Trial - Ross Harris #7

[just the facts pls]

Was RH ever diagnosed with ADD or ADHD? Needing prompts like the text "get to work, OK?" from his wife may have been the pattern in his life all along. Even a coworker said that he forgot things that were told or asked of him in a short amount of time.

Remember his co-worker also testified that JRH was capable of getting tasks done in the beginning, but then his work started to drop off. After JRH didn't get the promotion he wanted, he started looking for another job. Then he started being "forgetful" at work.

About a week after Cooper's death, co-worker also told detectives that he was in fact not forgetful. It would appear we have conflicting statements from the same person. I don't think it's unreasonable to draw the conclusion that JRH has selective memory depending on if he's getting what he wants.

 

[just the facts pls]

Or she smothered him and treated him like a toddler and he felt the need to escape.....

One would think if JRH had ADHD or some other mental issue, that LH's testimony would have reflected that. The defense had an opportunity to explain why LH was put in a position to shoulder the adult responsibilities of the marriage, but they didn't. I found that very odd. I also find it odd that JRH would be described as immature and irresponsible and certainly in some ways he was, but as LH testified they split the chores and child care. I was fully expecting LH to testify that JRH was depressed or had a head injury but nothing came of it. At the end, I was under the impression that LH had to struggle to get JRH to cooperate with her because JRH cannot handle a relationship between equals.

Of course, I'm probably speaking too soon anyway. I'm sure the paid psychology expert already has a handy diagnosis to excuse JRH's behavior, as if there already aren't enough of those to go around.

 

[matou]

Yeah the prompt from Leanna was her likely knowing he was slacking off. I can't believe she was driving 50 minutes to pick up Cooper after work when he worked right there. Another way he was totally taking advantage of her and she was letting it happen. JMO

 

[Cardinal47]

I noticed when standing for the jury today he's almost a head taller than Rodriguez the tallest one.

I hope the jury is noticing that and the State points that out in closing. His head was way tall sitting in his car!

 

[Hope4More]

The jurors would only need to believe that second degree child cruelty caused Cooper's death to convict him of felony murder.

Yes, but that's my point. If I understand correctly, the felony murder is a separate charge that must be voted on separately. So, even if the jury votes guilty on 2CC and COULD just check off guilty on that felony murder charge , without futher deliberation, doesn't mean they MUST.

 

[minor4th]

So the state has to prove he

1) Purposely left him in the car to die for one of the variation of motives they presented despite not needing to present motive at all. I.e. wanted a divorce although texted he was happily married less sex life or for money reasons because "that joker drains his account" which ..... Kids do exactly that.

2) Prove sexting the minor caused the death and show that he should have known sexting a minor could lead to him leaving his child, whom by all accounts he adored, in the car leading to his death.

3) They at a min hope the jury thinks texting in general while in the company of your child could lead to negligence that one should know danger could come to the child.

3 is the closest they got IMO and is that an option for the jury? Is that criminal neglegance? Brings me back to my question ... when does an accident become criminal? In GA you have to have some kind of intent or knowledge harm can come ... That's what I understand it to be.

I will be interested to see if the defense puts up any type of defense as it relates to the minor situation. Or are they hoping the jury forgets? I can't imagine it would be worth trying.

It's #1 or #3 - sexting a minor has nothing to do with the murder charges.

 

[katydid23]

Yes indeed, there could be. But is not another "coincidence" to add to your list, that Ross wanted to be free at lunchtime, and not tied up in a meeting?

Personally, I'm wondering why it was the defense that elicited testimony from project manager dude about the rescheduling, and his communications with Ross about it that AM.

Maybe because they don't want to do what the DT is trying to do----setting up the 'stress factor' so Dr Diamond can check it off on his list of FBS factors.

 

[minor4th]

Would you check out my post on the last page with charges and their meanings? Would love your input.

I saw it. It is not exactly right but I'm too tired at the moment to address it fully. I will get to it, I promise.

 

[just the facts pls]

I noticed when standing for the jury today he's almost a head taller than Rodriguez the tallest one.

I hope the jury is noticing that and the State points that out in closing. His head was way tall sitting in his car!

