GUILTY FL - Jennifer Alfonso, 27, murdered in her South Miami home, 8 Aug 2013

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David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 26m26 minutes ago Really heart wrenching. Jennifer's daughter recalling how he heard his mom yelling, crying, throwing things, then silence. Then police came

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 26m26 minutes ago
Daughter didn't realize her mom had been shot to death, was laying on kitchen floor: "I think they left me in the house by accident."

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 23m23 minutes ago
Isabel heard "banging" downstairs during mom's argument with Derek. Mentioned it sounded like gunshots, but not sure it was clear to her

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 20m20 minutes ago
Isabel's grandman in crying in gallery. Child explaining she never saw Derek and her mom fight physically. "Only with words."

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 17m17 minutes ago
Interviewer asks Isabel whether she likes Derek, her stepdad. "Not much ... because they fight."

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 10m10 minutes ago
Daughter seemed to have some inkling "something happened to my mom." Why? "I didn't saw her there" as she walked out of home with police

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 7m7 minutes ago
Isabel, daughter of vic, says the only she doesn't like is Derek. "He just stands there talking mean to my mom and I don’t like that."

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 15m15 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Jennifer's mom very upset after seeing her granddaughter's interview.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 5m5 minutes ago
Defense went to stop the tape. Prosecution wants it played in its entirety. On we go.
 
Erin Murray ‏@MsErinMurray 8m8 minutes ago I love this judge. She's my new hero. "Sidebar?""Call your next witness."So not playing around.

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305
5m5 minutes ago
Defense calling Jennifer Alfonso's mother, Carol Knox, who was just crying minutes ago in court as she watched granddaughter's interview

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 4m4 minutes ago
Defense trying to ask mom about her relationship, discipline of her daughter. Both questions sustained. Nothing further.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 7m7 minutes ago
1st ?- Defense to mom: Have you ever reprimanded your daughter?OBJECTION - SustainedDef wanted a sidebar. Denied. No ?'s.

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 4m4 minutes ago
Valerie Medina, sister of defendant, on stand now for the defense

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 2m2 minutes ago
Sorry, it's defendant's aunt, Valerie. Sister of Derek Medina the elder

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 5m5 minutes ago
#DerekMedina and Jennifer were married, divorced then re-married.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 5m5 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Defense asking questions about who was invited to the 1st vs 2nd weddings. State objecting, judge agreeing. Now sidebar.
 
Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
#DerekMedina came to aunt's house after killing his wife.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#DerekMedina and his father left her house to go to the police station

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
Soooo , is this the defense's star witness?

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 3m3 minutes ago
The defendant's aunt seems almost terrified to answer any questions from her nephew's lawyer.

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 49s49 seconds ago
Aunt testifies she didn't see any injuries on Derek after he came to her home after the shooting.

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 33s34 seconds ago
Odd exchange. Defense got out, after many sustained hearsay objections, that Derek had injuries in the past. But nothing else from witness

Pencil of the Court ‏@CourtPencil 1m1 minute ago
Wow.Seeing "an injury" once does not a "battered spouse syndrome" make.Just wow.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 43s44 seconds ago
#DerekMedina - State on cross of aunt.Medina never told her he was hurt, didn't complain of any injury.
 
David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 1m1 minute ago On cross, state asks about telling Derek "why didn't you just come over" instead of shooting Jennifer. She seemed confused, but admitted it

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 4m4 minutes ago
#DerekMedina's aunt is finished. Defense recalls audio/visual expert Stephen Coleman

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 4m4 minutes ago
Forensic video expert Coleman back on stand, to talk about enhanced video he made that purports to show shadow of knife

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
#DerekMedina - Black object, right of the sink, below the red soap dispenser is what the def says is a knife handle pic.twitter.com/JYsCZGLYPu
CUSIyBrWUAANqc9.jpg
 
Cathy ‏@courtchatter 34s34 seconds ago
 #DerekMedina - I don't get it. IF that's a knife handle (I don't see it) It never moves after he leave, comes back w/gun, shoots her, etc..

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
Judge releases jury for the weekend. Judge now addresses #DerekMedina

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
Judge asking #DerekMedina about a witness

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
Judge asks #DerekMedina about a witness stricken from his witness list and if he was in agreement. He says yes.

David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 36s37 seconds ago
Court's adjourned in #DerekMedina Facebook killing trial. Resumes on Monday.
 
Jury in Derek Medina murder trial sees victim's messages from day of shooting

MIAMI - Jurors in the murder trial of a man who claims he shot his wife in self-defense and then posted a picture of her body on Facebook heard recorded testimony Friday from a woman who spoke with the victim on the day she was killed.

