GUILTY TX - Haruka Weiser, 18, found murdered, UT-Austin campus, 3 April 2016 *Arrest*

[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 25m25 minutes ago
The next witness is Eartha Brunette, from Killeen. She said the defendant, Meechaiel Criner lived in her house for approximately 6 months. One of the first questions is about the glasses Criner were, probably because there were glasses found at the crime scene.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 24m24 minutes ago
Now hearing from Eartha Burnett, a Killeen woman who took in foster care children, including Meechaiel Criner, who lived with her for six months until March 2016.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 21m21 minutes ago
Brunette (corrected spelling) said she took Criner to get eye glasses after he came to live with her. He broke them and got a replacement pair. Black glasses were found near Weiser's body.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 22m22 minutes ago
Brunette says the school colors are green and the mascot is an eagle. At the abandoned building, APD officers found a green shirt with an eagle on it, along with an orange bandana and a motorcycle jacket. Video techs say these clothes were worn by the suspect in Weiser's death.
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 13m13 minutes ago
Now on the stand: Eyemart Express manager Nolia Warren. She'll likely say she fitted Criner for the glasses that investigators say were found at the scene.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 16m16 minutes ago
Brunette is done testifying. The next witness is Noelia Warren, also from Killeen. She is a store manager and optician for Eyemart Express. This store was the one who gave Criner his eyeglasses in late 2015.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 8m8 minutes ago
Warren says Eyemart Express sold the style of glasses that were found at the crime scene.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 6m6 minutes ago
Warren says she recognized the prescription in the glasses found at the scene as the same prescription and frame that she sold Criner in February 2016.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 27m27 minutes ago
The pupillary distance of the glasses differs from Criner's prescription, defense lawyer Jaime Slaughter notes in his questioning of Warren. But Warren testifies that the difference is minimal and may be the result of human error.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 31m31 minutes ago
The next witness is John Deapan, who works at Budget Optical in Killeen. I believe he is about to testify about giving an eye examination to Meechaiel Criner.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 35m35 minutes ago
Next up: Killeen optometrist John Deapen.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 23m23 minutes ago
Deapen says Criner has severe astigmatism. Criner came in for an examination on Nov. 9, 2015.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 8m8 minutes ago
Glasses found at homicide scene matches the prescription that Deapen wrote for Criner, Deapen says.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 10m10 minutes ago
Deapan said he believed the prescription in eyeglasses found at the crime scene was consistent with the prescription he had given to Meechaiel Criner in November 2015. He said he came to this conclusion after analyzing the glasses with a machine and analyzing them manually.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 4m4 minutes ago
The defense has asked a lot of questioning to Deapan about pupilary distance, which is, shockingly, the distance between pupils. The issue is that the distance in the glasses found at the scene was 12 mm. less than the distance measured of Criner's eyes during his examination.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 13m13 minutes ago
Optometrist is off the stand and we are breaking for 15 minutes.
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 12m12 minutes ago
Regarding issue from last week about Criner's missing documents, Judge Wahlberg said he had correspondence with Sheriff Sally Hernandez today. Her office for the third time has turned over what they say is the complete collection of documents that Criner prepared before trial.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 7m7 minutes ago
With jury out of the room, Criner seems animated, perhaps indicating that maybe the collection of documents is still incomplete. I couldn't make out the conversation he was having with sheriff's deputies. His lawyers are going through the new stack of papers.
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2m2 minutes ago
Some of Criner's property is still missing. Wahlberg: "I think at this point it's a fair conclusion it was destroyed." Defense attorney Ariel Payan moves for mistrial. Wahlberg denies motion, saying he can't identify any harm that has been done to Criner's case.
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 41m41 minutes ago
Next to testify: Austin police detective Anthony Nelson.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 58m58 minutes ago
The next person to testify is, I believe, Detective Nelson. He was the primary detective in the investigation of Weiser's homicide and the author of the Criner's arrest affidavit. The defense mentioned earlier today that they're going to have a lot of questions for him.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 31m31 minutes ago
Nelson said he had to make a big decision to released surveillance video of suspect to public. It could have produced leads - it did - but also given suspect chance to dump evidence such as duffel bag he was carrying that resembles Weiser's.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 26m26 minutes ago
The jury was just asked to leave the court room. The judge seems like he's having an intense discussion with the attorneys right now concerning Nelson's testimony. It's hard to hear what they're saying, but I believe it's related to the homeless shelter Criner was taken to.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 36m36 minutes ago
The jury is back. No explanation for why they were asked to leave, but Nelson is now simply continuing his testimony.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 29m29 minutes ago
Nelson just finished his testimony, walking the jury through the series of his investigation of Weiser's death.. We're now about to take a lunch break, before continuing the cross-examination of Nelson.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 29m29 minutes ago
As prosecutors wrap up their questioning of Nelson, judge looks at the clock and says it's a good time to break for lunch. We'll be back at 1:35 p.m.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 26m26 minutes ago
Wahlberg grants defense motion to exclude from evidence a photo police took of Criner with his hands behind his back - handcuffs not visible - outside of LifeWorks on the day he was arrested.
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[YESorNO]

