GUILTY CA - Lauren Key, 4, thrown off cliff, Rancho Palos Verdes, 8 Nov 2000

[jilly]

The forensic science would be the determining factor for me.

The first CTV trial I watched was the case of Stephen Lucas who was convicted in a second trial (first was a retrial) of throwing his mother down a marble staircase and then bashing her head in with some kind of candle holder.

His "story" was that he went to her house to return a VCR she'd loaned him, she jerked it out of his hands and sprinted up the staircase (in her granny gown..ha!) and at the top of the landing there was a struggle, she yanked back the vcr and with that momentum flung her own body over the railing and died at the bottom.

They had aerodynamic specialists analyze her size, his size, the physics of the possibility of her flying off the railing like that with her own momentum generated as he said. And the height of the railing, etc. etc.

It was abundantly clear it did not happen the way he claimed (combined with his bizarre behavior afterward and motive) and he was convicted.

But it was the science that sealed it for me.

What is going on with the testimony in this case along those lines? His size, her size, the angle of the cliff, her injuries. Someone sent me an article a while ago which stated her injuries were consistent with her landing head down ( ) and that didn't fit with the kind of fall she would have with an accident.

Thoughts?

Hi Katie! Dr Wilson Hayes was the expert for the pros. He has taught bio-mechanics (I think, not sure) at Standford and MIT.

He said he used the same technology that NASA, NIKE, JPL and others used to study motion.

He said had Lauren slipped/tripped she would have travelled 4.6 ft per second. He said Lauren travelled about 15 ft per sec which is the speed at which a child of her size & weight would have travelled if thrown. I think his asst threw a 45 lb weight off the cliff.

Geragos suggested that he report was questionable because he didn't know exactly where Lauren went off the cliff. Hayes said he based that on info provided to police by Brown.

Geragos then went on to attack him for being a paid expert.

Geragos' expert Yamagucci (profile post 35 here) showed the jury of a car crashing on an asphalt surface to make his point. Pros questioned the flexibility.

 

[gitana1]

I have ben following this case since it first broke when the little girl died. I am so glad someone started a thread. There is so little info on it. I am a family law attorney in California and firmly believe Cameron Brown is guilty as hell. To summarize what I know, Cameron never wanted the child and had nothing to do with her until the DA started coming after him for child support. Then he demanded visitation, (I think the child was three at the time), which soon was increased to unsupervised. The little girl begged not to go with her father when she was forced to go with him and her mother pleaded with the court not to allow it. No one listened. After the baby was thrown off the cliff, her father nonchalantly called 911. I have seen the call mentioned on this thread but I am unsure how many of you have heard it. I did, on KFI. There are fragments available to listen to online. The calls show a man who is talking about the fact that his little girl has fallen off a cliff, as if he is reporting a cat in a tree. It is sick. He actually giggles at one point on the tape, telling a man that "Hey, you better put some clothes on man, the police are coming." It was someone else who actually went into the water to try and help Lauren while Cameron stayed on the phone and said, very calmly, "Thanks." he stated he had no idea of her condition and sounded like he could not care less. She was dead at that point. Cameron's child support was about $1,000.00 per month and he constantly cried that he would be bankrupt with that obligation and could not pay it. *advertiser censored* killed her to get out of child support. People kill for much less.

 

[jilly]

Thank you for posting Gitana. I never heard the 911 tape, but it's good to hear from someone who has. From what you say, doesn't sound exactly like he "shut down".

 

[nanandjim]

