February 11, 2020 at 8:03 am OAKLAND (CBS SF) — Tears flowed in an Oakland courtroom as Nia Wilson’s sisters took the stand to emotionally describe for jurors the struggle to save the dying 18-year-old’s life on the MacArthur BART station platform.
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Cowell, who had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom last week because of an outburst, was not in court Monday, but his defense team told the judge he may testify on Tuesday with sheriff’s deputies at his side.
Emotions have been high inside the courtroom from the start of the trial last Wednesday when the prosecutor showed a graphic surveillance video of the murder during opening statements. As Wilson family members sobbed, the video showed a man police identified as Cowell come up behind the victims and stab them in the back of the neck.
Wednesday, February 12th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial starts on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings from 7/25/18 thru 1/13/20 reference post #62 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 1/14/20 Update: Judge denies motion for change of venue. 1/15/20 Day 1 of Jury Selection: First set of potential jurors, a panel of 110, to be questioned in the selection process for the trial. Jury was selection Tuesday afternoon. Opening statements are expected Feb. 5. 1/31/20: Defense files another motion for change of venue-denied. 2/5/20 Wednesday Day 1: Judge gave instructions to the jurors. Then Wednesday started with an outburst by the defendant during opening statements. Cowell was removed from the courtroom following his outburst during the prosecution’s opening remarks. The judge first admonished Cowell for speaking out to defend himself, telling Cowell to keep quiet and ultimately having Cowell removed when he continued. He was initially allowed to return following the morning break, but Cowell was not in the courtroom during the afternoon session. Jurors viewed graphic surveillance video of the murder during the prosecution’s opening statements which showed a man police identified as Cowell come up behind the victims and stab them in the back of the neck. Defense attorney Christina Moore did opening statements. Trial continues on 2/6. 2/6/20 Thursday Day 2: Cowell was not in court room today; he refused to attend. State witnesses: Former BART police Officer Andres Rocha. On Thursday, the prosecution introduced the knife Cowell allegedly used to fatally stab Wilson. Jurors were allowed to examine & hold the knife. AC Transit bus driver) who picked Cowell up the night of the murder after the defendant had fled the scene). No other info available. Trial continues to 2/7. 2/7/20 Friday Day 3: No info available. Trial continues to 2/10. 2/10/20 Monday Day 4: Cowell, who had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom last week because of an outburst, was not in court Monday, but his defense team told the judge he may testify on Tuesday with sheriff’s deputies at his side. State witnesses: State witnesses: Tashiya Wilson (Nia's sister). Letifah Wilson (Nia’s sister). No other info available. Trial continues to 2/11. 2/11/20 Tuesday Day 5: No info available. Trial continues to 2/12.
Thursday, February 13th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/10/20 reference post #82 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/11/20 Tuesday Day 5: No info available. Trial continues on 2/12. 2/12/20 Wednesday Day 6: No info available. Trial continues on 2/13.
Wednesday, February 13th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/10/20 reference post #82 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/11/20 Tuesday Day 5: No info available. Trial continues on 2/12. 2/12/20 Wednesday Day 6: State rested case. Defense witness: John Cowell. No other info available. Trial continues on 2/13. 2/13/20 Thursday Day 7: Cowell refused to enter the Alameda County courtroom for more than an hour until being ordered inside by Judge Allan Hymer. Defense witness: John Cowell. Prosecutor Butch Ford attempted to show Cowell video of the July 22, 2018, attack at BART’s MacArthur Station. Cowell refused to answer Ford’s questions-lasted roughly 15 minutes on the witness stand Thursday in his second day of testimony. Cowell then was escorted out of the courtroom by two deputies. Saundra Ferriera (Cowell’s aunt). Jeremy Coles (forensic psychologist, who reviewed Cowell’s voluminous mental health history, but Cowell refused to meet with him). Trial resumes on Tuesday, 2/18.
Feb. 13, 2020
John Lee Cowell, the man who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after stabbing 18-year-old Nia Wilson to death on a BART station platform in Oakland two summers ago, lasted roughly 15 minutes on the witness stand Thursday in his second day of testimony.
