I had never given much thought to the charges that led to the authorisation of the crucifixion of Jesus by Pontius Pilate till I decided to put my arguments in writing. 

It’s surprising that Jesus was arrested on blasphemy charges just because he called himself the ‘Son of God’. Also, he was accused of treason which at the time the penalty was crucifixion. 

Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution for condemned criminals. In the Rwandan context, if one is found guilty of committing treason, you are either given life imprisonment or 15-25 years in jail. 

If Jesus’ trial was to take place today, I would definitely defend him, not because I’m a Christian, but because I believe he didn’t get a fair trial; it was biased from the word go. Everyone deserves a fair trial - so did Jesus. 

Jesus didn’t get a fair trial whatsoever. When he was paraded before Pontius Pilate and was charged with stirring up or exciting (misrepresenting the people, prohibition of payment of the money given to Caesar, and holding the title "King of the Jews” as stated in the Bible Luke 23:2.

On entering Praetorium (judgment hall or palace), Pilate’s judicial inquiry of Jesus was with the question "Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus explained that His kingdom was a spiritual kingdom and not a political kingdom that would threaten the Roman Empire. He did not gather a political army to provoke a rebellion against Rome. His kingdom was based upon spiritual truth rather than political philosophy or power as stated in the Bible in the book of John 18:33-37. 

When Pontius Pilate found the charges were vague and there was no legal ground to punish Jesus because he had not committed any crime against Roman law he ordered that Jesus be whipped and freed. But the people were not satisfied and demanded the death penalty. When he was passing his judgment, Pilate said, "I find no fault in this man” and washed his hands as a sign that he was not a part of what they were going to do to Jesus.

During the trial, the crowd had grown more intense as a result of the influence of the elders and this was when they shouted that  Jews had  a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the "Son of God” (John 19:7).

In the current courts of law, they follow procedures, enacted laws, tangible proof and facts, as well as witnesses, thus the chances of getting a fair trial are high. People’s emotions in court have never influenced any judgement. 

If I was given a chance to defend Jesus today, I think even with my limited knowledge about the judicial proceedings, the death sentence wouldn’t fit in the equation because let’s be honest, what crime has He committed?