I have ben following this case since it first broke when the little girl died. I am so glad someone started a thread. There is so little info on it. I am a family law attorney in California and firmly believe Cameron Brown is guilty as hell. To summarize what I know, Cameron never wanted the child and had nothing to do with her until the DA started coming after him for child support. Then he demanded visitation, (I think the child was three at the time), which soon was increased to unsupervised. The little girl begged not to go with her father when she was forced to go with him and her mother pleaded with the court not to allow it. No one listened. After the baby was thrown off the cliff, her father nonchalantly called 911. I have seen the call mentioned on this thread but I am unsure how many of you have heard it. I did, on KFI. There are fragments available to listen to online. The calls show a man who is talking about the fact that his little girl has fallen off a cliff, as if he is reporting a cat in a tree. It is sick. He actually giggles at one point on the tape, telling a man that "Hey, you better put some clothes on man, the police are coming." It was someone else who actually went into the water to try and help Lauren while Cameron stayed on the phone and said, very calmly, "Thanks." he stated he had no idea of her condition and sounded like he could not care less. She was dead at that point. Cameron's child support was about $1,000.00 per month and he constantly cried that he would be bankrupt with that obligation and could not pay it. *advertiser censored* killed her to get out of child support. People kill for much less.

You summed up the case very succinctly. I believe that he is guilty as hell, too. I hope that the information that you mentioned was allowed as testimony at the trial. If it were, there is no way that the jury will find him innocent or not guilty.

There is no way that this guy innocently took this little girl to such a treacherous place.

 

[Class-z]

There is no way that this guy innocently took this little girl to such a treacherous place.

I first want to say, that I totally agree, he's guilty as H - E - L - L!

However, I'm not sure the jury is going to feel there's enough actual evidence to prove it beyond a responsible doubt and Gagme will finally have a win under his belt and a child murderer will walk free.

Didn't the judge rule the 911 tape couldn't be heard? I never understand those ruling at all... He made the call!

 

[jilly]

I first want to say, that I totally agree, he's guilty as H - E - L - L!

However, I'm not sure the jury is going to feel there's enough actual evidence to prove it beyond a responsible doubt and Gagme will finally have a win under his belt and a child murderer will walk free.

That's what I'm thinking that there's not enough to put someone away for life.
I agree with Tybee in that he was over charged.

I'm still hoping for a hung jury.

 

[jilly]

Field Trip yesterday according to KFI reporter:

Someone in a car drove by them all and yelled "Guilty".

Cam Brown totally emotionless - staring out at cliff.

MG points out that not all trails leading up to IP are treacherous. But according to reporter - "no two ways about the trail that leads to the tip of IP. It's narrow with 8' tall trees that line the tiny, tiny trail that leads there. One false stop and forget about going to he tip - you are off the side of that thing right down to the beach. Very scary.

When they got to the top of IP, the reporter's stomach sank. It all came together. Didn't notice anything on juror's faces.Some took a few notes. Somber moment at tip. Very intense.

MG walks right up to the end of IP and acts like it's nothing.

Question from juror: "Where is the rock?" CB had told detectives that he was sitting on a rock 4 ft away when at one point he looked and she was gone. There was no rock and no one answered the juror's question.There is a rock that could be described like that (one you could sit on) on the far west of the cliff but not near the area where she went over.

At the end the lawyers commented:

Hum: I'm not in a position to speak for the jury. It was our hope they could get a feel for the location and they could see for themselves whether the defense's version was reasonable once they got out there. Photos, video tapes can't convey how dangerous, treacherous and threatening that is certainly to a 4 yr old.

Geragos: Clearly if he was going to do something he would push somebody. He didn't need to go to the most dangerous area and propel somebody off. So, I think it was effective for us.

Reporter says Geragos makes a good point. He's talking about the narrow path where it just drops off on the way up. There weren't railings there 6 yrs ago. (I guess there are now).

I'm just wondering where the jurors will go with this rock thing. If he was sitting on the rock located to the far west then Brown lied to the detective when he said he was only 4 ft away. OR did the detective err by not investigating that further?

Some doubt here isn't there?

 

[tybee204]

I guess it would depend on the size of the rock. A landscape can change drastically in 6 years depending on rain levels etc. Didnt they have any photos of the area from when it occurred?

 

[jilly]

I guess it would depend on the size of the rock. A landscape can change drastically in 6 years depending on rain levels etc. Didnt they have any photos of the area from when it occurred?

Don't know but you'd think in the 70-odd exhibits there would have been something.

 

[jilly]

Here's the Breeze's version. Apparently Geragos and Brown flew to the scene and the rest drove.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/3481796.html

 

[katiecoolady]

Jilly,

Are you saying you're hoping for a mistrial so there can be a new trial with lesser charges?