Even before taking the stand, the 29-year-old Cowell was combative. He refused to enter the Alameda County courtroom for more than an hour until being ordered inside by Judge Allan Hymer.
Prosecutor Butch Ford attempted to show Cowell video of the July 22, 2018, attack at BART’s MacArthur Station, which left Wilson and her sister, Letifah, suffering from stab wounds to the neck. Nia Wilson bled out on the platform and died.
Cowell refused to answer Ford’s questions by saying, “I don’t know what that is.” Hymer informed him it was a video of the killing, but the defendant maintained it was only a photo.
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The trial resumes Tuesday. [2/18/20]
Tuesday, February 18th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/10/20 reference post #82 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/11/20 Tuesday Day 5: No info available. Trial continues on 2/12. 2/12/20 Wednesday Day 6: State rested case. Defense witness: John Cowell. No other info available. Trial continues on 2/13. 2/13/20 Thursday Day 7: Cowell refused to enter the Alameda County courtroom for more than an hour until being ordered inside by Judge Allan Hymer. Defense witness: John Cowell. Prosecutor Butch Ford attempted to show Cowell video of the July 22, 2018, attack at BART’s MacArthur Station. Cowell refused to answer Ford’s questions-lasted roughly 15 minutes on the witness stand Thursday in his second day of testimony. Cowell then was escorted out of the courtroom by two deputies. Saundra Ferriera (Cowell’s aunt). Jeremy Coles (forensic psychologist, who reviewed Cowell’s voluminous mental health history, but Cowell refused to meet with him). Trial resumes on Tuesday, 2/18.
February 11, 2020 at 3:44 pm OAKLAND (CBS SF) — In a series of bizarre ramblings from the witness stand, John Lee Cowell, who is accused of stabbing to death Nia Wilson on the MacArthur BART station platform, told jurors he hears voices from alien technology implanted in his ear.
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The bizarre display came in the fourth day of the trial. Cowell was relatively polite and subdued until the last hour of court Tuesday afternoon. At one point, the judge stopped everything and told the defendant to count to 10 to calm things down.
The defendant threw a temper tantrum of sorts, calling the prosecutor rude and disrespectful. The prosecution then accused Cowell of hoping his behavior would make the jury think he was crazy, saying the defendant was “putting on a show.”
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There is a court holiday tomorrow [2/12]. The trial resumes Thursday [2/13].
February 13, 2020 OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — John Lee Cowell was back on the stand to testify in his own murder trial Thursday, but only lasted about 25 minutes before being thrown out of court.
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When Cowell took the stand Thursday, he almost immediately became combative with Alameda County prosecutor Butch Ford.
Cowell really got agitated when Ford tried to play surveillance video showing Cowell attacking Wilson.
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Prosecutors told KRON4 that Cowell’s testimony is over and he will not take the stand again.
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As the trial continued, Cowell remained in a separate room in the Oakland courthouse. Deputies tasked with guarding him tried to coax Cowell to walk downstairs to the courtroom, but he refused to.
Wedneday, February 19th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/10/20 reference post #82 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/11/20 Tuesday Day 5: State rested their case. Defense witness: John Cowell. Trial continues to Thursday, 2/13. 2/12/20 Wednesday: State Holiday – no court. 2/13/20 Thursday Day 6: Cowell refused to enter the Alameda County courtroom for more than an hour until being ordered inside by Judge Allan Hymer. Defense witness: John Cowell. Prosecutor Butch Ford attempted to show Cowell video of the July 22, 2018, attack at BART’s MacArthur Station. Cowell refused to answer Ford’s questions-lasted roughly 15 minutes on the witness stand Thursday in his second day of testimony. Cowell then was escorted out of the courtroom by two deputies. Defense witnesses: Saundra Ferriera (Cowell’s aunt). Jeremy Coles (forensic psychologist, who reviewed Cowell’s voluminous mental health history, but Cowell refused to meet with him). Trial resumes on Tuesday, 2/18. 2/18/20 Monday Day 7: No info available yet. Trial continues on 2/19.
