Members of the jury, surely you will not find defendant Carlos guilty of burglary. Carlos is a visitor from our neighbor to the south, where he has eight young brothers and sisters. Those poor kids and their impoverished mother live a desperate hand-to-mouth existence. Carlos was hoping only to send a few more dollars home to ease their suffering. In the name of humanity, you must vote to acquit this caring brother.
A) Slippery slope.
B) No fallacy.
C) Missing the point.
D) Appeal to pity.
E) Red herring.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument is using an appeal to pity by trying to evoke sympathy for the defendant's situation with his impoverished family to argue for his acquittal. However, this does not address the actual charge of burglary and is not a valid defense in a court of law.

Members of the Jury, Surely You Will Not Find Defendant