 

[jilly]

Jilly,

Are you saying you're hoping for a mistrial so there can be a new trial with lesser charges?

No I was hoping for a mistrial rather than a not guilty. Can they file with lesser charges the second time around? I never thought about that.

 

[katiecoolady]

No I was hoping for a mistrial rather than a not guilty. Can they file with lesser charges the second time around? I never thought about that.

I'm pretty sure they can.

I've seen cases that were hung for a DP conviction then filed for LWOP in the second trial. Maybe a state by state thing?

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Interesting, the part about him sometimes being tethered by a stake. In his blue Hawaiin print shirt.

 

[Anita Richman]

Interesting, the part about him sometimes being tethered by a stake. In his blue Hawaiin print shirt.

I wonder if the outfit was to recall the photos of him with Lauren...there are a couple of them together, where he is wearing a blue Hawaiin print shirt. The first one is a very cute one.

I'm glad that the jury actually walked up on I.P. They can fairly judge for themselves now, instead of just getting the perspective from photos.

 

[jilly]

"Emotional" closing arguments:

http://dailybreeze.com/news/articles/3489936.html

 

[Anita Richman]

I feel so awful for Sara Keys and also for Cam's wife. God bless that jury, they have a difficult job ahead of them...I wish them strength and wisdom as they deliberate.

 

[Class-z]

One more thing (grin) the other thought I've had on this case not being out there in the media, is that Hollywood did such a number on the media during the Pukerson trial (althouth, he's always been a big part of that) that I think it would be hard to be out there after allt he comments he's made, so there's two fold to this case being kept quiet and it all has to do with the defense attorney I believe.

He's the biggest scene stealer this is, normally... He has NO talent as an attorney, he tries his cases in the MEDIA, but couldn't this time.

So, if he looses this time? Then what? Whose fault is it???

If he gets an aquittal, then he'll hit LKDead and all the talk head shows he can find and say, see, had it not been for the media, Snot would not be sittin in prison right now... Oh brother!

 

[jilly]

One more thing (grin) the other thought I've had on this case not being out there in the media, is that Hollywood did such a number on the media during the Pukerson trial (althouth, he's always been a big part of that) that I think it would be hard to be out there after allt he comments he's made, so there's two fold to this case being kept quiet and it all has to do with the defense attorney I believe.

He's the biggest scene stealer this is, normally... He has NO talent as an attorney, he tries his cases in the MEDIA, but couldn't this time.

So, if he looses this time? Then what? Whose fault is it???

If he gets an aquittal, then he'll hit LKDead and all the talk head shows he can find and say, see, had it not been for the media, Snot would not be sittin in prison right now... Oh brother!

I agree, it's "all about the defense attorney".
But if he loses this time, no one will know. The last thing he needs is the mainstream media broadcasting the fact that he lost again. When he lost the Peterson case he slinked away and finally came out on LKL for damage control. Since that he's commentating for Larry. He's trying to inch back in to the spotlight.

If he loses this one, he'll go onto another case without the publicity, imo., until he gets a win. Then we'll never see the end of him.

 

[LaMer]

"Emotional" closing arguments:

http://dailybreeze.com/news/articles/3489936.html

Jilly, Thanks for the link. I was a little behind.

This is a good sign! If it's not a G verdict, surely it will be a hung jury. Didn't I read where there were 11 women and 2 men?


"For the first time during the trial, some jurors struggled to contain their emotions, at least one appearing to wipe away tears, while another held her hands over her face.

Some courtroom spectators, including Lauren's mother, wept and dabbed at their eyes with tissues."

My heart goes out to Sarah. She knows in her heart of heart this $astard did it, me too! I hope the jury does too. He would've had no other reason to take Lauren up there, just stack that up against his fighting to be not responsilbe for Lauren, wanting to have visitation to lower his support payments, his behavior following Lauren's death, plus all the negatives that were disrupting his playboy life, and even if he had settled down somewhat, he was hurtiing financially, and it looks to me, the new wife was also being used by him for financial gain.

A user and a loser!