Brad Cooper: Appeal info

[otto]

OK, I'll bite.

I know Brad (at least, before he moved to NC). He's not a "computer" expert, never has been. He would show off pictures of the telephone systems he built, for example photos of miles of cat cable routed in a single room making hundreds (maybe thousands) of connections within that room, all done by him. He was very proud of these kinds of photos, where most of us would look at them and not really know what the photo was about or why he was so proud about it.

He had knowledge in a very specific area that also dealt with digital data. While his career path may have brought him specific knowledge, it did not bring him knowledge about everything to do with computers, and certainly not every detail of the Windows OS or how broswers record data.

He got sloppy while angry enough that his mind led him to want to kill his wife. Or there was a massive conspiracy. One of these last two statements is true.

Did he specialize in Networks and Distribution Systems? I suppose maybe I've been giving him too much credit. I've been thinking of computer science degrees as they were a decade or so before Brad completed the degree. I just checked the current degrees and see that they are split into several departments, including Networks, whereas when computer science was a newer field, it meant having a really good understanding of the big picture and especially code. Is it possible that he relied on others (colleagues?) to bring him up to speed on the capabilities of computers, and that he made a mistake in terms of thinking that some computer activities could never be detected? That seems like a really dumb mistake to make. That is, it seems to me that even a person with little knowledge of computers knows that if someone wants to find something on a hard drive, they can.

It's reminds me of Scott Peterson telling police that he was fishing in the SF Bay when his wife vanished, and four months later she was found on the shore. His mother once said to him that not even he could be so stupid as to alibi himself at the location where he put his wife's body, but he was that stupid.

I've noticed that the quality of degrees has gone downhill a lot in the last decade or so. I was asked to review content written by a BComm graduate a couple of weeks ago and he had errors with singular/plural, tenses, and randomly placed commas. For example, he wrote a phrase like "big, red, shoes." I suggested that he removed the second comma, so he removed both. Then I suggested that he add the first comma again. I couldn't believe that someone with a BComm didn't know how to write. Given that, I suppose it's possible that someone with a Comp Sc degree doesn't fully understand computers.

 

[ncsu95]

The thing that bothers me most about the google search is how it was done. It took 28 seconds or so, right (I don't remember the exact amount of time) to enter a zip and than zoom immediately to fielding drive. That just doesn't seem logical. I just tried it 4 times. The first was to figure out exactly where to go when entering the zip. Then the next 3 times were to see how fast I could get there. The first was over a minute. By the 3rd, I could do it in about 30 seconds. I just don't understand how he did it in 28 seconds on the first try and then immediately closed the window. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[Madeleine74]

The search was 41 seconds.

 

[ncsu95]

Even at 41 seconds, it just doesn't make sense. You would think at a minimum that he would sit there and stare at it for a while. Instead, he opened google maps, went immediately to the dump site, then closed the window. All in 41 seconds. Why? No other google map searches at any other time. If it was a problem with private browsing, you'd still think he would have done this at some other point in time. I really want to believe the google search is valid and happened like the prosecution says it did. Because if he killed her, I want him convicted and in jail the rest of his life. But I just have so much heartache over that search.

 

[ncsu95]

It's nice having our big dysfunctional family all coming back to this forum. The 2nd trial (if it happens) will be interesting. I'm in a different work position now and won't be able to follow it as thoroughly as I did the first time.

 

[calgary123]

I overstated things by claiming it would take a "massive" conspiracy to plant the files. It would take a bizarre coincidence though at least... a random killer wanting to kill for merely pleasure, combined with a computer guru at the Cary police dept whom had a desire to convict Brad, and whom was able to plant files in a convincing way without leaving their own trail of having done so. I don't think anyone could have accomplished that, not even Brad.

On the issue of Brad's expertise, when he was in computer science classes public access to the internet was just starting. He would have graduated in 1995 or 1996. Everyone that had it was using Netscape. He did 2 years at Medicine Hat College (where his dad was a VP) and finished up at the University of Calgary.

While I'm clearly in the Brad-Did-It camp, should the evidence come out at trial properly and leave reasonable doubt, I'll drop it and move on. If the evidence isn't there he should not be in prison for the rest of his life.

