In the case of R v. Dudley and Stephens, what was the primary reason the jury convicted the accused of murder?

In the case of R v. Dudley and Stephens, the primary reason the jury convicted the accused of murder was that the necessary killing of Richard Parker was not justified. This case arose when the defendants were cast away at sea and resorted to cannibalism to survive. The court focused on the principle that necessity is not a defense to murder. Despite the extreme circumstances, the jury determined that taking another person's life — even for survival — could not be morally or legally justified. The decision underscored the importance of upholding the sanctity of human life and set a precedent that necessity does not override the law prohibiting murder. The conviction highlighted the legal system's stance that all life has value, regardless of the circumstances. This legal position supports the notion that moral dilemmas do not exempt individuals from the obligations of the law.