Student who last saw Weiser alive testifies during Criner trial Day 4
Student who left Winship with Weiser that night, Criner's foster mother testify

Jul 16, 2018

"AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The second week of the capital murder trial for Meechaiel Criner began Monday in Travis County. Testimony picked up where it left off on Friday, with a crime scene analyst employed by the Austin Police Department on the witness stand....

It is anticipated that the trial will conclude by the end of the week."

Student who last saw Weiser alive testifies during Criner trial Day 4
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 37m37 minutes ago
Back after lunch with more testimony from Austin Police detective Anthony Nelson.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 32m32 minutes ago
We're back and hearing more testimony from Nelson. He is continuing his walkthrough of his investigation, which included going to the crime scene and the homeless shelter where Criner was arrested by police.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 16m16 minutes ago
Before Criner's arrest, detectives were looking at a black man who had a history of riding girls bicycles and committing sexual assault. I see no reason at this point to tweet his name. APD did not make contact with him.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 14m14 minutes ago
Check that. Detectives did not speak with the man, but officers did. Detectives called them off during the discussion to go find Criner.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 15m15 minutes ago
Detective Anthony Nelson said his team also spoke with a man who dated Weiser the fall prior to her death.

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 15m15 minutes ago
Nelson said that after they heard about the fire at Medical Arts, they called off the search for the other possible suspect.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 9m9 minutes ago
Detective Tynes is now going to testify. He has testified everyday since testimony began in this case.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 10m10 minutes ago
Det. Nelson leaves the stand and now we get to hear from Det. Ray Tynes for a third time in this trial.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3m3 minutes ago
We're now seeing photos of Criner's room at LifeWorks on South First Street. This is the third and final Austin location where Criner lived before his arrest.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3m3 minutes ago
Tynes is going through items found in Lifeworks, the homeless shelter that firefighters relocated Criner to after finding him at an abandoned building. Noteable items include orange nike shoes, which Tynes said he believed were ones worn by the suspect in the surveillance video.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 5m5 minutes ago
Also in the room is a stained copy of "All The Light We Can Not See," which Weiser's father testified that she had in her possession before her death and a laptop with a Portland sticker, which Weiser's friends testified that she also had in her possession before her death.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2m2 minutes ago
In Criner's LifeWorks room, we see Macbook Pro with Portland sticker, tow strap resembling one detectives believe was used to kill Weiser, and red/orange and black adidas shoes that resembles shoes worn by suspect in surveillance video.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 43m43 minutes ago
We’re on a break now, and when we return we’ll be hearing from another witness, who is likely to be the last witness of the day.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

thank you for all the coverage tweets YESorNO. You always do such a good job but I neglected to like each of the posts. But THANK YOU!!!!!

