a view from the inside: observations from our own court observers #8

[mamapena2]

LOL everytime I hear that finger hard time thing, I laugh out loud. Hubby asked what I was laughing at and had to explain it. Between that and the fog issues...Its your fog....Juan has had some stellar moments.

Lmao...last night we ordered pizza and I asked my hubby what he wanted on it..he rambled on about toppings....I said do you want a topping...yes or no? Its a yes or no question!!!!

 

[MrsProsecutor]

I think they are going to ask the jury if anyone has been shopping on amazon and if anyone looked up her book or saw any reviews on her book. Amazon is an extremely popular marketplace and is not a news or trial venue that the jury has been asked to avoid, so I think the defense team will ask for a mistrial if any of the jurors have possibly seen that website or the ALV reviews which are pretty prejudicial.

 

[crz4mm2]

First thank you so much and everyone else too. I'm still in bed wondering where my butler is with my breakfast in bed or at least coffee.

I think the the Sam approach thing was addressed already unless JM madd some kind of formal complaint. I am getting calls by the media this morning though about it...interesting huh? I'm sure they are just speculating like everyone else.


I noticed how when ALV was trying to elaborate on it being against the law to interview the family, there was an objection then JW asked a new question. I do not think its illegal for her to interview a victim with their consent. It is my personal belief they wouldn't have refused talking to her. I do think though, given the option, the family would have refused an ambush of any kind in the courtroom right in the middle of her trashing testimony of Travis. But she didn't give them that "right of refusal". She just walked up to he with her head down and blasted in to her personal space instead of using to the bathroom as she requested. Blah

If I were close, I'd bring you breakfast in bed!!

And BLAH is right!

 

[rose222]

If I were close, I'd bring you breakfast in bed!!

And BLAH is right!

OK! I'll cook and clean! Yes. I think Katiecoolady is doing SO much good for all of us it wouldn't be a chore. I'd do it happily.

 

[katiecoolady]

I've been reflecting on ALV's behavior and testimony and find some patterns (cough) striking in her style of presenting herself. They all seem to fall in to a category, to me, of arrogance and entitlement. May I present my case? Thanks for indulging me.

First, let's look at the interruptions in proceedings she's demanded. Week before last, she refused to return for the afternoon session claiming she was too ill. She determined this a good 2 hours before that afternoon session would start. She was unwilling, apparently, to see if she could recover from this over the lunch break and deemed herself unable to proceed derailing the Judge, jury, staff, attorneys, defendant, families, media etc. I watched her up to the moment she requested this early break (and refusing to return) and she at least appeared to be not in acute distress. The next morning I also watched her and she seemed not to be ill in the slightest. We later learn that days AFTER this episode, she purportedly went to the ER but it was for anxiety and heart palpitations. Last I knew , you can't derail a testimony for anxiety.

Then of course we all know about the next time she asked for an early break, just days later. A break 5 min early as apparently she had a matter so urgent she couldn't wait that 5 min. So she's controlled the environment once again for her "needs". Yet, that "need" wasn't quite so "needy" as she managed to pit stop en route for the bathroom to ambush the victim's family to again, meet one of her own "needs".

Laviolette cherry picks what she deems important to tell the truth about. When asked about her CV and claiming she was a "Keynote Speaker" about her Snow White talk, instead of admitting she'd made a mistake (or embellished) her CV to inflate her professional image, she instead tries to spin to the jury that apparently all speakers at seminars are various versions of "Keynote". "Keynote breakout" speaker. She manages to diminish a Keynote Speaker to justify this embellishment when all she really needed to say was "that was a mistake". I realized though, from her, that I apparently am a Keynote Poster! Yay me!

As we saw this week, when asked a direct question by the jury about when she's previous testified in a criminal court in support of a man, she gets vague and answers "one or two". Now, considering this is likely one of the most stressful events of her life, wouldn't it make sense she'd be reflecting back on the "one or two" times she's ever done this kind of thing in her life before? Wouldn't that be just basic human nature? She can't remember the number of times and thinks she will go unchecked on it. In reality of course she can remember the number, which is ZERO. Again the arrogance thinking this will go unchecked and her ease in attempting to justify it is , interesting. Again a question from the JURY themselves.

