Leon:

I know the Josephus passage is disputed. I have written on it and the various versions. Most scholars see a truncated form of the text (not the Pines version) that does mention Jewish opposition as authentic.

Acts 13:28: You did not read the entire verse: Despite finding no evidence against Jesus, they [the leadership] asked that he be put to death.

As for Jewish examples: one example does not a pattern make. The mob example you cite is not relevant. It is leaders appealing not to make a civil distrurbance so that Rome will react.

I have a written an entire monograph on the trial scene and shown it does fit Jewish practice (and is not a lynch scene, but more like a gatheiring of evidence to take to Rome, closer to your informal meeting category (so Mishnaic rules for a capital trial do not apply). This was published in a well known European series (WUNT). How did Jesus get to Pilate? You never answer that question. Surely he had no interest in a Galilean religious teacher with no army. Someone brought him to Pilate's attention.

dlb