Kelly Harwood testified via Skype with the attorneys and judge present earlier this week. Harwood can't travel because she is pregnant and due to give birth soon.

Harwood and Jennifer Alfonso were exchanging Facebook messages minutes before Alfonso was shot to death in the kitchen of her South Miami townhouse in August 2013. Alfonso indicated during those messages that she was angry at Derek Medina, who she suspected may have been cheating on her.

[...]

Earlier in the day, Miami-Dade County Judge Yvonne Colodny chastised the defense for trying to admit certain evidence about battered spouse syndrome through Medina's recorded statement to police after he turned himself in.

"Let's focus on the specific issues," Colodny said. "I don't need the barbs back and forth. This has been a messy trial from the beginning. I'm trying to keep this ship upright and sailing forward and proper so both parties get a fair trial here."

Alfonso's 12-year-old daughter also testified, saying she didn't like Medina because of the way he spoke to her mother.

http://www.local10.com/news/jury-in...ictims-messages-from-day-of-shooting/36573384
 
jacct said:
David Ovalle ‏@DavidOvalle305 4m4 minutes ago
Forensic video expert Coleman back on stand, to talk about enhanced video he made that purports to show shadow of knife

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
#DerekMedina - Black object, right of the sink, below the red soap dispenser is what the def says is a knife handle pic.twitter.com/JYsCZGLYPu
CUSIyBrWUAANqc9.jpg
Click to expand...

RSBM

DT is grasping at straws. That black object does not resemble anything close to a knife IMO.

Also, I'm astounded that they pushed so hard for the video statements made by Jennifer's daughter to be admitted into evidence. The fact that she heard fighting before he gunned her mother down comes at no surprise, but her proclaiming she does not like DM because he's mean and always fought with her mother IMO damaged their case exponentially.
 
Greater Than said:
RSBM

DT is grasping at straws. That black object does not resemble anything close to a knife IMO.

Also, I'm astounded that they pushed so hard for the video statements made by Jennifer's daughter to be admitted into evidence. The fact that she heard fighting before he gunned her mother down comes at no surprise, but her proclaiming she does not like DM because he's mean and always fought with her mother IMO damaged their case exponentially.
Click to expand...

In the Trial day 8 - part 2 video I figured out that the defense is claiming a shadow by the sink visible in one frame is the knife. It looks like a grey square in the picture they took of that frame. Prosecution showed the entire video again and if is very clear it is a shadow so don't know why the defense thinks they can fool the jury with that.

I agree about the daughters video, to me it helped the prosecution. Daughter clearly said the fighting was never physical, just words and yelling. Also that it was Derek always yelling at the mother, not the other way around.

The defense has been desperate to get anything introduced that would lay a foundation for their battered spouse syndrome defense. So far they have the aunt saying she saw a bruise on Derek one time, but no testimony on how he got the bruise. Daughter says there was no physical fighting. So, I don't think the judge is going to let the defense use the battered spouse defense.

And what is up with the defense attorneys? They are disorganized and unclear on what their defense is. Never prepared, introducing evidence in the middle of trial (or attempting to). The judge is doing an excellent job of keeping the defense in line but she must be extremely frustrated at this point.
 
jacct said:
In the Trial day 8 - part 2 video I figured out that the defense is claiming a shadow by the sink visible in one frame is the knife. It looks like a grey square in the picture they took of that frame. Prosecution showed the entire video again and if is very clear it is a shadow so don't know why the defense thinks they can fool the jury with that.

I agree about the daughters video, to me it helped the prosecution. Daughter clearly said the fighting was never physical, just words and yelling. Also that it was Derek always yelling at the mother, not the other way around.

The defense has been desperate to get anything introduced that would lay a foundation for their battered spouse syndrome defense. So far they have the aunt saying she saw a bruise on Derek one time, but no testimony on how he got the bruise. Daughter says there was no physical fighting. So, I don't think the judge is going to let the defense use the battered spouse defense.

And what is up with the defense attorneys? They are disorganized and unclear on what their defense is. Never prepared, introducing evidence in the middle of trial (or attempting to). The judge is doing an excellent job of keeping the defense in line but she must be extremely frustrated at this point.
Click to expand...

