Patrick, can you prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Elvis Presley actually died on 8/16/77?
Answer William- Hello, thanks for writing. Can I prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977? Yes, I can, and by the wording of your question, so can you. First, let’s address the meaning of your question, starting with a definition: Beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a standard in criminal law (but I understand what you are asking, as there is no criminal issue here), means that regarding evidence, a reasonable person would be fully satisfied, entirely convinced, and satisfied to a moral certainty. In a criminal case, the accused’s guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt, which means that facts proven must, by virtue of their probative force, establish guilt. So, in this definition, applied to your question, we see that the evidence must be strong enough to eliminate any reasonable doubt, and must satisfy a reasonable person to a degree of moral certainty. As the question is worded, Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, beyond a reasonable
