminal trial works.
The prosecution ALWYAS gives their opening statement first, and their closing statement last.
The prosecution also gets to make a rebuttal case to the defense if they choose to (which they didn't in this case, there was literally nothing for them to rebut).
The defense does NOT get to present a "re-rebuttal case".
This is entirely standard operating procedure, I don't know where you got the idea that any of this is even slightly unusual.
Second paragraph: "In some jurisdictions, however, this form is condensed, and the prosecution or plaintiff goes second, after the defense, with no rebuttals."
@mcfate so the prosecution does not always go first.
In New York (and multiple other jurisdictions) criminal cases they don't EVER, as I've been telling you.
And in jurisdictions where the defense goes after the prosecution, the prosecution gets to respond to the defense's closing statement, so they go last ANYWAY.
Β―\_(γ)_/Β―
@kendonnelly The defense always goes first. The prosecution goes last because they have the final responsibility to prove the case.