Found Deceased IA - Mollie Tibbetts, 20, Poweshiek County, 19 Jul 2018 *Arrest* #47

[BUF]

Sure seems like a lot of breaks in this trial...

 

[BUF]

Per Court TV... break is because a juror fell ill (female), felt woozy.
EMS called.

 

[gliving]

Undocumented Mexican farm laborer on trial for murder of University of Iowa jogger Mollie Tibbetts 'thought she was hot when he drove past her in his truck before circling back and stabbing her 12 times'

• Cristhian Bahena Rivera's murder trial started in Scott County, Iowa on Wednesday over the 2018 death of 20year-old Mollie Tibbetts
• Bahena Rivera, an undocumented Mexican farm laborer, is charged with first-degree murder
• During opening arguments, prosecutors said Bahena Rivera had driven past Tibbets while she was out jogging in July 2018 and thought she was 'hot'
• Jurors heard that Bahena Rivera admitted he got out of his car and ran to catch up with her but fought with her when she threatened to call police
• Prosecutors say he stabbed her to death before dumping her body in a field
• An autopsy found that Tibbetts had been stabbed seven to 12 times in the chest, ribs, neck, and skull, and that she died from sharp force injuries

Prosecutor says video, DNA will be key at murder trial for Mollie Tibbetts | Daily Mail Online

 

[usnuzuloose]

I hope this juror is okay

 

[PommyMommy]

MAY 19, 2021
Boyfriend denies role in college student Mollie Tibbetts 2018 slaying (mercurynews.com)
[...]

Dalton Jack, the longtime boyfriend of Mollie Tibbetts, was a key witness on the first day of the first-degree murder trial of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the Mexican national charged in her killing.

[...]

During cross examination, defense lawyers for Bahena Rivera worked to try to cast suspicion on Jack, painting him as an angry young man who had a tumultuous relationship with Tibbetts and had cheated on her with at least one other woman.

But Klaver said a homeowner’s surveillance video will show Bahena Rivera’s black Chevy Malibu appearing to circle Tibbets as she ran. Bahena Rivera, now 26, told police that he drove past Tibbetts and turned around to get a second look because he thought she was “hot,” Klaver said.

[...]

The brothers testified that they became concerned after learning on July 19 that Tibbetts had not shown up for work at a daycare, and she was not answering her phone. Both returned to Brooklyn to help search for her, before calling police.

[...]

Dalton Jack testified that he had been part of a crew building a bridge in Dubuque, about 140 miles from Brooklyn. He worked 12 hours on July 18 then drank beer and played yard games with the crew before going to sleep at a hotel, adding that he never returned to Brooklyn that night.

On cross-examination, Jack acknowledged he used to have a “short fuse” and would get into fights. He said that he had “screwed up” and cheated on Tibbetts once, and that she discovered the relationship after looking through his phone.

[...]

He also said he did not agree to voluntarily testify and required a subpoena because he didn’t want to be in “the same room” as Bahena Rivera.

“I am obviously not his biggest fan,” he said. “I wholeheartedly believe he’s guilty.”

Jack said he joined the Army three months after Tibbetts’ body was found because he was heartbroken and “wanted to pretty much leave” their hometown.

[...]

 

[Seattle1]

Per court TV... break is because a juror fell ill. EMS called.

Thank you. Confirming the juror felt "woozy" per reporters in the courtroom and EMT is treating female juror at this time. The first break occurred when a juror requested a bathroom break and the break was extended to look after ill juror. No word is alternate juror will take over...

 

[usnuzuloose]

Per Court TV... break is because a juror fell ill (female), felt woozy.
EMS called.

 

[Seattle1]

Trial continues with next witness -- female cousin of the defendant. She's employed at a meatpacking company. Her mother is CBR's aunt. She's testifying under a state subpoena.

ETA: Add details of her testimony... she was the straw buyer of the Chevy Malibu vehicle for the defendant. i.e., Cousin was the legal purchaser/owner but for all intent and purpose, CBR was the owner and sole driver. He made monthly cash payments to his cousin and she repaid the loan she obtained for the vehicle.

Defense examination emphasized CBR paid his cousin timely.

Redirect - cousin testified she paid off the loan in 2020. She obviously had to make these payments given she was the legal owner/borrower for the Malibu..

Court adjourned for today.

 

[katydid23]

I’ve never heard of a defense lawyer deferring their opening statement. Why would you do that? To be able to see the prosecution’s whole case before you talk about yours? Seems a bit unfair.
Frese questioning as to Mollie’s boyfriend cheating on her or them having problems seems pretty out there. Just stirring the water. Distasteful approach.
I don’t see how the brothers hunting and owning guns matters. Mollie was not shot. Stirring the waters again, trying to muddy things up.

It is just going to piss off the jury, I think. They have video of his vehicle following her. They have her blood in his trunk, and he told them where her body was. So how does a rumour about a cheating boyfriend or the fact they are hunters change the other facts? Especially when both roomates were out of state, when the murder happened?

