Starting second thread for Wagner murder trial. Defense almost done with defense closings - then Andy Wilson will handle final rebuttal for prosecution.
Parker: Few final points. Angela testified Billy told her to buy two pairs of shoes. It was Billy and Jake who planned it. Pointing out inconsistencies in Jake and Angela's testimony
Parker says state has introduced "distractions" - is it possible Jake wore two left shoes? George got nothing for his testimony - compare that to George and Angela.
Says guys in Alaska would hire him now even with everything going on. That's got to count for something
Compare these guns and gun culture like a $20 or $50 bill - they used them like currency.
"The law requires you to consider Jake and Angela's testimony with grave suspicion ... there's no proof here beyond a reasonable doubt." "His mother wouldn't even look at him.”
Parker asks jury if they believe George was there, that they remember he had no intent to kill and that he only went along to protect Jake from his father.
"I ask you to return a verdict of not guilty all charges, George wasn’t even up there, there’s nothing even credible here to say otherwise ... George didn’t do this, he is different than Jake he is different than Angela." Parker finishes by pounding on the podium.
Wilson on the rebuttal: Says Parker destroyed his case. You can't have it both ways - either George was there or he wasn't. If you have two defenses, means you have no credible defense.
Wilson: He is guilty of aggravated murder ... lists all the victims' names. Then says "you better believe that he is up to his eyeballs in this with his family”
Says Jake had his chance to throw his brother under the bus by saying he pulled trigger on SKS. But he didn't. Wilson says that doesn't matter - he can still be guilty of aggravated murder in Ohio.
If you aid assist or abet - you are guilty. Wilson brings up buying the phone jammer from China - fraud detection called George and he authorized it.
Wilson: That alone shows you he aided and abetted. Walking through all the other things he allegedly did to prepare including false bed.
Calls the impromptu plan to use Chris Sr's truck and have two vehicles was "brilliant" and makes perfect sense.
After Montana interview if you are innocent "You better believe when you get out to the car, you would say 'what the hell was that?' Mom how in the world are shell casings from the murder weapon on our property?"
Run though list of 20 things that you can't do if you're really innocent that they think George did. "And that's not a cumuluative list." "It shows you have accepted that group intent.”
Wilson suggests they pull out complicity instructions and apply to each charge and each count even though it's written as if he's principal offender. If they find he's complicit by aiding and abetting, he's guilty.
Shows picture of Wagner family after the murders - Wilson says those kids were "going to be raised Wagners" referring to Jake and George's daughter and son. They stole George's son wiped out an entire family to get Jake's daughter
Says the allegations of sexual abuse of Jake's daughter "wasn't true ... it was their playbook" - common planner's theme under the law. Accused previous people of abuse "to push them out”
But Hanna was stronger than the other women - had a strong support system and family - gestures to the Rhoden family in the gallery.
Wilson: Make no mistake, their desire to raise (*advertiser censored*) 100 percent as Wagners was the motive in this case.
Says if you peel back the case another layer - this is about control and power. The playbook is the same all the time. "The Wagners need to control these children, these grandchildren, need to be raised. That's a group think.”
Wilson: "Who's running the show? It's him" pointing to George. Also says he manipulated his son at Montana border. "No way he's sitting on the sidelines"
Wilson says they waited to put Jake on stand to show you depth and complexity of the investigation before Jake pleaded guilty.
Talking through how they started suspecting Wagners - Billy lied to BCI agents, then the search warrants uncovered shell casings matching those at scene. "BCI had the Wagners, had them, well before Jake came forward.”
Says Jake is a "terrible, terrible human being. He's evil. He's going to spend the rest of his life locked in a cage."
But state entered the deal with one thing in mind - to get murder weapons. "Those guns were incredibly important." Needed them because of drugs - that was the Wagners' ruse and needed to finally disprove it.
When Jake led us to the guns, it flipped that defense 100 percent. Destroyed all the rumors heard in community as well. "No more arguing that it was the cartel.”
Also calls Angela Wagner a terrible human being, she's evil. "Even though she didn't go up to Union Hill Road, you better believe she is complicit."
"As distasteful as it was to deal with Jake and Angela, their testimony corroborates all the other evidence." Everybody in the family participated in the murders and everybody is guilty.
"Let's be real, who moved those bodies ... it was the defendant" talking about Chris Sr's trailer.
Wilson answering all the inconsistencies Parker brought up in defense. Also says they didn't play tape of George at Montana border as strategic move because then he doesn't have to testify. Only way he can get his story out then is take stand and be cross examined
Says George was clearly coached and practiced his answers when he took the stand. Answering questions before Parker even finished the question, including context before Parker framed it.
Asks jury if they noticed his body language when he would deny his involvement. Had a major tell. Looked straight down before answering anything to do with the crimes.
Wilson looks at co counsel, makes speed up sign. Then tells jury he is passing over 10 pages of notes. "There comes a time that there is nothing that I say that you don't know." "It's time to let you do your job"
"Over last three months we've given you all the evidence you need to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He knew about it and participated in it ... if you make that finding, at that point, he's guilty ... and that's what you'll do because that's what he is."
And with that, we're done until 1 p.m. Jury will get jury instructions starting at 1.
and wondered if they were showing all scenes. So gory!!