I was recently interviewed about her behavior I witnessed in court in her approach to Samantha and although I might not have thought it was perfect how I handled it (when Dr. Drew asked me what I did, I admitted I went straight to his producer which was the TRUTH because I was so stunned, I walked out in the hall and Bill was the first person I saw so I vented it to him). This may not have made me look good but it was the truth. One of the Alexander siblings recently thanked me for that and remarked that it was obvious I was telling the truth for that reason, that I was just telling it honestly as it went down. Which is what a normal person does when you are being questioned to be accurate about something..and I wasn't even sworn in! Again, ALV's arrogance slip is showing all over the place.

Then finally, she apparently talks to the media either herself or through an intercessor (otherwise why would they know of her ER visit?). WHich is again a big no no. SHe's an active witness! If Juan Martinez having his photo taken on the front steps is prejudicial, how about an article in the local paper and beyond about the witness being "stalked" (wrong) and having to go to the ER? Boo hoo boo hoo. The Spin Dr's in full force. Unfortunately one of them being a local news reporter.

So she's being "harassed" and "stalked" yet on Thursday, end of court, decides with the defense team to waltz in to dine at the ONE place in the entire city of Phoenix, she's most likely to be seen and photographed. The very hotel where most the out of town media stay. Again, the arrogance and hypocrisy!

My conclusion is Alyce LaViolette has been a big fish in a small pond for a long time. She's been used to her word not being questioned and getting away with 'catchy titles" and soundbites but not substantive TRUTH to what she espouses. I think, personally, this makes her dangerous professionally and I'm not just talking as an expert witness (which imo is over for her).

I think it also speaks to certain personality traits in her that make her think it's appropriate to give a prosecutor in a high profile case on camera , a "time out". Her inappropriate grins, her baiting, then playing the victim.

Finally, I think all of this destroys her reputation as an expert in the field she's devoted her entire life to. That's some serious karma going down there.

I often give deference to people in the web of a sociopath knowing that sociopaths ability to manipulate is the one thing I do define as "evil" in this world.

Yet in this case, I think Alyce LaViolette walked in to this on her own accord driven by her own weakness and she's going out in to her golden years on this note which is a sad tragedy all on it's own. Hope she learns something, but I doubt it.

Nevertheless I leave this on one note:

DO NOT EVER APPROACH A VICTIM IN A CRIME AGAIN MS LAVIOLETTE WHEN YOU ARE CHAMPIONING THE PERP!

You've been checked hard on that one. And I hope it sticks.

Thanks for indulging this long caffeine induced post.

 

[katiecoolady]

OK! I'll cook and clean! Yes. I think Katiecoolady is doing SO much good for all of us it wouldn't be a chore. I'd do it happily.

HOw about laundry? I hate laundry.

 

[ToothPickle Sticks]

She's putting something into the empty carafe!!

She puts Kleenex into the pitcher and then shakes out the water and tissues into her cup. She then takes more Kleenex to dry it. I think she's leaving a note or something in the now empty, dry carafe.

Nukin' Futs :floorlaugh:

 

[biggirl]

EXCELLENT "long caffeine induced post" KCL!!!! You outlined it perfectly. When you look at all of those items individually they do not seem too bad, but when you put it all together there is definitely a "pattern".

Silly question. Are the seats in the gallery single seats with arms or bench style. I know this is not too important, but most court rooms have bench style and are uncomfortable to sit in for very long. From the feed the ones in this courtroom look much nicer.

Hope you get some much deserved rest this weekend and if I lived closer I would join in on serving you breakfast in bed. And you too PASA!

 

[Tsunvirtual]

I would gladly adopt you KCL, but don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing because my kids are sometimes lucky that birth control isn't retroactive.

I like to cook and do laundry though and I have a big shoulder to cry on and hugs to spare.

