NOW: I’m in
#ColoradoSprings for what’s expected to be the final day of trial for the woman accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson,
#GannonStauch. We just walked inside the courtroom.
#LeteciaStauch is wearing a blue jacket today.
Judge Gregory Werner just walked in, right after defense attorneys Josh Tolini and Will Cook. The entire
@4thJudicialDA
team is here too. The jury is not in the courtroom. The judge says we need to discuss jury instruction after an email he got this morning.
"Because this is a request for an instruction on evidence that wasn't actually presented," the judge doesn't think he can give one. "I know what the issue is," he says. "I can't make a stipulation, and can't tell the jury what evidence hasn't been presented.”
It sounds as though that was in relation to a request from the defense, but I could not hear what Tolini was saying to the judge. Now, clarifying verdict forms with the Lead Prosecutor and District Attorney, Michael Allen.
Going through today, I feel it's important to remember:
#GannonStauch was an 11-year-old boy who lived in Lorson Ranch (southern El Paso County). He loved his little sister, was a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, and his favorite color was blue.
The judge says the plan, after finishing jury instructions, is to bring jurors in around 9 AM. Prosecutors and defense anticipate their closing arguments lasting an hour each. Those should start around 10. A lunch break will likely happen after closings, then rebuttal.
Sounds like there will be NO rebuttal after closings.
#LeteciaStauch, who I am sitting behind, is looking closely at documents on a computer screen. Court is in recess until around 9.
A clarification on this - NO rebuttal evidence is what I should have said. DA Michael Allen says they will have a rebuttal. My apologies.
Judge Werner is back in the courtroom. Jury is in the room too. It's a packed house today - with lots of members of the public in here. The defense rests their case. We move on to jury instructions, then closing arguments.
While jurors are being read the detailed instructions - Lorson Ranch neighbors show their support for
#GannonStauch. I remember when this corner of grass was flooded with blue lights and such - in the days & weeks following his disappearance on Jan. 27, 2020.
The judge referenced the instruction added this morning. It's about a WebEx meeting an attorney had with
#LeteciaStauch at the start of the pandemic, while she was in jail - later that day, she had a conversation with Dr. Mohr about
#GannonStauch's body being found in Florida.
Court is in recess for around 15 minutes. Jury has been read all their instructions. Closing arguments are next.