 

[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 13m13 minutes ago
Following break, we hear from APD crime scene specialist Warren Held, who investigated items found in Criner's room at LifeWorks.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 17m17 minutes ago
We're back. Right now, Warren Held, an APD crime scene specialist, is testifying. He collected various items found at LifeWorks (where Criner was living) and is about to present some of them to the jury.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 13m13 minutes ago
Held displays size 12 red/orange and black adidas shoe as well as Apple Macbook computer.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 9m9 minutes ago
We're now seeing some of the previously mentioned items, like the orange Nike shoes, the Macbook laptop with the Portland sticker, a grey backpack, and the blue duffel bag with reddish-pink straps.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 15m15 minutes ago
Lots of questions about the wetness/dryness of the jeans found at LifeWorks from the defense. The jeans found in Lifeworks, unlike all of the clothes found at the abandoned building, were not described as damp or sandy by Held in his examination of the clothes.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 11m11 minutes ago
Held has just finished testifying. The next witness is John Prata, another crime scene specialist with the Austin Police Department.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 8m8 minutes ago
Prata is showing a picture he took of a calculator and a Winnie the Pooh pencil bag, which I believe were both taken at Lifeworks. Both of them have Haruka Weiser's name on them. He is about to now about to show these physical items to the jury.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 8m8 minutes ago
CORRECTION: These were collected from CPS at a later date. That's all the testimony from Prata.
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[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 4h4 hours ago
The jury was just dismissed, due to the defense contesting evidence because a) the evidence was collected w/o a search warrant and b) it was randomly delivered to the defense and then they were then compelled to produce them. The judge denies the motion to suppress the evidence.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 4h4 hours ago
Detective Nelson just finished testifying for like two minutes about a tablet found at the scene. Now we're going to hear from the final witness; Jennifer Benitez, who is a latent (finger)print examiner with the Austin Police.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 4h4 hours ago
Benitez says she took prints from the white van, which the suspect in the homicide is seen touching multiple times in surveillance video. Benitez says there was one fingerprint suitable for comparison and the only match was the owner of the van. No matches for Criner.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 4h4 hours ago
Benitez said were also no fingerprint matches for the eyeglasses found at the scene. That will end the trial today. Judge wants the jury to be back at 8:30 tomorrow, which means we'll probably start close to 8:40AM tomorrow.
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[YESorNO]

Police looked at two other men before arresting Criner in UT slaying

July 16, 2018

Police looked at two other men before arresting Criner in UT slaying
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Attorneys focus on scene of fire in third full day of Criner trial
Friday, July 13, 2018

"Witnesses in the trial of Meechaiel Criner testified Friday about the abandoned building where evidence connected to both Haruka Weiser and Meechaiel Criner was found...."

Attorneys focus on scene of fire in third full day of Criner trial - The Daily Texan
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[JerseyGirl]

Student who last saw Weiser alive testifies during Criner trial Day 4

 

[YESorNO]

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 3h3 hours ago
Back in the courtroom for day 5 of the trial. Meechaiel Criner is charged with capital murder.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
The judge has just arrived in the courtroom. He just said he woke up at an "ungodly hour" and was thinking about the motions to suppress evidence by the defense. There may be continued discussion about this today.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Defense wants to suppress evidence: *advertiser censored* videos found on tablet mentioned yesterday. State says they are necessary to show motive bc the *advertiser censored* shows videos of violent sexual conduct against women. State says in one of the videos a woman was killed at the end of the video


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
On the tablet mentioned yesterday, there are several video of violent sexual conduct against women, which the prosecution wants to introduce. The defense is objecting because they haven't seen the videos. The judge wants to suppress them because the videos are "prejudicial".


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
I want to make clear that Criner is not IN these videos. The prosecution says that because the defendants had these videos, it proves that the defendant is violent.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Judge says he has to view the videos first. State insists they need videos to show “preparation, motive, and intent” Criner is not in the videos but state thinks they paint a picture of suspect’s behavior

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
She testified for about 20 seconds. Now we're going to hear from Warren Held, likely for a few seconds just to confirm chain of custody like Aguilar.
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