 

[biggirl]

HOw about laundry? I hate laundry.

My UK born husband loves to do laundry and I would recruit him for you!

 

[Deebest49]

And DT will probably try to do the same to Dr. DeMarte but will surely fail, IMOO. From readings, it would appear that Dr. D is a very knowledgeable professional and the jury will learn that from her testimony, unlike ALV. I predict that her testimony will contain credible evidence.

I can't wait for this Witness. I am sure that Dr. Demarte is a true expert, as well as a very reputable one at that. I am so looking forward to her testimony!!!

 

[polleypockets]

I've been reflecting on ALV's behavior and testimony and find some patterns (cough) striking in her style of presenting herself. They all seem to fall in to a category, to me, of arrogance and entitlement. May I present my case? Thanks for indulging me.

First, let's look at the interruptions in proceedings she's demanded. Week before last, she refused to return for the afternoon session claiming she was too ill. She determined this a good 2 hours before that afternoon session would start. She was unwilling, apparently, to see if she could recover from this over the lunch break and deemed herself unable to proceed derailing the Judge, jury, staff, attorneys, defendant, families, media etc. I watched her up to the moment she requested this early break (and refusing to return) and she at least appeared to be not in acute distress. The next morning I also watched her and she seemed not to be ill in the slightest. We later learn that days AFTER this episode, she purportedly went to the ER but it was for anxiety and heart palpitations. Last I knew , you can't derail a testimony for anxiety.

Then of course we all know about the next time she asked for an early break, just days later. A break 5 min early as apparently she had a matter so urgent she couldn't wait that 5 min. So she's controlled the environment once again for her "needs". Yet, that "need" wasn't quite so "needy" as she managed to pit stop en route for the bathroom to ambush the victim's family to again, meet one of her own "needs".

Laviolette cherry picks what she deems important to tell the truth about. When asked about her CV and claiming she was a "Keynote Speaker" about her Snow White talk, instead of admitting she'd made a mistake (or embellished) her CV to inflate her professional image, she instead tries to spin to the jury that apparently all speakers at seminars are various versions of "Keynote". "Keynote breakout" speaker. She manages to diminish a Keynote Speaker to justify this embellishment when all she really needed to say was "that was a mistake". I realized though, from her, that I apparently am a Keynote Poster! Yay me!

As we saw this week, when asked a direct question by the jury about when she's previous testified in a criminal court in support of a man, she gets vague and answers "one or two". Now, considering this is likely one of the most stressful events of her life, wouldn't it make sense she'd be reflecting back on the "one or two" times she's ever done this kind of thing in her life before? Wouldn't that be just basic human nature? She can't remember the number of times and thinks she will go unchecked on it. In reality of course she can remember the number, which is ZERO. Again the arrogance thinking this will go unchecked and her ease in attempting to justify it is , interesting. Again a question from the JURY themselves.

I was recently interviewed about her behavior I witnessed in court in her approach to Samantha and although I might not have thought it was perfect how I handled it (when Dr. Drew asked me what I did, I admitted I went straight to his producer which was the TRUTH because I was so stunned, I walked out in the hall and Bill was the first person I saw so I vented it to him). This may not have made me look good but it was the truth. One of the Alexander siblings recently thanked me for that and remarked that it was obvious I was telling the truth for that reason, that I was just telling it honestly as it went down. Which is what a normal person does when you are being questioned to be accurate about something..and I wasn't even sworn in! Again, ALV's arrogance slip is showing all over the place.

Then finally, she apparently talks to the media either herself or through an intercessor (otherwise why would they know of her ER visit?). WHich is again a big no no. SHe's an active witness! If Juan Martinez having his photo taken on the front steps is prejudicial, how about an article in the local paper and beyond about the witness being "stalked" (wrong) and having to go to the ER? Boo hoo boo hoo. The Spin Dr's in full force. Unfortunately one of them being a local news reporter.