It is gaslighting by the defense and I hope the jury is offended.

 

[PommyMommy]

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
After a recess due to a juror feeling unwell (per pool report), state calls Arely Nunez-Lorenzana as its next witness.@kccinews
#BahenaRiveraTrial
2:25 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Nunez-Lorenzana is Cristhian Bahena Rivera's cousin.@kccinews
#BahenaRiveraTrial
2:25 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Klaver is asking about the black Chevy Malibu, which Nunez-Lorenzana says she purchased for Bahena Rivera (in her name). Says she was unaware of anyone but Bahena Rivera ever driving it.@kccinews
#BahenaRiveraTrial
2:28 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Angenette Levy on Twitter
Cristhian Bahena Rivera’s cousin is on the stand. She testifies that she bought the Chevy Malibu for him at his request. He paid her for it. Car was registered to her@LawCrimeNetwork

[URL='https://twitter.com/Angenette5/status/1395099302553284610']2:29 PM · May 19, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone[/URL]

Chris Gothner KCCI on Twitter
Nunez-Lorenzana says she granted permission for law enforcement to search the car.@kccinews
#BahenaRiveraTrial
2:30 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[usnuzuloose]

I bet she never makes another purchase for anyone.

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Lorenzana says she doesn't recognize a chrome cover on the side mirror of the car. Says she can't recall if it was there when she bought it.
2:32 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Angenette Levy on Twitter
Here are photos of the Chevy Malibu @LawCrimeNetwork

2:32 PM · May 19, 2021 from Davenport, IA·Twitter for iPhone

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Cross-exam: Jennifer Frese asking about family relationship. Lorenzana's mother is CBR's aunt.
2:34 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Before he moved to Brooklyn, we were close." After he moved, no.
2:34 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Lorenzana says CBR has family in the Tama/Toledo area and lived there for a while. More than two years, she says.
2:35 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
When asked why CBR couldn't buy the car himself, Lorenzana says, "He wasn't able to." Frese asks if it's because he didn't have [immigration] papers. "Yes."
2:36 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PrairieWind]

Is there some reason the attorneys on both sides are sitting down while asking questions? Is it a COVID thing?

Yes, Covid. It happens in my district too. The court doesn't allow the use of the podium as it is a communal area. So you have to do your presentation/questioning from counsel table. Microphones at counsel table are not set for standing, so you have to sit. When you spend a whole career questioning witnesses from the podium, suddenly doing it from the counsel table is very weird.

 

[PrairieWind]

So please tell me how Dalton stepping out on Mollie at the beginning of their relationship, that Mollie knew about and got past, somehow exonerates Rivera of murder. I don’t understand why the judge allowed that line of questioning. The defense is worse than I thought they would be.

It wasn't objected to by the Prosecution and I think the Judge is going to grant a lot of leeway here. Fewer appealable issues.

 

[BUF]

Finished for the day...

 

[PommyMommy]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Have you ever known Cristhian to be a violent man?" Objection sustained. "Have you ever had any bad interactions with CBR?" No allowed to answer due to another objection. End of cross.
2:37 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Lorenzana says there was a family gathering in July 2018. "Did Cristhian seem happy?" Frese says. "Yes." He had a date coming up, Lorenzana says.
2:40 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
That's it for the day.
2:40 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Wow, surprisingly early out after a surprisingly quick opening statement from the State. Defense deferred opening statement. Back at it again at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
2:41 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

 

[PrairieWind]

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Lorenzana says she doesn't recognize a chrome cover on the side mirror of the car. Says she can't recall if it was there when she bought it.
2:32 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Cross-exam: Jennifer Frese asking about family relationship. Lorenzana's mother is CBR's aunt.
2:34 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
"Before he moved to Brooklyn, we were close." After he moved, no.
2:34 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
Lorenzana says CBR has family in the Tama/Toledo area and lived there for a while. More than two years, she says.
2:35 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Shannon Moudy on Twitter
When asked why CBR couldn't buy the car himself, Lorenzana says, "He wasn't able to." Frese asks if it's because he didn't have [immigration] papers. "Yes."
2:36 PM · May 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

This is a bit interesting. The defense has voluntarily opened the door to the issue of the Defendant's immigration status. Normally that would not be admissible.

 

[katydid23]

To create doubt that it may have been her boyfriend and not their client

But her boyfriend was in Des Moine, not Brooklyn, IA, when the murder happened.
And her boyfriend didn't have her blood in his trunk and didn't lead LE to her body.

So this is so ridiculous and appalling. It is going to come back and bite them, in my opinion.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Short day. Hope they’re not all like that.

 

[katydid23]

What type of evidence do they have against the defendant?

A confession, a video of his vehicle following her as she was jogging, her blood in his trunk, and when he confessed he led LE to her body, where he had hidden her in a cornfield.