When did Jonah say that the scrapes were new?
Snip from Dr. Bove's report -
According to Officer Adkins and as shown in a police photograph there was part of a broken branch found in between the spindles of the railing leading from the landing to the second floor. He attributed the branch to the fake tree/plant located in the space between the stairs on the first floor. Officer Adkins also noted what he described as recent damage to the top of the banister rail and the corner spindle at the top of the stairs. He also noted paint chips near the corner spindle. Officer Adkins noted that there was no damage to the rest of the banister. According to Officer Adkins, he was told by Jonah Shacknai during an interview that the damage to the top hallway banister and the paint chips were not there the day before the incident.
http://media.utsandiego.com/news/documents/2012/08/06/Dr.Bove_Report.pdf
I have thought for a long time that Max's accident was somehow precipitated by his use of the scooter. I had thought that he flipped over with the scooter at the dip in the banister just going down the first stair, but the paint transfer to the wheel points more towards a trick on top of the newel post. The paint chip transfer to the wheel matches the missing paint at the left corner of the post from the photo. The diagonal of missing paint continuing on toward the center of the post matches the paint smear on the wheel. At some point the wheel turned as indicated by the smear.
I would be interested in seeing a recreation as well.
In think a fight ensued with the scooter..it got banged against the newell..Max fought to keep his scooter from being thrown over and then in the process he was pushed against the bannister and fell over. Just a possible scenerio. One of many. I think someone was upset that he was still using his scooter in the house upstairs after being told not to.
SweetT - Exactly my thinking! Thank you for putting it in words. I do think the scooter was involved in his fall, but not that he was trying to ride it at the time. It was the catalyst, the incident that preceded his fall. And I do not believe it was in Rebecca's character to have fought with him over it. She would have gently reminded him. Thus IMO it would have been another authority figure, one was accustomed to sleeping in, and when awakened and found the scooter, was extremely annoyed. Always IMO.
I don't agree with this scenario, but who was accustomed to sleeping in?