I agree, his height is a big factor in this case. Not only can he see down into the car seat, the driver's side seat would be pushed back to accommodate his legs. This puts the driver's seat in even closer proximity to the car seat.

 

[Hope4More]

Maybe because they don't want to do what the DT is trying to do----setting up the 'stress factor' so Dr Diamond can check it off on his list of FBS factors.

But, if I understand their theory correctly, Ross decided to kill Cooper because he WAS stressed and " at the breaking point" to use the words in a RH text the State has emphasized, and hence in need of an "escape."

 

[Cardinal47]

I wonder if Leanne knewRoss was letting things slip at work? With bills and running a home and daycare his pie in the sky project probably took time from his income producing job.

Was she after him to grow up and be responsible?

Ross was failing in a lot of areas in his life. Was Cooper the victim of those failures?

 

[arkansasmimi]

There's no way I could be a defense attorney... ugh.

I couldn't be one either.... haven't been to law school. But... Thank God that we have Prosecutors when we need them and Good Defense Attorneys if there is ever a need. Sounds like someone fussing about LEO until they need one.

 

[katydid23]

interesting info on jurors in the narrator trial:

http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/jury-foreman-from-naramore-trial-speaks


"It was very emotional," she said of trial. "I know that some of the jurors cried fairly openly."

The juror voted to acquit Naramore saying his actions didn't fit the charge.

"My understanding of the charge was that the way it read you almost had to be conscious that you had left the child in the car," she said.

When Naramore took the stand, the juror said, "I believed his testimony."

By the time jurors got to the deliberation room, she was convinced Naramore was not guilty but other disagreed and refused to change their minds. But after the judge urged them to continue deliberations, the jury came to a unanimous not guilty verdict.

"I don't know what swayed them," she said. "We kind of just said 'we're going to let you look at what you need to look at.'"

SNIP......


When it comes to those who struggle to understand how a parent could leave their child in a hot car, the juror said "we hear about it every single summer. You hear about it happening, and I would venture to say that those parents would've said the same thing."

 

[monkeypants]

I wonder if Leanne knewRoss was letting things slip at work? With bills and running a home and daycare his pie in the sky project probably took time from his income producing job.

Was she after him to grow up and be responsible?

Ross was failing in a lot of areas in his life. Was Cooper the victim of those failures?

So for 9 years LT ran the finances but then RH takes over 6 months before he kills cooper...why the change? She was self admitted very controlling with the finances so why give them up to him? I know why he wanted to do them, much easier to cover his tracks on money for adult sites, prostitues etc..but why did she accept that change?

 

[arkansasmimi]

Here's what I would want to see as a jury in order to be firmly convinced of pre-meditated murder in this case:

1. Some actual research and interest in getting rid of a child and making it look like an accident

2. Strong evidence of a motive to leave his family - like a serious real relationship with a child-less woman who has made it clear she won't commit to Ross because he has a kid

3. Planning for the day of the event and an obvious attempt to hide his actions. e.g. parking in a very remote location where Cooper could not be saved, somewhere completely illogical; not going to a movie that day; not tossing light bulbs in the car at lunch - but actually getting in the car for some amount of time to check on Cooper. Secretly docking away thousands of dollars to start a new life with a specific and compelling love interest. Evidence that he specifically deleted and tried to hide incriminating evidence on his phone.

4. Distancing himself from Cooper leading up to the event.

5. Some kind of planning for after the event, including not talking to the police so much; definitely not yelling F you at police. Not sexting minors that police will obviously discover on his confiscated phone.

6. Literally showing no reaction or emotion.

7. A history of expressed discontent with his child and being a father.

8. Some kind of really suspicious behavior that is so obviously bizarre and unreasonable. (Like making concrete anchors in the garage and going fishing on Christmas Eve).

Those things together might be the kind of circumstantial case that paint a clear picture of a father who doesn't want his son and has planned his murder.

The evidence that has been presented doesn't come close. All we have is a string of unrelated tidbits that at most raise suspicion. Enough to lead a person that believe it's possible Ross planned this and murdered his child. But the evidence doesn't come close to excluding all other reasonable inferences and interpretations of the evidence.