 

[tarheellvr]

Reading some of these comments is sickening to me. Another round of an attempt to mar Nancy's reputation even though it's not she who is on trial. The thought of seeing this man in a courtroom again is also sickening.

My thoughts and prayers with the Rentz family. I'm thinking of Krista as she mothers Nancy's daughters, bringing them up as her sister would have. I'm thinking of the girls as they are older now. I pray the second trial brings justice and this family is left to live the rest of their lives in peace, knowing the guilty one is forever locked away. I pray the family, especially the girls, never have to lay eyes on him again when this second trial is over.

 

[Madeleine74]

If someone went to the trouble to fabricate a Google search, involving hundreds of files that all had to be just so in order to line up correctly, and inserted during a time when Brad could have done the search, etc, they screwed up by not creating a fabricated search lasting at least a minute or 3.

41 seconds is often pointed to as "not long enough" to convince people that a real search could have been done. I don't know what the magic number is (and no one has been able to define what that magic amount of time is), but all that work to do this kind of obscure planting thing and not make it so good that no one could question it...really poor job if framing BC was the intent.

Aside from that this computer framer would have to know to change other files on BC's computer so the "invalid timestamps" would be consistently invalid. There were https: logins that also had these same timestamp issues from that day, including his secure logins to Citibank, Hilton Honors, Cisco internal sites, weather site, etc. The invalid timestamps started days/weeks before 7/11 as well.

This framer didn't do a really good Google search (like, "how to dispose of a body and clean a crime scene"), no they searched BC's zip code. Not only that, it was the same search BC has done before (as detailed in a recent weather site search). And then, this framer got rid of a cookie that specifically pointed to and would have helped prove the Google search.

Really dumb framer. They picked an obscure and non-obvious way to attempt to frame someone and then tried to hide it by deleting a cookie, with no guarantee all that work would be found. It must have taken many hours to get hundreds of files to have the correct invalid stamps on them. And this framer must have been prescient as well, knowing that 3 months after the murder in his sworn deposition BC would say he never went to Brittaby Ct, never saw it, never visited the site, may have seen it on the news but no, never ever been there.

 

[otto]

It's nice having our big dysfunctional family all coming back to this forum. The 2nd trial (if it happens) will be interesting. I'm in a different work position now and won't be able to follow it as thoroughly as I did the first time.

Congratulations!

 

[otto]

If someone went to the trouble to fabricate a Google search, involving hundreds of files that all had to be just so in order to line up correctly, and inserted during a time when Brad could have done the search, etc, they screwed up by not creating a fabricated search lasting at least a minute or 3.

41 seconds is often pointed to as "not long enough" to convince people that a real search could have been done. I don't know what the magic number is (and no one has been able to define what that magic amount of time is), but all that work to do this kind of obscure planting thing and not make it so good that no one could question it...really poor job if framing BC was the intent.

Aside from that this computer framer would have to know to change other files on BC's computer so the "invalid timestamps" would be consistently invalid. There were https: logins that also had these same timestamp issues from that day, including his secure logins to Citibank, Hilton Honors, Cisco internal sites, weather site, etc. The invalid timestamps started days/weeks before 7/11 as well.

This framer didn't do a really good Google search (like, "how to dispose of a body and clean a crime scene"), no they searched BC's zip code. Not only that, it was the same search BC has done before (as detailed in a recent weather site search). And then, this framer got rid of a cookie that specifically pointed to and would have helped prove the Google search.

Really dumb framer. They picked an obscure and non-obvious way to attempt to frame someone and then tried to hide it by deleting a cookie, with no guarantee all that work would be found. It must have taken many hours to get hundreds of files to have the correct invalid stamps on them. And this framer must have been prescient as well, knowing that 3 months after the murder in his sworn deposition BC would say he never went to Brittaby Ct, never saw it, never visited the site, may have seen it on the news but no, never ever been there.

Maybe the 41 seconds represents running a timestamp modification on a batch file. If there were 300 files, that might be the length of time it takes to run the "touch" command.

http://www.howtogeek.com/74667/how-to-use-touch-to-create-empty-files-and-modify-timestamps/

 

[oenophile]

Reading some of these comments is sickening to me. Another round of an attempt to mar Nancy's reputation even though it's not she who is on trial. The thought of seeing this man in a courtroom again is also sickening.