Thursday, February 20th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/10/20 reference post #82 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/11/20 Tuesday Day 5: State rested their case. Defense witness: John Cowell. Trial continues to Thursday, 2/13. 2/12/20 Wednesday: State Holiday – no court. 2/13/20 Thursday Day 6: Cowell refused to enter the Alameda County courtroom for more than an hour until being ordered inside by Judge Allan Hymer. Defense witness: John Cowell. Prosecutor Butch Ford attempted to show Cowell video of the July 22, 2018, attack at BART’s MacArthur Station. Cowell refused to answer Ford’s questions-lasted roughly 15 minutes on the witness stand Thursday in his second day of testimony. Cowell then was escorted out of the courtroom by two deputies. Defense witnesses: Saundra Ferriera (Cowell’s aunt). Jeremy Coles (forensic psychologist, who reviewed Cowell’s voluminous mental health history, but Cowell refused to meet with him). Trial resumes on Tuesday, 2/18. 2/18/20 Tuesday Day 7: No info available yet. Trial continues on 2/19. 2/19/20 Wednesday Day 8: No info available yet. Trial continues on 2/20.
Wondering if the defense might have rested already and the jurors have the case - anyone local in California following this case? Or have access to the Alameda County court site??
Case #18-CR-012613, #18-CR-016431 & #262135 @tnith - you helped me before....
If anyone has access to this article - please post a 10% synopsis - especially the defense witnesses. I caught a glimpse of one, but then the banner came up where my "free" articles has expired and I had to subscribe. TIA!
Friday, February 21st: *Jury Trial continues (Day 10) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/13/20 reference post #90 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/18/20 Tuesday Day 7: Judge warned Cowell if he did not retake the stand his testimony will be thrown out. Cowell stayed in guarded room refusing to enter courtroom. Defense witnesses: Dr. Jonathan Patberg (from Costa Mesa Medical Center). No other info available yet. Trial continues on 2/19. 2/19/20 Wednesday Day 8: Cowell spent another day in guarded room refusing to enter courtroom. No other info available yet. Trial continues on 2/20. 2/20/20 Thursday Day 9: Cowell spent another day Thursday sitting in a guarded room of the Oakland courthouse, refusing to enter the courtroom where his murder trial was underway. Defense witnesses: Georgina Agnitsch (friend of Cowell's). No other info available yet. Trial continues on 2/21.
February 20, 2020 .....Jury deliberations could begin as soon as next Wednesday, and before deciding on verdicts, jurors are trying to figure out how schizophrenia, delusions, drug abuse, and homicidal compulsions intertwined in the summer of 2018, when Cowell senselessly killed an 18-year-old woman whom he had never met. He is charged with murdering Nia Wilson, and attempting to murder her sister, Letifa Wilson.
and this one I can't read - no subscription.... I saw a witness name - but it went by in a flash - can anyone access this article & give a 10% synopsis - especially who & "what" the witnesses were? TIA!
Monday, February 24th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 11) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial info from 7/25/18 thru 2/13/20 reference post #90 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/18/20 Tuesday Day 7: Judge warned Cowell if he did not retake the stand his testimony will be thrown out. Cowell stayed in guarded room refusing to enter courtroom. Defense witnesses: Dr. Jonathan Patberg (from Costa Mesa Medical Center). Saundra Ferriera (Cowell's aunt). Prosecutor Butch Ford played for jurors Tuesday and Wednesday jail call between Cowell & his aunt, Saundra Ferriera. Trial continues on 2/19. 2/19/20 Wednesday Day 8: Cowell spent another day in guarded room refusing to enter courtroom. Defense witness: Saundra Ferriera (Cowell's aunt). DA Butch Ford played jailhouse call between Cowell & his Aunt, Saunda Ferriera. John George (Psychiatric Hospital in San Leandro, where Cowell was placed on a 72-hour hold just days before the attack on 7/13/18). Psychiatrist Dr. Jeff Gould (an expert witness, who reviewed thousands of pages of Cowell’s medical records & diagnosed him with an unspecified psychotic disorder). Trial continues on 2/20. 2/20/20 Thursday Day 9: Cowell spent another day sitting in a guarded room of the Oakland courthouse, refusing to enter the courtroom where his murder trial was underway. Defense witnesses: Ian Vianu (Behavorial Health Clinician). Georgina Agnitsch (friend of Cowell's). No other info available yet. Trial continues on 2/21. 2/21/20: Friday Day 10: Defense witness: Psychiatrist Jeremy Coles. No other info available yet. Trial continues on Monday, 2/24.
