I recall from what was shown in court that her feet would have been approx 20 inches off the ground from where the rope length measurements were verified. I remember thinking as this was explained that it was very lucky she didnt hit the ground, when it was shown.
This fact also wasnt lost on the jury IMO.
When we all looked at the rope over the edge of the balcony on the picture on the screen in court, and heard AS testimony, it just didnt seem to fit, if that makes sense...with to what AS was saying he did.
It seemed clear from the height where the rope showed RZ was hanging AS could quite easily have reached to cut her down. Also, the was it before or after the 911 questioning, AS said words to the effect of , ...well I must have cut her down after I called as it sounds like thats what Im doing... it was so vague...
The table also looked very unstable, and AS said he got down holding RZ without any difficulty at all. ( I stood on my table at home which is the same height after this testimony to see what its like...theres absolutely no way I could get down by jumping, on my own let alone with a dead weight) ( you guys should try this! It gives you perspective)
Also, Mr Greer kept stopping the tape after each section of the call, especially when there was a lot of huffing and puffing and he said what are you doing here? AS said, ...sounds like cutting her down ( there was lots of heavy breathing)
After several similar questions Mr G asked him to demonstate how he was holding AZ, and cut her down. AS did so, and had one arm around her imaginary body, and one in the air with the imaginary knife. Mr Greer then said, so wheres the phone? How did you do all that while holding the phone?
Everyone sort of went...oh yeah! Where is the phone!
AS then replied ....maybe it was in the grass, maybe I put it down..
Greer- But we could hear you breathing, it sounded as if was very close to your face...( it was VERY obviously close to his face from the sound IMO)
AS ..I dont recall where it was...probably I put it on the grass... was the reply.
Im paraphrazing here, from my best recollection, and this is my opinion only, but the general feeling for me was that it was another thing in the proceedings that just didnt add up , and I believe for the jury members too.
Mr Greer really needs to remind the jurors of these stand out moments in his summing up and closing argument, like revisiting the time there was the gasp in the courtroom when the detective said she didnt fingerprint RZs phone....
Thanks Lezah, as always, for providing this feedback. It really gives me a much clearer perspective because the whole "hanging" situation (among others) just didn't make sense to me, as AS explained it.
First of all, is there anyone, other than AS who has stated or testified to the fact that they actually saw RZ hanging from the balcony at Speckels Mansion? I could be wrong, but I don't believe there is. That detail has never fared well with me because the media has always reported that RZ was found hanged at her boyfriend's mansion.. and the only person, to my knowledge that ever stated he saw her actually hanging was AS. And after watching his polygraph and watching him testify in this trial, let's just say his credibility is nil with me right about now. By the time first responders and/or LE officers arrived at the mansion, I believe AS stated he had already cut RZ down, (whether he did that before he called 911 or after -well, the jury's still out on that one - pun intended). But to my knowledge, no one other than AS ever saw RZ physically hanging from the balcony. Yet, SDSO declared she committed suicide. Ok.
Second, I am of the opinion that RZ was never hanging from the balcony at all. Let me clarify. I don't believe she actually jumped over the balcony wall. No suicide here. And I believe any hanging scenario would've been staged. My opinion of this is based on testimony given by experts such as Dr. Cyril Wecht and AS's own version of events, especially when he talks of cutting RZ down, while standing on the infamous 3-legged table. Oh yea, while holding the phone, talking to the 911 operator. Ok.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Lezah, that Mr. Greer needs to remind the jury in his closing arguments that this is just one aspect of AS's version of events that just don't add up. Because there certainly are many that just don't add up. All of you here have done a fine job in listing them.
I want to share a tiny bit of info. I've lived in Phoenix for over 19 years. At one point about 10 minutes from Paradise Valley. My family and I have vacationed in San Diego a few times. We last went to Coronado Beach about 3 years ago. I don't know anyone at all involved in this case, but I have been hearing about the case a lot over the years, living in Phoenix. I'm only sharing that bit of background info because I read a previous post in which someone said they thought a lot of posters here were emotionally invested, etc. I'm not emotionally invested in this case at all, per se. However, I believe right is right and wrong is wrong. And after watching the portions of this trial that have been live streamed, after listening to podcasts, after reading articles regarding the case ad nauseam, and by a preponderance of the evidence that I have been exposed to, the only logical conclusion I can come to is AS is responsible for the death of, (i.e, murdered) RZ.
My own opinion.