My thoughts and prayers with the Rentz family. I'm thinking of Krista as she mothers Nancy's daughters, bringing them up as her sister would have. I'm thinking of the girls as they are older now. I pray the second trial brings justice and this family is left to live the rest of their lives in peace, knowing the guilty one is forever locked away. I pray the family, especially the girls, never have to lay eyes on him again when this second trial is over.

Reading this comment is sickening to me. No one is attempting to mar Nancy's reputation, only wishing to put the person or persons that actually killed her behind bars. The problem is that the evidence points to someone other than Brad. I find it disturbing that people want to deny the children their father if in fact he was not responsible for this crime.

What bothers me is that so many people want Brad locked away even if he is innocent.

 

[oenophile]

It would take a bizarre coincidence though at least... a random killer wanting to kill for merely pleasure, combined with a computer guru at the Cary police dept whom had a desire to convict Brad, and whom was able to plant files in a convincing way without leaving their own trail of having done so.

There are lots of random killers out there. And there are random rapists (it was inconclusive as to whether or not she was raped). That is not the least bit unusual.

The Cary police department suggested the day after the body was found that they had a desire to convict Brad. They were very interested in preserving the reputation of the Town of Cary as a safe place, and so they had a motive to prosecute someone that knew her. As to whether they were able to plant files convincingly, that is a matter of opinion, as some people clearly believe they were planted. And again, the files could have been planted prior to the computer being seized, it wasn't necessarily the police.

I'm not seeing a bizarre coincidence.

 

[calgary123]

If someone went to the trouble to fabricate a Google search, involving hundreds of files that all had to be just so in order to line up correctly, and inserted during a time when Brad could have done the search, etc, they screwed up by not creating a fabricated search lasting at least a minute or 3.

41 seconds is often pointed to as "not long enough" to convince people that a real search could have been done. I don't know what the magic number is (and no one has been able to define what that magic amount of time is), but all that work to do this kind of obscure planting thing and not make it so good that no one could question it...really poor job if framing BC was the intent.

Aside from that this computer framer would have to know to change other files on BC's computer so the "invalid timestamps" would be consistently invalid. There were https: logins that also had these same timestamp issues from that day, including his secure logins to Citibank, Hilton Honors, Cisco internal sites, weather site, etc. The invalid timestamps started days/weeks before 7/11 as well.

This framer didn't do a really good Google search (like, "how to dispose of a body and clean a crime scene"), no they searched BC's zip code. Not only that, it was the same search BC has done before (as detailed in a recent weather site search). And then, this framer got rid of a cookie that specifically pointed to and would have helped prove the Google search.

Really dumb framer. They picked an obscure and non-obvious way to attempt to frame someone and then tried to hide it by deleting a cookie, with no guarantee all that work would be found. It must have taken many hours to get hundreds of files to have the correct invalid stamps on them. And this framer must have been prescient as well, knowing that 3 months after the murder in his sworn deposition BC would say he never went to Brittaby Ct, never saw it, never visited the site, may have seen it on the news but no, never ever been there.

This is putting it so much better than I have. The Kurtz defence was based upon muddying the evidence, not explaining it. He was pushing for the mere statement of "tampering" without greater explanation. He wasn't allowed to get that evidence in, and now there's a new trial because of it.

 

[Tipstaff]

Even at 41 seconds, it just doesn't make sense. You would think at a minimum that he would sit there and stare at it for a while. Instead, he opened google maps, went immediately to the dump site, then closed the window. All in 41 seconds. Why? No other google map searches at any other time. If it was a problem with private browsing, you'd still think he would have done this at some other point in time. I really want to believe the google search is valid and happened like the prosecution says it did. Because if he killed her, I want him convicted and in jail the rest of his life. But I just have so much heartache over that search.

If I remember wasn't the 41 second search done just before BC was heading out to lunch with co-workers who were waiting for him? Perhaps he felt pressured to shut it down before a co-worker walked in?

And wasn't there some discussion about missing computer equipment?

 

[Just the Fax]

Even Nancy Grace agreed with the court of appeals and said the judge denied the defense their constitutional right to challenge the evidence in court.