So she's being "harassed" and "stalked" yet on Thursday, end of court, decides with the defense team to waltz in to dine at the ONE place in the entire city of Phoenix, she's most likely to be seen and photographed. The very hotel where most the out of town media stay. Again, the arrogance and hypocrisy!

My conclusion is Alyce LaViolette has been a big fish in a small pond for a long time. She's been used to her word not being questioned and getting away with 'catchy titles" and soundbites but not substantive TRUTH to what she espouses. I think, personally, this makes her dangerous professionally and I'm not just talking as an expert witness (which imo is over for her).

I think it also speaks to certain personality traits in her that make her think it's appropriate to give a prosecutor in a high profile case on camera , a "time out". Her inappropriate grins, her baiting, then playing the victim.

Finally, I think all of this destroys her reputation as an expert in the field she's devoted her entire life to. That's some serious karma going down there.

I often give deference to people in the web of a sociopath knowing that sociopaths ability to manipulate is the one thing I do define as "evil" in this world.

Yet in this case, I think Alyce LaViolette walked in to this on her own accord driven by her own weakness and she's going out in to her golden years on this note which is a sad tragedy all on it's own. Hope she learns something, but I doubt it.

Nevertheless I leave this on one note:

DO NOT EVER APPROACH A VICTIM IN A CRIME AGAIN MS LAVIOLETTE WHEN YOU ARE CHAMPIONING THE PERP!

You've been checked hard on that one. And I hope it sticks.

Thanks for indulging this long caffeine induced post.

you absolulty nailed it - not just on the controlling nature - but being a big fish in a small pond - i grew up close to the area of long beach were she does her dv counseling - and also looking at her involvement in custody cases - and those areas are the poorer sections of town where los angeles resources are very stretched and it is hard for social workers to cover all their cases so imo when she steps in w/ letters of opinions or counseling, i bet they just accept her opinions because of her long standing in the area and prolly has gone unchallenged for a long time

oh and btw, on alyce exagerating her resume - she told martinez she got her masters in the 80's - but if you look at cal state long beach Alumni Association Board of Directors - she lists that she recieved her masters in 1974 http://www.csulb.edu/alumni/association/bod.html

 

[MsJoni]

Plus we don't need him spreading his germs onto the other jurors
and risk more illness.

I heard someone coughing yesterday AM...perhaps he has bronchitis or pneumonia...

 

[twirlin]

I've been reflecting on ALV's behavior and testimony and find some patterns (cough) striking in her style of presenting herself. They all seem to fall in to a category, to me, of arrogance and entitlement. May I present my case? Thanks for indulging me.

First, let's look at the interruptions in proceedings she's demanded. Week before last, she refused to return for the afternoon session claiming she was too ill. She determined this a good 2 hours before that afternoon session would start. She was unwilling, apparently, to see if she could recover from this over the lunch break and deemed herself unable to proceed derailing the Judge, jury, staff, attorneys, defendant, families, media etc. I watched her up to the moment she requested this early break (and refusing to return) and she at least appeared to be not in acute distress. The next morning I also watched her and she seemed not to be ill in the slightest. We later learn that days AFTER this episode, she purportedly went to the ER but it was for anxiety and heart palpitations. Last I knew , you can't derail a testimony for anxiety.

Then of course we all know about the next time she asked for an early break, just days later. A break 5 min early as apparently she had a matter so urgent she couldn't wait that 5 min. So she's controlled the environment once again for her "needs". Yet, that "need" wasn't quite so "needy" as she managed to pit stop en route for the bathroom to ambush the victim's family to again, meet one of her own "needs".

Laviolette cherry picks what she deems important to tell the truth about. When asked about her CV and claiming she was a "Keynote Speaker" about her Snow White talk, instead of admitting she'd made a mistake (or embellished) her CV to inflate her professional image, she instead tries to spin to the jury that apparently all speakers at seminars are various versions of "Keynote". "Keynote breakout" speaker. She manages to diminish a Keynote Speaker to justify this embellishment when all she really needed to say was "that was a mistake". I realized though, from her, that I apparently am a Keynote Poster! Yay me!

