GUILTY NC - Kathy Taft, 62, Raleigh, 6 March 2010 - #6

[Firstnow]

I wouldn't be very happy if this was my defense attorney. He seems a little too "good old boy" to me.

 

[gracielee]

Yes, she was the court reporter in the jason young trial, wasn't she? I see now, it's all Jessica's fault because she was *angry*, fussing at him. Sheesh.

 

[Secrett]

I wouldn't be very happy if this was my defense attorney. He seems a little too "good old boy" to me.

I had visions of Cheney Mason.

 

[Firstnow]

How did he end up off of Oberlin Road if he lived off of Leesville?

 

[gracielee]

The Ritalin has 'taken over now'. So it wasn't jason, it was the ritalin, that attacked poor KT. Perhaps we should be prosecuting the drug company?

 

[Secrett]

The Ritalin has 'taken over now'. So it wasn't jason, it was the ritalin, that attacked poor KT. Perhaps we should be prosecuting the drug company?

it's not murder or first degree murder because of the non-intent? so.. they're going for manslaughter?

or.. they're going for not guilty by reason of insanity?

 

[Boodles]

I feel sick.

 

[LolaBunnies]

How did he end up off of Oberlin Road if he lived off of Leesville?

By the time of the murder he lived over near Oberlin. I think he lived off Leesville at a earlier time.

 

[gracielee]

He certainly understood enough to refuse to give his DNA sample.

 

[Secrett]

they're breaking for lunch now.

 

[gracielee]

it's not murder or first degree murder because of the non-intent? so.. they're going for manslaughter?

or.. they're going for not guilty by reason of insanity?

I'm unsure of the exact reason they are seeking the DP. Can someone advise me? It could be the combination of crimes. A death as the result of committing a felony rape. There is also a B&E, assault with a deadly weapon, the rock, etc.

 

[NCB]

Wow--I'm glad I haven't had lunch yet. If I had to hear one more time what an "under performer" JW was, I would have gagged.

 

[Boodles]

Why is this in court? This should have been plead to life without parole. This is sickening, horrible and the sorriest excuse. So he's an addict and mentally ill. So what? He raped and murdered Kathy. What's the question? He's unrehabilitatable (I don't think that's a word). Lock him up forever.

This is infuriating.

 

[Boodles]

I'm unsure of the exact reason they are seeking the DP. Can someone advise me? It could be the combination of crimes. A death as the result of committing a felony rape. There is also a B&E, assault with a deadly weapon, the rock, etc.

But no DP for the Grant and Amanda case? Ridiculous. No parity here. Besides no one ever gets executed in NC, anyway. Why is the taxpayer money being wasted on this as a DP case? Lock him up, throw away the key forever.

 

[laces]

Gee, I had a totally different take on his lawyer. To me, I thought he displayed compassion for both sides, explained the background for his defense well, and gave a good outline of who was going to be speaking for the defense. This will be an interesting case. ( I just wish I could turn up the sound on my laptop!) They're coming back at 2:30. Hello everybody!

 

[NCB]

Gee, I had a totally different take on his lawyer. To me, I thought he displayed compassion for both sides, explained the background for his defense well, and gave a good outline of who was going to be speaking for the defense. This will be an interesting case. ( I just wish I could turn up the sound on my laptop!) They're coming back at 2:30. Hello everybody!

Laces, are you watching on ABC? I always have a problem with their audio, but WRAL's audio is much better. Of course, the trade off is that WRAL has time outs, but you get a warning beep. Good luck!

 

[borndem]

Who is this attorney? I thought in DP cases DP attornies were assigned, or is that just in some states? This guy doesn't strike me as sharp, for lack of a better word.

He's reputed to be a Big Time defense attorney whose specialty is DP cases. And he and Diane Savage (the female at the DT who is from Chapel Hill and is a DNA specialist, among other areas) were both assigned by a Judge (not Stephens or Gessner) for this trial.

His name is Ernest (Buddy) Connor or Connors (?) is from Greenville, of all places, certainly knew KT, her ex, Tom Taft, and her family. He certainly does not come off as very polished, IMO, but he is speaking to the jury, not us, so we'll see. His manner & delivery must have been successful somewhere because he is apparently very well known & respected in this state. Maybe somebody on this board can speak better to his reputation... One thing he did say this morning was that the DT will "place JW in that house that night," (or close to that), so that will be interesting. I have had a feeling all along that JW had been in that house before -- maybe it was to do with what Connor was just saying -- that JW would get into houses & drink their liquor and/or steal drugs/medications. We'll see...

I think we're just at the beginning of a long and winding road here, folks. So let's just sit back and see where it takes us.

So far, I have no pity for him.

 

[borndem]

Very good idea, GL--do it while you can. Triple coupons begin today at HT--I'm so conflicted...

bbm
Oohhh,me too, NCB!!! I've got my coupon shopping list all ready to go....

Now when will we go?? When???:waitasec:

Midnight or later?? Ackkk. :what:

 

[borndem]

How did he end up off of Oberlin Road if he lived off of Leesville?

They were living in a quadruplex on Wayland Drive -- his wife was the "renter" of record since she had a job. Maybe it was close to where she worked -- or maybe she lived there before they got married -- no idea.

 

[borndem]

it's not murder or first degree murder because of the non-intent? so.. they're going for manslaughter?

or.. they're going for not guilty by reason of insanity?

It's not an insanity defense, but Connor called it "diminished capacity" this morning -- even though in testing JW scored just a few points shy of "gifted." Poor guy. Not.