She stops there, by saying the new exercise will end in yet another conviction.
The DA will cut the neighborhood gossip trash short and focus on the Cisco 3825 router log file from his computer...proves he had the 'missing router' to spoof the call the night /morning of the murder.... nowhere to be found since (Cisco employee was prepared to testify but was shelved after the judge ruled the defense experts could not testify).

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/brad-cooper-retrial-granted-nancy-grace-dan-abrams-20151525

 

[oenophile]

Even Nancy Grace agreed with the court of appeals and said the judge denied the defense their constitutional right to challenge the evidence in court.

She stops there, by saying the new exercise will end in yet another conviction.

Nancy Grace was just horrible, as always, in that video. She was completely biased and flat out wrong several times, even if she did admit that the appeal was justified.

The DA will cut the neighborhood gossip trash short and focus on the Cisco 3825 router log file from his computer...proves he had the 'missing router' to spoof the call the night /morning of the murder.... nowhere to be found since (Cisco employee was prepared to testify but was shelved after the judge ruled the defense experts could not testify).

I'm interested in hearing this testimony as well, including the cross.

 

[macd]

Defense has lost the element of surprise in their file tampering defense. The idea is so implausible, that it likely never crossed the minds of the prosecutors that someone would claim that the image files were planted. The claim was invented by Kurtz, who had to shop around for an expert witness who would testify to it.

Next time, the prosecution witnesses will have time to investigate to explain why the files and timestamps are the way they are.

Maybe Brad will confess and plea to 2nd degree. There's no way he's found not guilty when this evidence is presented and explained clearly.

 

[oenophile]

Defense has lost the element of surprise in their file tampering defense. The idea is so implausible, that it likely never crossed the minds of the prosecutors that someone would claim that the image files were planted. The claim was invented by Kurtz, who had to shop around for an expert witness who would testify to it.

Not true. The prosecution had the report that concluded with the tampering, which is why they fought so hard to keep it out. In addition, many of the expert witnesses are hired by the state, and there were rumors of negative repercussions if these experts were to take the stand for the defense without being paid tons of money. Boz underhandedly made suggestions about this during the trial, at which time Kurtz replied that Boz knew there was a money issue.

Next time, the prosecution witnesses will have time to investigate to explain why the files and timestamps are the way they are.

I agree, they need to do this if they want a conviction, they won't be able to get the stuff excluded again.

Maybe Brad will confess and plea to 2nd degree. There's no way he's found not guilty when this evidence is presented and explained clearly.

Brad will only confess and take a plea if he is guilty. Given the overwhelming evidence of his innocence, I doubt this will happen. But there are only one or two people who know for sure: Brad and, if he exists, the real killer.

 

[Just the Fax]

Defense has lost the element of surprise in their file tampering defense. The idea is so implausible, that it likely never crossed the minds of the prosecutors that someone would claim that the image files were planted. The claim was invented by Kurtz, who had to shop around for an expert witness who would testify to it.

Next time, the prosecution witnesses will have time to investigate to explain why the files and timestamps are the way they are.

Maybe Brad will confess and plea to 2nd degree. There's no way he's found not guilty when this evidence is presented and explained clearly.

Giovanni Masucci sought out Kurtz and was proactively looking for his moment of fame. I see he and Ward no different than Henry lee and Michael Baden, MD. These 2 hired guns will do or say anything for the defense as long as the price is right and the TV coverage can feed their egos.

 

[Just the Fax]

Defense has lost the element of surprise in their file tampering defense. The idea is so implausible, that it likely never crossed the minds of the prosecutors that someone would claim that the image files were planted. The claim was invented by Kurtz, who had to shop around for an expert witness who would testify to it.

Next time, the prosecution witnesses will have time to investigate to explain why the files and timestamps are the way they are.

Maybe Brad will confess and plea to 2nd degree. There's no way he's found not guilty when this evidence is presented and explained clearly.

I agree a 2nd degree offer will probably be made and he will consider 5 years served with an additional 10-15 to walk.

However, I bet Kurtz is betting on a hung jury next time. The defense will do just enough to muddy the water and trick a juror or 2 into what they think is reasonable doubt. If that's he case, it will be hard to justify a 3rd trial and he likely walks.