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

[YESorNO]

UT MURDER TRIAL TIMELINE: Here's a wrap up of the Texas student death trial so far.

"As the capital murder trial for the man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a University of Texas at Austin student unfolds, here's everything you need to know...."

UT MURDER TRIAL TIMELINE: Here's a wrap up of the Texas student death trial so far.
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'I'm just here to tell my story': Meechaiel Criner takes the stand (with clip)

"AUSTIN (KXAN) — On the sixth day of testimony in Meechaiel Criner's capital murder trial, his attorney called him to the stand Wednesday afternoon after the prosecution rested their case....

Reactions from the courtroom and legal experts weigh in

"Honestly it was extremely shocking," said Joell McNew, vice president of SafeHorns, a nonprofit that advocates for safety on UT's campus.

"Seeing the autopsy and knowing how severely she was beaten and raped, that made it more shocking," McNew said.

Defense attorney Charlie Baird isn't directly involved in the case, but he told KXAN, "It's rare that somebody would take the stand in a murder case."

However, Baird said it does happen, and in some cases, it could end in an acquittal....

Baird said he expects the jury to take a while to deliberate on this case because of how much evidence has been presented....

'I'm just here to tell my story': Meechaiel Criner takes the stand
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Back in court for what could be final day of Meechaiel Criner's capital murder trial for April 2016 slaying of UT student Haruka Weiser. Defense will call another witness and state might have rebuttals. Then final arguments. If all goes well, jury will have case by lunch.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
Back in court for day 7 of testimony: Today, defense is expected to call at least one more witness. Closing arguments are also expected to happen today. First up, Defense calls Mark Gillespie, a private investigator.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Jury is seated. The defense has called another witness, Mark Gillespie, a private investigator hired on this case with an extensive background in law enforcement


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Jury as arrived to the courtroom. One of the men is wearing a suit - first time I have ever seen a juror in a suit.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
I could be wrong, but looks like Lori Brown, mother of slain UT student Harrison Brown has entered courtroom. Harrison was killed in May 2017 stabbing attack for which Kendrex White is charged with murder. That was the "other" UT campus homicide.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
Another full courtroom. Today, we were asked to leave the first row empty for Haruka Weiser's family. Her father is in court today again.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
I also believe I see Lori Brown, Harrison Brown's mom. Brown was a UT student killed on campus in May of 2017.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Also in the court room is Lori Brown, the mother of UT student Harrison Brown who was killed on campus in May 2017. Weiser’s & Brown’s deaths prompted concern and calls for extensive campus safety improvements. Brown has told me she is here to show support for the Weiser family


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Gillespie accompanied defense attorney Ariel Payan on 4/16/2006 to look at the area where Haruka Weiser’s body was found


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
One correction: the date the private investigator first looked at Waller Creek and took photos was 4/15/2006. He said he almost fell a number of times because of the slippery nature of the rocks


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Oh dear. I should have typed 4/15/2016


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 1h1 hour ago
Gillespie is testifying about when he went to Waller Creek with the defense attorneys. Thomas Weiser, Haruka Weiser's father, and Lori Brown, Harrison Brown's mother, are both in the courtroom. Harrison Brown was a student killed on campus in May 2017.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
Getting a look at the man-made pathway. Gillespie says it's a fairly steep drop-off from the path to the bank.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 59m59 minutes ago
Prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez going hard at Gillespie for not taking photos of rocky area where hammer was found along Waller Creek.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 59m59 minutes ago
It's a little unclear why the defense has Gillespie testifying. Gillespie is showing photos about what he says was "treacherous" terrain around the area where Weiser was found. Prosecution is saying he didn't take enough photos of the area (aka where the hammer was found).


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 52m52 minutes ago
The state challenges Gillespie because he doesn’t know where the hammer was found exactly so how could he know how easy it was to access that part of the creek? The defense points out that Gillespie was not allowed to access the creek when evidence was still there


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 55m55 minutes ago
Gillespie's off the stand. His point was Weiser might have been dragged off the path along Waller Creek at a different area than investigators believe, but he can't be sure. Now, another investigator, John-Erik Palmer, takes the stand. He works for Gillespie.
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[Hatfield]

......snipped for focus...........

or decided to do it knowing he would be caught and jailed which is better than his life outside (as he said, the best thing that ever happened to him).

JMO
I think there maybe something to that. I got that sense too that maybe he was tired of living on the street and did this knowing he would be caught. He may want 3 squares a day and a roof over his head.

Still though. He could have chosen a different crime that did not involve taking someones life. Or he could have stayed in shelters.

