Closing Arguments- Chase Merritt Charged W/Murder of Joseph, Summer, Gianni and Joe Jr McStay #3

[Hatfield]

I'm pretty sure the jurors had to sign the verdict forms, and therefore too late to change minds. The probably came early today to do the paperwork, leaving plenty of time the rest of today to read the verdict and be released from service. Now they have to come back Monday.

If I am not mistaken, even though they possibly signed all the forms, what will happen is the judge will poll the jury to ask them if they agree with the verdict form.

So on Monday there is still a chance for a Juror to have second thoughts about what they signed and they may object to their own guilty or not-guilty verdict during verbal polling of the jury.

So I dont think its official until after the verbal polling of the jury by the judge.

 

[ilovewings]

I guess 94 hours gives them plenty of time.

ya think??? LOL

 

[wary]

Are courts closed on Fridays or this Judge does not work on Fridays? Therefore, the Judge did not want to open the courtroom/courthouse and bring in security...all would mean extra monies spent? I guess no rush as ‘he’ is in jail....just hope the jury stays silent.

No—based on what I’ve heard in the past the courts are open on Friday, but trials often don’t run on Fridays. (My impression was that, since judges usually have a lot of upcoming trials, as well as a current one, that Fridays would be devoted to hearings and such.)

Just MOO

 

[oceanblueeyes]

What if someone has second thoughts over the weekend?

Surely it’s already officially submitted...

Trust me they wont. They were sure yesterday, and very sure again today.

They wont change their mind even though there may be a few who wishes they would.

Imo

 

[missy1974]

I think that the polling has to be a last chance for the jury members to change their mind—even if it is mainly ceremonial.

@gitana—can you answer that question too?

@gitana1 tagging so it doesn't get missed for you wary

 

[Longtimenoc]

If it turns out he is on the golfcourse today, I am going to join the club who is pizzed off.

Isnt the court system closed on Fridays? Judges, Baliffs etc? Maybe thats why the wait till Monday.

 

[Force Ten]

Just hope that Merritt's ticker doesn't give out by Monday.

 

[asyousay]

Ok for people who have watched multiple trials.


If the verdict isn’t guilty then surely they would NOT torture the family for 3 more days?

 

[Recidivist]

Isnt the court system closed on Fridays? Judges, Baliffs etc? Maybe thats why the wait till Monday.

Fridays are Law & Motion days.

 

[gitana1]

Monday morning??? bummer

I can't imagine how the McStay's loved ones are coping with this.

Well actually, I can imagine. And it's not good. Stark, sleepless nights filled with a sick, electric energy. Endless days they walk through in a semi-zombie like state.

My heart goes out to them.

Is dad/grandpa not out here already?

I hope victim's services are helping the family with costs.

 

[Kavya01]

Trying to make a poll but I am sooo inept, it's sad. So if someone knows how to make a new thread here with a poll in it of what we think the verdict Monday morning will read, i'd be grateful!

 

[gitana1]

Ok for people who have watched multiple trials.


If the verdict isn’t guilty then surely they NOT would torture the family for 3 more days?

I've never seen a wait this long. Excruciating. But then we've never seen a case with so many delays and such a strange schedule.

 

[geevee]

I missed that. I wonder if it's still relevant given they'll have this delay now.

I sincerely doubt that changes anything, and even if judge said 'let's get going with it' right after the verdict, M&M would plead for time to prepare, as they'll just be sure it would be a not guilty verdict with nothing further to prepare for.

Moo

 

[gitana1]

If they reached a verdict, it has to be guilty. There is no way 12 people could think he is not guilty. But i don't want to wait until Monday. ;(

Yeah. You make sense. Ugh.

 

[geevee]

No—based on what I’ve heard in the past the courts are open on Friday, but trials often don’t run on Fridays. (My impression was that, since judges usually have a lot of upcoming trials, as well as a current one, that Fridays would be devoted to hearings and such.)

Just MOO

That's my understanding as well.

 

[gitana1]

I'm unsure if they could change their mind... they usually poll the juror's at the end, if one says "no" that's not my verdict now... then what? I don't think it happens often, but giving them 3 days to go home and ponder the thought... whether it's the the thought of letting a guilty man go free, or having doubts about his guilt, I just don't see how this is a good thing at all, 3 friggen days???

@gitana1 now that they have reached a verdict, did the judge review that verdict already? or will that be done on Monday as well? TIA

I don't know. Usually they open it, read it and hand it to the bailiff to read.

But I'm sure the judge is pretty certain what it says.

 

[MissJames]

It seems a likely scenario that waiting until Monday is to accommodate the family.

The snarky comments here about the jury have been pretty disheartening. So many conclusions drawn without having all the facts. Reasonable questions and criticisms of the court’s handling of a case are one thing, but some people here act like the trial should be tailored to the desires of followers of the case, like it’s a reality show. Everyone who has been following this case is impatient, that only makes sense, but if there is a reason it’s better to wait until Monday, that’s okay too.

When procedures are far outside the norm, questions arise .

 

[Lilibet]

Ok for people who have watched multiple trials.


If the verdict isn’t guilty then surely they NOT would torture the family for 3 more days?

The insider said the delay is to give family time to get there. If the verdict had happened in the middle of the week, it’s possible it could have been read the next day, but not when it’s a Friday. The jury has no control over whether the family is available immediately. It’s possible Patrick had to go home to TX for something urgent or someone is sick or, or, or....in any case, this delay until Monday was the family’s call apparently.

 

[Hatfield]

I can't imagine how the McStay's loved ones are coping with this.

Well actually, I can imagine. And it's not good. Stark, sleepless nights filled with a sick, electric energy. Endless days they walk through in a semi-zombie like state.

My heart goes out to them.

Is dad/grandpa not out here already?

I hope victim's services are helping the family with costs.

I hope they have services available too.

If anyone should be assigned a "Mitigation Specialist" , it should be the victim's family getting a specially assigned person to help them with whatever needs they have. Emotional or otherwise.

 

[missy1974]

I don't know. Usually they open it, read it and hand it to the bailiff to read.

But I'm sure the judge is pretty certain what it says.

So the judge doesn't know the verdict now? He will find out on Monday as well? lol