One would think a Prosecutor would want those things too :thinking: Especially one that has cost so much $$ and put so much spotlight on their office. JMHO But then again with this judge doesn't seem to matter either.

 

[just the facts pls]

I wonder if Leanne knewRoss was letting things slip at work? With bills and running a home and daycare his pie in the sky project probably took time from his income producing job.

Was she after him to grow up and be responsible?

Ross was failing in a lot of areas in his life. Was Cooper the victim of those failures?

I think that's a good question. I don't recall LH testifying that JRH's life was stressful or failing except that he was very discouraged he didn't get a promotion or the job at Chik-Fil-A. Chik-Fil-A offered free child care so that would have helped them a lot with bills. It might be one of the reasons JRH became even unhappier with his life.

As far as the strangers he communicated with, it appears the only thing he disclosed to them was that he was unhappy being married with a child.

Something else I noticed - JRH told the woman he was texting with that his wife didn't let him go out to the movies. That doesn't appear to be true because he's not texting his wife permission to go the movies. He just talked to his friends and made plans regardless.

 

[arkansasmimi]

I agree with you both. I would assume the court has negotiated somewhat of a reduced hourly fee from his norm and he is able to put food on the table easily, but I am not sure he has risen to the name recognition of a Baez. When it's all said and done, he will probably increase his gross income a couple of million per yr after this trial.

JMHO, Mr. Kilgore, Rodriques and Lumpkin have earned it.

 

[just the facts pls]

So for 9 years LT ran the finances but then RH takes over 6 months before he kills cooper...why the change? She was self admitted very controlling with the finances so why give them up to him? I know why he wanted to do them, much easier to cover his tracks on money for adult sites, prostitues etc..but why did she accept that change?

I think she accepted the change because she was willing to do anything to make her marriage work. There could be any number of scenarios but I think you are right it would make it easier for him to cover his tracks. He may have become bolder in his cheating because he finally had the opportunity to pay for the services he wanted.

I've known a lot of people from all walks of life. It is not uncommon for one person to handle the finances, but I've also observed that situation change when relationships are deteriorating. It's usually the person who is unhappy that ends up getting a separate checking account. I was not surprised when I learned there was a change in how they handled their finances.

 

[arkansasmimi]

Mr. Lumpkin

I am criminal defense attorney T.Bryan Lumpkin. From my law office in Marietta, Georgia, I am committed to providing smart, aggressive and detail-oriented criminal defense representation to clients throughout the north metro Atlanta region.

I have more than 20 years of experience in criminal law, including more than a decade of experience as a felony prosecutor. I have the experience and legal skills to develop an effective defense strategy against felony and misdemeanor charges.

My experience as a former prosecutor gives me a valuable depth of knowledge about how the state prepares its cases, as well as the legal and procedural complexities of the criminal justice system. This allows me to find and vigorously attack all of the factual and legal weaknesses in the case brought against you.

For more than 20 years, I have practiced exclusively in criminal law. Prior to starting my own law practice, I was a felony prosecutor in Cobb County and in Coastal Georgia. During that time, I spent four years prosecuting complex and high-profile cases, including State v. Turner — a murder case involving antifreeze poisoning which aired on Court TV. I am a highly experienced trial attorney who has taken more than 80 felony jury trials to verdict, litigated more than 100 bench trials and represented clients in hundreds of hearings. I am very comfortable in the courtroom and am familiar with the local prosecutors, judges and court staff. http://www.lumpkinlaw.com/

OH I remember that case here is link about it http://law.justia.com/cases/georgia/supreme-court/2007/s06a1971-1.html

 

[Cardinal47]

So for 9 years LT ran the finances but then RH takes over 6 months before he kills cooper...why the change? She was self admitted very controlling with the finances so why give them up to him? I know why he wanted to do them, much easier to cover his tracks on money for adult sites, prostitues etc..but why did she accept that change?

Maybe that was her way of trying to make him a responsible adult.

If he was spending money on hookers instead of family needs she could have reached her limit in complaining.

Then too weren't they in counseling? That could have been suggested by their counselor.