If he is found guilty then it was a selfish horrendous thing he did so punishment is due. I am ok with life in prison for murder mainly because it keeps the appeals down and helps prevent the family from having to keep going to courthouses.

 

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Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 54m54 minutes ago
Next up: defense calls John-Erik Palmer. He works for Gillespie Investigations.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 54m54 minutes ago
Now at the stand is John-Erik Palmer, another investigator with Gillespie’s team who helped photograph the scene where Weiser’s body was found


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 52m52 minutes ago
Palmer is pointing out areas on a map. We can see the northern edge of UT campus, Medical Arts Street and St. David's Medical Center off Red River Street. Palmer points out the abandoned building. It's near Red River.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 56m56 minutes ago
Palmer is explaining maps of campus and the area near campus. He has marked dumpsters in the area near the abandoned Medical Arts building where Criner was staying


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 50m50 minutes ago
There are no seats remaining in the court. Everyone with a seat is listening to Palmer point out locations on a map of the Medical Arts area. These locations includes St. David's Medical Center and the abandoned building, where Criner says he spent the night of Weiser's death.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 49m49 minutes ago
Blue squares on the map also represent dumpsters. The jury is looking at printed out photos of those now and Palmer points them out on the map.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 51m51 minutes ago
There appear to be 8 dumpsters in the area between Medical Arts, Red River and Dean Keaton near where Criner was saying. Defense appears to be trying to bolster Criner’s testimony yesterday that he came into possession of Weiser’s items from trash bags he pulled from a dumpster


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 44m44 minutes ago
Testimony moving slowly, as Palmer looks at map and points out dumpsters near abandoned building where Criner had been living on Medical Arts Street.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 41m41 minutes ago
On cross examination by prosecutor Rickey Jones, private investigator Palmer says he visited area of vacant building this month to take pics. Weiser died two years, three months ago. Jones says the dumpsters Palmer testified about may not have even been there back then.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 45m45 minutes ago
State asking Palmer about the dumpsters. He says he didn't check to see if the dumpsters had been there since 2016 or if they were locked then. He says they were not locked when he took the photos--that was in July of 2018.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 45m45 minutes ago
Prosecutor Rickey Jones points out to Palmer that he took the photos of the dumpsters in July of 2018, and he can’t say for sure if they were there or if they were locked when the murder happened
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Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 44m44 minutes ago
Next witness: Qunisha Simmons. Relation to the case unknown at this point. Prosecutors ask for bench conference with judge before Simmons begins testifying.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 47m47 minutes ago
Palmer has finished testifying. The next witness is Qunisha Simmons. A quick Google search reveals that she is a "foster care alumna."


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 44m44 minutes ago
Next up: Qunisha Simmons. Right as she finishes spelling her name for the record, state asks judge to approach.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 44m44 minutes ago
Judge Wahlberg sends jury out of the room so he can further discuss Simmons' testimony. But first, Wahlberg takes a two-minute break so he can grab a cough drop.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 45m45 minutes ago
Anddddd the jury is out of the room. Judge is also out--he's got some allergies to deal with. He'll be back soon.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 45m45 minutes ago
Judge has excused the jury because the state has some problems with this witness.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 40m40 minutes ago
Prosecution is objecting to the relevance of Simmons testimony. Simmons is a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocates. Defense says Simmons has personal knowledge about Criner's whereabouts before the crime.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 45m45 minutes ago
Prosecutors huddling with DA Margaret Moore and top assistant Mindy Montford. Obvious concerns about whatever they think Simmons is going to say.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 39m39 minutes ago
State objects to Simmons' testimony. If I heard right, she volunteered at organization that assisted Criner. Judge Wahlberg allows testimony, but just for purposes of establishing timeline of Criner coming to Austin. Simmons cannot get into mental health or learning issues.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 38m38 minutes ago
Judge is back: state & defense going back & forth on if they witness is necessary. Defense says she'll testify about Criner's whereabouts & relationship to him (this hasn't been revealed to us yet). State says there shouldn't be a question, at this point, as to where Criner was.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 42m42 minutes ago
The state just said that they don't believe there's any evidence that Criner has any intellectual disabilities or mental health problems, so the defense can't ask this witness about that. The state had previously requested that all testimony about mental health be excluded.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 42m42 minutes ago
Simmons is going to testify ONLY about her relationship with Criner. She was an advocate for him in August 2015.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 38m38 minutes ago
Jury back in the courtroom. Simmons was a CASA advocate for Criner in August 2015 - the year before Weiser's death. CASA= Court Appointed Special Advocates.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 39m39 minutes ago
Judge will allow Simmons, and the jury is back in. Simmons says she's a court appointed special advocate: she worked with Criner.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 36m36 minutes ago
Criner crossed paths with Simmons in August 2015 after Criner was denied bed at ARCH because he was 17. If you recall from yesterday, he had just gotten out of jail for shoplifting boots at Wal-Mart. From there, he went to Killeen. And then back to Austin