They are throwing everything at the wall hoping something will stick. The text messages they claimed went to Jennifer's state of mind was the most obvious example of them grasping at straws and blatantly twisting the truth. The defense was arguing that Jennifer's text to her friend that said "burst of energy?" meant Jennifer was jacked up on drugs when in reality she was offering a possible reason why her friend was cleaning at 8am. He knew that though, he was just trying to get the pills evidence in.

Yeah, the judge has had it with the DT. "Can I open tomorrow?" "You will open in five minutes." Haha, I love her.
 
This trial has been a real train wreck. Another surprise witness came up that will testify about shadow analysis of the murder video. Supposedly he can tell based on shadows in the sink what was going on in the kitchen when Medina shot his wife.

Prosecution was supposed to depose the witness yesterday night but the witness went from the airport immediately to the emergency room and has been admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in his neck. So prosecution will depose him this afternoon from his hospital bed and IF witness is discharged from the hospital tomorrow morning he will testify tomorrow afternoon.

Per the judge this is the last witness so she has ruled that there is no foundation for bringing in the battered spouse syndrome and there will be no testimony about that. Medina may still testify tomorrow and that will be the last witness. Judge wants closing done tomorrow and asked the jurors to plan to stay late so closings can be completed.
 
jacct said:
This trial has been a real train wreck. Another surprise witness came up that will testify about shadow analysis of the murder video. Supposedly he can tell based on shadows in the sink what was going on in the kitchen when Medina shot his wife.

Prosecution was supposed to depose the witness yesterday night but the witness went from the airport immediately to the emergency room and has been admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in his neck. So prosecution will depose him this afternoon from his hospital bed and IF witness is discharged from the hospital tomorrow morning he will testify tomorrow afternoon.

Per the judge this is the last witness so she has ruled that there is no foundation for bringing in the battered spouse syndrome and there will be no testimony about that. Medina may still testify tomorrow and that will be the last witness. Judge wants closing done tomorrow and asked the jurors to plan to stay late so closings can be completed.
Click to expand...

The DT said the surprise witness is a crime scene reconstruction specialist named Mr. Schumaker from California. I can't help but wonder if it's the same Schumaker from the George Zimmerman trial who made that animation video using some specialized suit used in movies like Iron Man and Avatar. If it's the same guy, I find it strange they're not trying to get some sort of animation video into evidence since that's what this guy does.

Regardless, this witness is only going to testify that he sees the reflection of shadows in the sink? He came all the way from California for that?? Is he an expert with bionic eyes? :confused:

Also, I don't think there's the slightest chance of DM testifying. There's no way they're all in agreement that the jury will get the case by Tuesday evening or Wednesday if he was going to take the stand. MOO
 
Cathy ‏@courtchatter 20m20 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Motions hearing has started. No stream yet.

John Turchin WPLG‏@johnturchin 23m23 minutes ago
Here we go. Court in session. First issue: whether Judge will allow crime scene reconstruction specialist to testify. Arguments being heard

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Defense wants expert to testify about shadows on the slowed down video. "Shadow Analysis" Motion this AM about this.

John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 23m23 minutes ago
Okkkay. Court WAS in session. Taking our first break. Judge not happy she stayed up to read 62 pg depo of defense witness & defense didn't

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 14m14 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Deposition of defense expert is 62 pages. Judge stayed up late to read it, defense did not. #fools
 
John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 2m2 minutes ago
Derek Medina's Atty Saam Zangeneh:"The issue in this case is whether Jennifer Alfonso was armed just before the shooting." He is trying....

John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 2m2 minutes ago
...to make a case for Judge Colodny to allow the crime scene reconstructionist to testify saying a 'still' photo appears to show a black...

John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 2m2 minutes ago
...object which the specialist is ready to say is the butt of a knife

John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 3m3 minutes ago
Court back in session...but Defense Atty Zangeneh not ready to discuss motion concerning crime scene specialist - hasn't read it

John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 3m3 minutes ago
So...while his Medina defense team reads it - Zangeneh, Prosecutors and Judge Colodny will go over language of jury instructions.
 
Natalia ZeaVerified account ‏@nataliacbs4 1m1 minute ago
Judge will NOT allow defense shadow expert to testify. Says expert has not provided method or procedure for analysis of shadows

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - NOW judge says they still need to take up the issue of Medina testifying or not.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Defense wants to take Medina into jury room to talk to him. Interesting.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#DerekMedina - Judge to defense: You have 5 mins. (and she means it)

John Turchin WPLG ‏@johnturchin 3m3 minutes ago
NEXT BIG ISSUE: Will Derek Medina take the stand and testifying on his own behalf? Stand by for that answer...he's meeting w/his attorneys
 
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