Update!
Monday, February 24th: *Jury Trial ends (Day 11)- (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial (Days 1 to 9) info from 7/25/18 thru 2/20/20 reference post #95 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/21/20: Friday Day 10: Defense witness: Psychiatrist Jeremy Coles. No other info available yet. Trial continues on Monday, 2/24. 2/24/20 Monday Day 11: Defense rested. Prosecutors called a psychiatrist as rebuttal witness. Closing arguments will continue on 3/9.
Feb. 24, 2020 Testimony in the Nia Wilson trial concluded on Monday after prosecutors called their last rebuttal witness to the stand, but jurors won’t hear closing statements for another two weeks because of a pre-scheduled break.
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Deputy District Attorney Butch Ford finished questioning of his final witness, a psychiatrist who met with defendant John Lee Cowell while he was at Santa Rita Jail after fatally stabbing Wilson on a BART station platform two years ago.
Judge Allan Hymer reminded the jury about the court’s planned break for a recess from Wednesday until March 9, when closing arguments are expected to be heard.
Maybe someone following this trial can give a 10% synopsis on this article below, as I can't access it. Maybe the name of the psychiatrist who was rebuttal witness. TIA!
Feb. 24, 2020 Testimony in the Nia Wilson trial concluded on Monday after prosecutors called their last rebuttal witness to the stand, but jurors won’t hear closing statements for another two weeks because of a pre-scheduled break.
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Judge Allan Hymer reminded the jury about the court’s planned break for a recess from Wednesday until March 9, when closing arguments are expected to be heard.
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Cowell, 29, was not present in the courtroom Monday.....
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Once the jurors walked out of the room on Monday, [Defense attorney] Moore said she observed a protest when she returned from the lunch break near the court, which may have been visible to jurors.
“I just wanted the record to reflect that,” she said.
Hymer said he would examine the situation if he sees that any member of the jury is influenced by it.
Earlier in the day during a morning recess, Ford told a group gathered outside of the courtroom that Moore had alleged someone tried to assault her during a confrontation while she walked to court, and that she was able to take a picture of the person.
A spokesman for the Alameda County public defender’s office said the agency would not comment on the incident, and it was unclear when and where the alleged attempted attack occurred.
Monday, March 9th: *Jury Trial continues (Day 12)-Closing Arguments (@ 9am PT) – CA – Nia Wilson (18) (July 22, 2018, MacArthur BART Station, Oakland; her sister Letifah (26) was injured) – *John Lee Cowell (27/now 28) arrested (7/23/18) & charged (7/25/18) with murder & attempted murder with special allegations of using a deadly weapon on each charge. Plead not guilty by reason of insanity. No bond. DA will not seek DP. Trial began on 1/15/20 with jury selection. Trial started on 2/5/20 with opening statements. Court hearings & trial (Days 1 to 9) info from 7/25/18 thru 2/20/20 reference post #95 here: CA - Oakland, Nia Wilson stabbed to death on BART, sister injured, 22 Jul 2018 *Arrest* 2/21/20: Friday Day 10: Defense witness: Psychiatrist Jeremy Coles. No other info available yet. Trial continues on Monday, 2/24. 2/24/20 Monday Day 11: Cowell was not in courtroom. Defense rests. Prosecutors called their last rebuttal witness a psychiatrist. Closing arguments will be on 3/9.
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