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 36m36 minutes ago
Simmons was a CASA volunteer in Killeen working with Criner in August 2015. She ran into difficulty trying to get in touch with Criner’s family members


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 33m33 minutes ago
Simmons said Criner underwent treatment in Killeen for speech impediment. She said she has been in communication with Criner even since arrest. She called him "very articulate and goal driven." And honest, she said.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 31m31 minutes ago
Simmons calls Criner articulate, goal-driven, and honest


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 33m33 minutes ago
Simmons said she gave Criner rides to school and at times asked for her to walk into school with him. She has stayed in touch with Criner & describes him as goal driven and believes he is an honest person



Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 28m28 minutes ago
Simmons said she worked with Criner until he was 18. She says they have stayed in touch, but she was instructed not to talk with him about the case. She notes that Criner wanted to talk about it.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 28m28 minutes ago
Thought Criner wanted to talk with Simmons about the case, she chose not to because she did not want to compromise this hearing. Simmons asked Criner if he’d ever received special education services and tried to Colbert him with speech therapy



Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 30m30 minutes ago
State now questioning legitimacy of special education services Simmons says Criner was given. Prosecutor Victoria Winkeler suggesting CPS found Criner to be intelligent. This comes day after prosecutors noted Criner was taking Algebra and Physics at Ellison High in Killeen.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 30m30 minutes ago
Judge interrupts testimony, mid-questioning from state.
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[YESorNO]

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 29m29 minutes ago
Both sides rest. Closing arguments to come after judge irons through jury instructions. Probably another 30-40 minutes.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 30m30 minutes ago
Simmons is off the stand, and defense has rested their case. @KVUE This means, that's the last of the evidence the jury will hear.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 6m6 minutes ago
And the courtroom is officially standing room only, yet again. Today: Weiser's father, APD detectives, some folks from UT, the DA, a LOT of observers, and, of course, the media crew.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 23m23 minutes ago
Courtroom is packed now. The APD detectives who worked on this case have returned to listen. Also in attendance appear to be members of UT Austin leadership. I reached out to UT to confirm but they’re not commenting on the trial while it’s ongoing


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 20m20 minutes ago
Defense is asking the judge to ADD a charge of tampering with evidence, based on his testimony. The judge denies this request.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 22m22 minutes ago
Defense motion to include charge of tampering with evidence is denied.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 20m20 minutes ago
Judge tells lawyers to meet him in chambers in 10 minutes to go over final instructions. Then it will be time to argue. Unless he's changed his mind since yesterday, Wahlberg is not imposing any time restrictions. Lawyers can argue as long as they see fit.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 12m12 minutes ago
Packed courtroom for closing arguments includes Haruka Weiser's father, Harrison Brown's mother, APD Detectives Anthony Nelson and Ray Tynes, DA Margaret Moore, media hacks and a bunch of DAs office interns.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 22m22 minutes ago
Court will take 10 minutes to go over the final jury instructions


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 13m13 minutes ago
Just a reminder that jury deliberations are expected to start as soon as closing arguments are done. This means that a verdict could be potentially announced by the end of today. The verdict may also be announced tomorrow.
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Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3m3 minutes ago
Breaking from normal courtroom protocol, Wahlberg says he'll allow live video streaming of closing arguments. I believe KVUE is shooting.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2m2 minutes ago
Judge WILL allow us to record audio from closing arguments. Thus far, we haven't been allowed to record any audio. Judge says that's for protection purposes, and it's typical for him to NOT allow audio. @KVUE


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 4m4 minutes ago
Closing arguments about to start. Judge has granted an exception to no audio rule, so we may be able to record sound from this


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 2m2 minutes ago
Judge is going to ALLOW audio recording of closing arguments by one news outlet. I won't be allowed to record audio, but I believe the closing arguments will be streamed by @KVUE but I am not sure where. I will continue live-tweeting.


I'm looking for the live stream- can't find it yet.

