arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Defendant is present now. Jurors are not present at this time.
AZ AZ - Alissa Turney, 17, Phoenix, 17 May 2001 *stepdad ARREST in 2020, acquitted*
- Thread starter christine2448
- Start date
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Jury is coming into the courtroom now.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
If you’ve been following cases like the Bryan Patrick Miller trial, this case is VERY different. That trial took 8 months, this one will take around two weeks (technically less than). That was a bench trial and this is a jury trial. Witnesses will be important to the state, because their case is based on lots of circumstantial evidence.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Judge Sam J Myers is making it clear to use microphone when speaking - earlier it was noted that a juror had difficulty hearing unless the person was speaking into the mic. MOO
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Alissa's sister Sarah Turney is on the stand (testimony resumes from July 6). MOO
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Sarah Turney is back on the stand. The state is starting by showing her some family pictures and asking about Alissa’s friendships. She is emotional while speaking.
The state is now showing the alleged note left by Alissa when she dissapeared in 2001. The note says:
“When you droped (that’s the spelling me off at school today I decided that really (a few words you can’t make out) going to California. Sarah you said you didn’t want me around. Look you got it I’m gone! That’s why I saved my money. Dad I took $300 from you.”
Sarah says she didn’t want Alissa to leave that she took care of her…even got her dressed in the morning if she was there.
Sarah says the only memory she has of going to look for Alissa was once. She says they went to the beach and mall, and she remembers handing out flyers for a few minutes. She doesn’t remember any other trips.
The state is now showing the alleged note left by Alissa when she dissapeared in 2001. The note says:
“When you droped (that’s the spelling me off at school today I decided that really (a few words you can’t make out) going to California. Sarah you said you didn’t want me around. Look you got it I’m gone! That’s why I saved my money. Dad I took $300 from you.”
Sarah says she didn’t want Alissa to leave that she took care of her…even got her dressed in the morning if she was there.
Sarah says the only memory she has of going to look for Alissa was once. She says they went to the beach and mall, and she remembers handing out flyers for a few minutes. She doesn’t remember any other trips.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Sarah says despite her desire to keep her sister’s belongings she was unaware that they weren’t kept. She says she was unaware her dad picked Alissa up from school the day she went missing until police raided the house in 2008.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Sarah says she met up with her dad in 2017 at a Starbucks and asked what happened to Alissa. She tells the court Michael told her he would tell her on his death bed.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Cross-examination
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
I don't recall when Sarah was first interviewed if she was a minor or exactly how old at the time of initial interview. Nonetheless the defense attorney is a bit aggressive (imo) with his questioning/comments. Is he using Sarah's words against her all these years later? Sarah is a victim too and her sister is most likely deceased. He shows no empathy about a missing young girl (Alissa -17 years of age at the time) and comes across as if it is not the norm for sisters to have disagreements especially with siblings that have an age difference between them such as Alissa and Sarah did.
Sarah is doing well during testimony. Defense is not rattling her.
All of this is a matter of my opinion.
Sarah is doing well during testimony. Defense is not rattling her.
All of this is a matter of my opinion.
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arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Recess until 1:30 pm (it's noon now in AZ) PT.
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arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Cross examination has begun by the defense attorney, who has taken a very aggressive approach in questioning Sarah. He is attacking the relationship Sarah and Alissa had, pointing to them fighting a lot, criticizing each other, being jealous of one another, and asking if she lied to police at the time.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Defense attorneys are now asking questions about the day Alissa went missing.
They are asking Alissa about an interview with police discussing how she apparently described her sister then, a partier, irresponsible, wanted to take in the world. Sarah has said several times that those were things her dad told her and made her believe. She even at one point used the word “brainwashed”.
They are asking Alissa about an interview with police discussing how she apparently described her sister then, a partier, irresponsible, wanted to take in the world. Sarah has said several times that those were things her dad told her and made her believe. She even at one point used the word “brainwashed”.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Day Two of the #MissingSisterMurderTrial in underway in Maricopa County, AZ. Michael Turney faces a 2nd degree murder charge for the death of his 17yo stepdaughter Alissa. Turney’s daughter Sarah returns to testify against him for the 2nd day.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Defense continues to ask Sarah about what was said in an interview to police. Specifically about the day Alissa went missing, the trip to California, and now they are asking her about the recorded phone calls that were brought up Thursday.
Sorry this tweet published late. We are now back and there is discussion over evidence the defense wants admitted (basically shown) to the jury.
Sorry this tweet published late. We are now back and there is discussion over evidence the defense wants admitted (basically shown) to the jury.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Defense continues to ask Sarah about what was said in an interview to police. Specifically about the day Alissa went missing, the trip to California, and now they are asking her about the recorded phone calls that were brought up Thursday.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
SISTER ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAND: After about an hour of the remaining direct examination & beginning of cross, the jury took a lunch break. Upon return, defense wants to play a 2008 police interview video of Sarah to counter her claims that her dad Michael Turney “brainwashed” her
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
There is a 5 min recess.
arielilane
Justice for Liz Barraza
Defense is continuing aggressive questioning about Sarah's statements earlier...these are focused on what her father allegedly said during the 2017 conversation and her sister's high school relationships.