As we saw this week, when asked a direct question by the jury about when she's previous testified in a criminal court in support of a man, she gets vague and answers "one or two". Now, considering this is likely one of the most stressful events of her life, wouldn't it make sense she'd be reflecting back on the "one or two" times she's ever done this kind of thing in her life before? Wouldn't that be just basic human nature? She can't remember the number of times and thinks she will go unchecked on it. In reality of course she can remember the number, which is ZERO. Again the arrogance thinking this will go unchecked and her ease in attempting to justify it is , interesting. Again a question from the JURY themselves.

I was recently interviewed about her behavior I witnessed in court in her approach to Samantha and although I might not have thought it was perfect how I handled it (when Dr. Drew asked me what I did, I admitted I went straight to his producer which was the TRUTH because I was so stunned, I walked out in the hall and Bill was the first person I saw so I vented it to him). This may not have made me look good but it was the truth. One of the Alexander siblings recently thanked me for that and remarked that it was obvious I was telling the truth for that reason, that I was just telling it honestly as it went down. Which is what a normal person does when you are being questioned to be accurate about something..and I wasn't even sworn in! Again, ALV's arrogance slip is showing all over the place.

Then finally, she apparently talks to the media either herself or through an intercessor (otherwise why would they know of her ER visit?). WHich is again a big no no. SHe's an active witness! If Juan Martinez having his photo taken on the front steps is prejudicial, how about an article in the local paper and beyond about the witness being "stalked" (wrong) and having to go to the ER? Boo hoo boo hoo. The Spin Dr's in full force. Unfortunately one of them being a local news reporter.

So she's being "harassed" and "stalked" yet on Thursday, end of court, decides with the defense team to waltz in to dine at the ONE place in the entire city of Phoenix, she's most likely to be seen and photographed. The very hotel where most the out of town media stay. Again, the arrogance and hypocrisy!

My conclusion is Alyce LaViolette has been a big fish in a small pond for a long time. She's been used to her word not being questioned and getting away with 'catchy titles" and soundbites but not substantive TRUTH to what she espouses. I think, personally, this makes her dangerous professionally and I'm not just talking as an expert witness (which imo is over for her).

I think it also speaks to certain personality traits in her that make her think it's appropriate to give a prosecutor in a high profile case on camera , a "time out". Her inappropriate grins, her baiting, then playing the victim.

Finally, I think all of this destroys her reputation as an expert in the field she's devoted her entire life to. That's some serious karma going down there.

Let's not forget day after day AL had to retrieve her glasses. Now who goes up to take the stand without their glasses?
Plus, her cell phone went off in her purse in the middle of trial.
IMO she is too old, and thinks it is a good excuse that she just doesn't
understand all this high tech computer stuff these days. And she has NO
understanding that nobody really cares if Travis was a virgin or not.
And to top it off, I truly think she thought the judge was her new friend,
and she could weasel out of court next week because of her stress related
doctor tests. She'll quickly find out, too, that J.Arias will use her, and lose her mighty quickly as well. PLUS the audicity to think anyone cares that she needed
this job for her not so healthy retirement fund.

Thanks, Katy. We look forward to anything you have for us to read!!

 

[katydid23]

I heard someone coughing yesterday AM...perhaps he has bronchitis or pneumonia...

If he has asthma, like I do, and he had a long term bad cough, his DR. would have to keep a close eye on him, and would likely give him some antibiotics to prevent it turning into something worse. Adults with bad asthma have to control those symptoms to keep pnuemonia at bay. So maybe it was best that he went home to recover.

Over at the pro_Jodi site, they are spinning it this way: Juror #11 was Hispanic like Jodi, and was being bulllied by the other jurors because he sympathized with her, so he left the trial. :waitasec: Really????

 

[Tesstruhart]

HOw about laundry? I hate laundry.

Ok I'm in for the laundry. That never bothers me...its the cooking and cleaning. So its all good.