 

[YESorNO]

rudy koski‏Verified account @KoskionFOX7 28s29 seconds ago
Packed courtroom for Closing Arguments in UT Murder Trial of Meechaiel Criner.Among those in Court, Lori Brown- mother of Harrison Brown who was killed last year in Stabbing Attack on campus @fox7austin

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[YESorNO]

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1m1 minute ago
Jury is back in. Judge is reading their instructions.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3m3 minutes ago
Jury has re-entered the courtroom. The judge is currently giving the jury their instructions for deliberations. Closing arguments will be coming soon.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2m2 minutes ago
Instructions are similar to what was read the first day.
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[YESorNO]

FOX 7 Austin‏Verified account @fox7austin 2m2 minutes ago
WATCH LIVE: Closing arguments underway in Meechaiel Criner trial. Criner is accused of murdering UT student Haruka Weiser. https://www.facebook.com/pg/FOX7austin


KXAN News‏Verified account @KXAN_News 41s42 seconds ago
WATCH LIVE: Closing arguments begin in trial of UT murder suspect Meechaiel Criner. For the first time, the judge is allowing us to broadcast audio from the trial

'I'm just here to tell my story': Meechaiel Criner takes the stand
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[YESorNO]

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 6m6 minutes ago
Judge gives jury their instructions. Criner is presumed innocent, the state must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If jurors have a reasonable doubt about whether he is guilty, they must find him not guilty


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 4m4 minutes ago
The charges Criner faces: Capital murder, murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, theft and robbery. ... We're probably looking at an all-or-nothing verdict.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 5m5 minutes ago
Here is the link to watch closing arguments. They are being streamed by @fox7austin: https://www.facebook.com/pg/FOX7austin/videos/?ref=page_internal …
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So maybe KXAN is not live streaming???

 

[YESorNO]

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 6m6 minutes ago
Remember: all 12 jurors must agree if Criner is guilty or not guilty. The judge says he will not set time limits for closing arguments. Those are kicking off now. @KVUE


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 6m6 minutes ago
Criner is charged w/intentionally causing the death of Weiser by strangling her with a ligature, and was in the course of committing or attempting to commit aggravated sexual assault, robbery, or kidnapping of Weiser on 4/3/2016


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 5m5 minutes ago
Here we go. State goes first and last. Defense in the middle. We hear from prosecutor Victoria Winkeler.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 5m5 minutes ago
State begins closing arguments now. Describing Haruka as a typical teenage college student on the day she was killed


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3m3 minutes ago
Prosecutor Elizabeth Winkeler is giving closing arguments for the state. She explains how the state believes Haruka Weiser’s life came to an abrupt end at 9:40 pm on 4/3/2016


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3m3 minutes ago
Prosecution says that to Haruka, the path by Waller Creek was representative beauty and life. But Criner saw the path as a perfect location to "almost" pull off the "perfect crime," the prosecution says.
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[YESorNO]

Wild About Trial‏ @WildAboutTrial 7m7 minutes ago
Closing arguments in the #MeechaielCriner trial live now:

https://wildabouttrial.com/live-streaming/live-stream-2/?v=86
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[YESorNO]

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 8m8 minutes ago
State is up first. Talks about Weiser being a typical teenager, walking home, with her head down, texting a friend, on a path witnesses say Weiser enjoyed to get near nature and escape the buildings of campus.



Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 5m5 minutes ago
Winkeler said the path along Waller creek represented tranquility to Weiser but something totally different to Criner. "It was dark."


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 8m8 minutes ago
State about Criner: "He saw that path as something much different. It was dark, isolated. He saw that path as the perfect location to almost pull off the perfect crime.”


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 2m2 minutes ago
Prosecution: "You don’t get a ligature and pull it so tight as to murder (Weiser) without intending to do so."


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2m2 minutes ago
State calls this an intentional murder: "The evidence is abundantly clear on that." Now says, the question: was it Criner?
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[YESorNO]

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 7m7 minutes ago
Winkeler talks about how the medical examiner testified Weiser was sexually assaulted while she was still alive and the state believes her assailant did so causing her serious bodily injury OR while using a deadly weapon


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 5m5 minutes ago
Winkeler explains that the jury can be divided on whether Criner committed robbery, aggravated sexual assault, or kidnapping in the process of the murder and still find him guilty of capital murder


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3m3 minutes ago
The state points to the fact that Criner had items of Weiser’s burning in the fire in the Medical Arts building just hours after she was killed as a reason the jury should be convinced Criner is the killer


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2m2 minutes ago
Jury has the option to later examine any of the exhibits presented as evidence. The judge mentioned there are around 400 exhibits in this case. State is taking time pointing out surveillance videos, what each shows. Reminds jury: technicians say they watched hundreds of hours.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 5m5 minutes ago
REMINDER: For a capital murder conviction, the state has to prove murder beyond a reasonable doubt, but does not have to prove aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping AND robbery. They only have to prove murder along with aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping OR robbery.
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[YESorNO]

WAT Meechaiel Criner Trial Live Stream

https://wildabouttrial.com/live-streaming/live-stream-2/?v=86
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FOX 7 Austin is live now.
34 mins ·
Closing arguments are going on now in the Meechaiel Criner trial. Criner is accused of murdering University of Texas student Haruka Weiser.

