Settle down all you naysayers - this is a solid case, and they'll have the DNA admitted towards the end of their case because it's the most compelling evidence. In the opening statement and I think one of the witnesses said there was A LOT of Christina's DNA in the trunk, not just trace amounts. It's not blood, but that doesn't matter.
No reasonable doubt:
1. Last person to see Christina while walking her to car at 4:00 a.m., Christina never seen leaving
2. Lied to police about where he parked and said he went straight home, but toll records and cell phone records and surveillance video show otherwise
3. Had injuries on his arms the day after Christina's disappearance - doesn't matter whether the pictures of 9/3 look worse under different light; his co-worker saw the injuries the next day and EA lied and said he got in a fight and had "a guy" in a chokehold, but gave different story to other co-workers and police. No one who saw EA on 8/29 saw any injuries on his arm
4. Said Christina was never in his car, but there's apparently a bunch of her DNA in his trunk.
That's enough, folks.
In my list of compelling evidence above, I left out:
5. CM and EA's cell phones pinged the same towers at the same times throughout the morning hours until EA pinged at home at 5:30 a.m.
I agree mostly, except I actually think they have ALREADY shown enough to get a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Here at WS we all want that smoking gun piece of evidence, and get really dismissive of anything presented that falls short of that - - but as you've pointed out, the evidence is compelling and obvious, as witness after witness has reinforced the truths that ...
1 CM disappeared that night
2 EA was the last person she was ever seen with
3 His own explanation for where she went and what he did in relation to her has been proven to be untrue - so he has no explanation to offer as an alternative
4 His stories and ensuing actions don't make sense, don't add up, and conflict with himself
5 All of his lying and attempts to cover up the truth is a strong hint that he's probably guilty, all by itself. We all know that, and so does the jury.
6 CM could ONLY have exited that garage with EA - there was no other way out
7 We have plenty of evidence he was in a struggle and that his car was damaged that night, after he and CM entered that garage but before he got to work
8 CM has never been seen or heard from since
None of those are smoking guns, But we know they are true, they've been proven, and when you add one of them with the next, they tell us the story. EA kidnapped CM and made her vanish, plain and simple. We debate things like whether someone else could have also been involved later on - but that is a rabbit trail that doesn't erase EA's actions. We debate where she ended up and proof of her demise, perhaps, but again those are only rabbit trails.
As long as the prosecution keeps the jury and the case focused on the facts and on this crime, imo those distractions won't arise there.
Put all that together, stir in some common sense, and as I see it everyone already knows who abducted her. I don't think the jury is stupid, so I believe they already know it too. And there's more evidence to come.