 

[Soulsad]

:floorlaugh::floorlaugh::floorlaugh:

Lmao...last night we ordered pizza and I asked my hubby what he wanted on it..he rambled on about toppings....I said do you want a topping...yes or no? Its a yes or no question!!!!

 

[Meemaw12]

My guess about Juror #11

A. he is ill and can not continue
and
B. these jurors were told the trial would be over around April 11th, maybe he held out as long as he could.

No excuse this trial has gone on as long as its has imo.

 

[Deebest49]

I believe this was in response to information provided by JM. He often introduces previous testimony to which she is not privy, until he presents it to her, and asks her whether, in light of this new information, she would re-evaluate her stance. (Her response has staunchly been a pro-defense, "no.")

I don't think ALV is reading tweets and message boards or any online material about the trial. She seems to be something of a Luddite; she has NO understanding of text messages or "g-mails," as she refers to email. She has repeatedly shown a lack of understanding of, for example, the abbreviated nature of text-speak, choosing to label it as "abusive" rather than what it really is: sparing our thumbs a few keystrokes. I find it unbelievable that she would be "stressed" to the point of near-breakdown (as has been described) by these things, having demonstrated her lack of awareness of electronic communication by any means.

Similarly, her views of things such as Brazilians (indicative of pedophilia? Well, while I know some men who prefer that things be au naturel---and for the stated reason that they are squeamish about having their partners look prepubescent) demonstrate a HUGE lack of familiarity with current trends. What was fashionable in the 1960s and 1970s has changed. Some of us have changed along with this, and some have not; most of us are at least aware of these changes. I have great faith that the men and women on the jury will largely be aware of what is going on in the world around them---and if some do not, that the others will reassure them that NOTHING out of the mainstream is evident in ANYTHING we know about Travis Alexander. (I mean, really: arguing that a 30-year-old man lying about his virginity is evidence of a sinister double life is laughable. Few openly discuss their sex lives; it's not lying, it's discretion.) That Travis Alexander's tastes and curiosities varied--in this new century---from those of a 1970s-era feminist lesbian who had demonstrated, time and again, that she is NOT current professionally or culturally, is not at all surprising, and I don't think this will be lost on the jury.

As much as I've hated watching ALV's testimony, she has served a very important function in the delivery of justice: her staunch defense of Arias contributed to an overall strong case for which few arguments can be made for appeal. No one can argue that the DT failed to provide a rigorous defense; JA got her day(s) (and days and days) in court, and there will be few grounds for appeal, which will likely be denied. She got top-notch legal representation. And ALV was part of that, as difficult as she has been to watch.

That ALV is easily impeachable is a gift, as well. That the DT is unable to find experts to support the only theory with which they could hope to attain a lesser conviction simply speaks to the heinous nature of the crime.

It's just plain indefensible.

And yet, they have done a stellar job of working with what they have. I suspect they will continue to do so during the penalty phase, perhaps using a different approach. (I expect they will instruct the jury to forget what went on in the courtroom prior, and focus on the abuse Arias experienced as a child, and how that contributed to the formation of personality disorder. However, I suspect that will not spare her life.)

I hate watching them--really, I do. I hate seeing them defend this monstrous woman. I hate the pain his family is enduring as the DT attempts to besmirch their brother's good name. It's agonizingly heart-breaking to observe. But I'm glad they are. It means that Jodi Arias will never walk among us again.

The family of Travis Alexander, his friends, and all of us will see justice. I just know it.

I absolutely LOVE everything about this post. It so mirrors everything I feel myself. Everything about this case is just so tragic. It's impossible for a simple woman like me to put it into words. Thanks so much for this post. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

 

[Suzanna in Arizona]

If she is claiming harassment I hope the pics of her in the popular media restaurant can be shown as proof she put herself in the spotlight. What does she think will happen by claiming cyber-mobbing...does she think JM has any control over what the nation posts about her? :furious:

She should have thought twice about taking on this case if she was afraid of media-mobbing or whatever. We always reap what we sow. I wonder if the money she makes for this case will be worth it. I don't see her getting any new business anytime soon!