FOX 7 Austin

 

[YESorNO]

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 4m4 minutes ago
The state points out the common items we’ve seen in surveillance video and also in photos on Criner’s tablet: an orange bandana, a dark jacket with patches and a pair of glasses

 

[YESorNO]

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 19m19 minutes ago
Prosecution is now showing all of the clothes connected to Criner, including a green "tank top" and boxers. The green "tank top" had a hair that likely belonged to Weiser, according to DNA analysts who previously testified.



Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 20m20 minutes ago
Winkeler reminds jury that two university camera people watched 600 some hours of surveillance video to track suspect's movements before and after Weiser's death. One of videos shows man with orange bandana and black glasses - items prosecutors can link to Criner.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 16m16 minutes ago
State also points out that after UT techs looked through hundreds of hours worth of video and didn’t see any activity from the person with the jacket and the bike between 9:43 pm and 11:25 pm. State believes Criner was murdering Weiser then


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 13m13 minutes ago
Jury now seeing eye glasses found at crime scene. Same make, brand and model sold to Criner at Eyemart Express in Killeen. He said he left his behind at UT storage room and doesn't know where they are.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 14m14 minutes ago
Prosecution is now emphasizing the eyeglasses, which have a similar prescription to Criner's perscription and were also found at the crime scene. Prosecution is also trying to disprove defense's argument that activity on the tablet = Criner's alibi.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 13m13 minutes ago
The state has on the glasses found near Weiser’s body the whole trial. Explains the glasses found at crime scene were same make, brand, model & prescription as Criner’s glasses. Points to selfies of Criner taken days before the murder & says the glasses are identical


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 10m10 minutes ago
Important to note that there was a pupillary difference in the glasses found from ones Criner would need, but we heard testimony earlier that could be a eye doctor error. Criner also denies the glasses were his because they were too small and did not have bite marks on them


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 13m13 minutes ago
Images being shown to the jury. The green shirt found with the hair on it. The black cut off shirt and plaid boxer shorts, both found sandy and damp in a trash bin outside the vacant building.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 9m9 minutes ago
"They're the same glasses." We're seeing the glasses again. In the courtroom and in photos.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 6m6 minutes ago
“That’s not reasonable” Winkeler days of Criner’s testimony, implying it’s not coincidence he wound up with Weiser’s possessions


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 8m8 minutes ago
Winkeler: "His story is not reasonable."


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 5m5 minutes ago
“You should know, he committed this horrific and brutal murder and rape, just like his fantasies,” Winkeler said. She urged the jurors to find him guilty, saying the evidence against Criner is “damning”


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3m3 minutes ago
Winkeler walks over to Criner and says, "You will not win!" She tells jury to deliver that message.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 7m7 minutes ago
Prosecution ends with: "Find (Criner) guilty for the capital murder he committed to Haruka Weiser." Now Ariel Payan, lead defense attorney, is beginning his closing statements.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 8m8 minutes ago
"He committed this horrific and brutal murder and rape, just like his fantasies.” State continues, now near Criner: "You will not win." To the jury: "Find him guilty." Defense is up now.
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[YESorNO]

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 8m8 minutes ago
Now defense attorney Ariel Payan is doing his closing arguments. “You can’t find a verdict unless you figure out what makes sense,” he says


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 6m6 minutes ago
Payan reminds the jury this case is based on circumstantial evidence


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 7m7 minutes ago
Payan says "This is a circumstantial evidence case. All of this evidence is circumstantial." Payan is encouraging the jury to presume nothing in the case and view all of the evidence when they deliberate.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 6m6 minutes ago
"Just because you have A and B doesn’t get you to C," defense is reminding jury they don't get to jump to conclusions. there must be proof that Criner is guilty. Defense now reminding jury that witness testified how hard Weiser's body was to find.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 5m5 minutes ago
Payan emphasizes how dark the area where Weiser’s body was found was. He also emphasizes how difficult it was to find Weiser’s body near Waller Creek


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 49s50 seconds ago
"The killer would want to go this way." Defense showing jury the path. He asks why the killer would choose to take the tougher way as opposed to the easier one.
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