2011.12.18 -Jeff Ashton Interview on Websleuths Radio

[RR0004]

I think Ashton is just not the gossipy type. There were things of a more personal nature regarding the A's on which he was reserved but as for anything dealing with the trial and investigations he was open and sincere, IMO. I liked his comment about Judge Perry possibly believing that with such strong evidence he felt no harm would be done by petting the defense to the degree that he did. That seemed honest and could be exactly why Perry responded the way he did in the face of JB's incompetence. Also, that Judge Perry was just as "shocked as the rest of us" over the verdict. I have always believed that to be the case.

And finally, regarding the jury--Ashton was a bit reserved there initially but he did eventually say that he believed this jury came in with no intention to convict and when that happens they will see reasonable doubt no matter what. I think that was right on and he certainly did not reserve comment on it.

Ashton's interview was great, IMO! I especially like that he is a gentleman and does not trash anyone involved. It is obvious that while the prosecution was disappointed in the verdict there are no sour grapes over it.

...and, I got how he really feels about Baez...loud and clear...lol. He knows what he knows...he was brought in to handle the "science stuff"...and probably isn't aware of every little thing LE handled. But, his response to the cloroform information surprised me. Chloroform was key to the case. I'm sure LE did more than check the computer to try to find a purchase. Perhaps, anything LE related was OT? I don't remember if this was presented at trial, but did Dr. Vass or anyone else say HOW MUCH cloroform would have been needed to get the odor signature that they did?

 

[krkrjx]

...and, I got how he really feels about Baez...loud and clear...lol. He knows what he knows...he was brought in to handle the "science stuff"...and probably isn't aware of every little thing LE handled. But, his response to the cloroform information surprised me. Chloroform was key to the case. I'm sure LE did more than check the computer to try to find a purchase. Perhaps, anything LE related was OT? I don't remember if this was presented at trial, but did Dr. Vass or anyone else say HOW MUCH cloroform would have been needed to get the odor signature that they did?

Yep, it's clear how Ashton feels about Baez even though I do feel he was reserved about that. Another area of some reserve was when he was talking about how the prosecution complained to Judge Perry about all the defense participation in Casey's reactions...hugging, arms around her shoulders, petting her, etc. He said despite their complaints the judge did not see it as a problem, but didn't expand on that. I gathered he did not agree with Perry about that but let's face it...Ashton has class, and he is not going to go public with things that might be interpreted as placing blame or as whining, or whatever you want to call it. He may express his feelings much more freely within his private circle, as he has a right to do.

As for the amount of chloroform, IIRC it was brought out at trial how much more was there than would be expected under any kind of normal circumstances from decomp to cleaning solutions possibly used after the fact. No conclusion was made regarding how that much chloroform could have gotten in that car. I do not recall offhand how much more, but I vaguely recall it being mentioned. Since there was no conclusion drawn about the amount I think Ashton just did not want to speculate, for reasons of his own.

 

[RR0004]

Yep, it's clear how Ashton feels about Baez even though I do feel he was reserved about that. Another area of some reserve was when he was talking about how the prosecution complained to Judge Perry about all the defense participation in Casey's reactions...hugging, arms around her shoulders, petting her, etc. He said despite their complaints the judge did not see it as a problem, but didn't expand on that. I gathered he did not agree with Perry about that but let's face it...Ashton has class, and he is not going to go public with things that might be interpreted as placing blame or as whining, or whatever you want to call it. He may express his feelings much more freely within his private circle, as he has a right to do.

As for the amount of chloroform, IIRC it was brought out at trial how much more was there than would be expected under any kind of normal circumstances from decomp to cleaning solutions possibly used after the fact. No conclusion was made regarding how that much chloroform could have gotten in that car. I do not recall offhand how much more, but I vaguely recall it being mentioned. Since there was no conclusion drawn about the amount I think Ashton just did not want to speculate, for reasons of his own.

I'd like to know how much would have been needed to produce those high numbers...you would think that they would have tested that out. You know what wouldn't produce it, but you couldn't say how much of the mixture would have yielded similar results?

ETA: I hate to be having these nagging thoughts so late in the game.

 

[krkrjx]

I'd like to know how much would have been needed to produce those high numbers...you would think that they would have tested that out. You know what wouldn't produce it, but you couldn't say how much of the mixture would have yielded similar results?

Well, he may have his suspicions about how much and in what form. I know I have. IMO, it's a combination affect of decomp, cleaning, and perhaps a large amount being spilled--so large that while most evaporated not all could. Maybe the reason no conclusions were made in court is that there was no way to prove a conclusion. We have to remember that the state has to be able to back up everything they present. Only the defense gets to say whatever they please with no burden of proof.

 

[wonders]

I still wish we could know about OCA's outburst on the 24th of June when she was trying to sic Mason on Baez. Jeff truely didn't know anything about it.

 

[krkrjx]

well I just got done listening since I fell asleep last night before ti started UGH! great job tricia, azlawyer, kimster, and beach, I am so proud of myself I didnt start crying til the end!! I was very interested to hear him say he got a note that he believed was from a juror thanking him for being kind in the book (well I didnt think he was kind at all towards them, only honest) I wonder if it really was a juror and s/he really read the book? interesting to me, if I had to place bets I'd say it was juror number 2.

also, that they didnt think the 4th piece of tape was used on caylee's hands, I myself have always thought and still do that it was used to cover her eyes. poor little girl. what a shame her cold hearted vicious coward of a mother will never see justice.

Thanks for bringing up about the juror who handed Ashton a note at the book signing. We might be safe in assuming from this that at least one juror read Ashton's book.

Also your take on the 4th piece of duct tape being over Caylee's eyes is very interesting. I had never thought of that so thanks for mentioning it. I think it is a more than reasonable assumption.

 

[wonders]

I'd like to know how much would have been needed to produce those high numbers...you would think that they would have tested that out. You know what wouldn't produce it, but you couldn't say how much of the mixture would have yielded similar results?

ETA: I hate to be having these nagging thoughts so late in the game.

I'm with you on this RR0004. I wish we knew how much it was when it was tested too. Baez harped on that in his "qualitive vs quantitative". They said it was off the charts, even so I wish they could have told us. Although it disapates I can't even imagine how much was there in the beginning. Would it have changed the outcome of the trial? I just don't know.

ETA: I wonder if any of it could still be tested now even three years later?

 

[TotallyObsessed]

I just listened to the archived interview with JA. He was very gracious. However, it does seem to me (and rightfully so) that he is over this case. I found it funny that WS members did seem to know a lot more intricacies on some things than JA did....or maybe than he was willing to admit publically. He didn’t remember or know about the ICA/JB meltdown in court where Casey looked like she wanted to kill JB.... It was just a learning moment for me that “we” were, and still are, so into this case....more so than JA appeared to be.
Please know that I am not being critical. Maybe what I am trying to say is that some things we felt so passionate about, really were non sequiturs for him. The flurry of phone calls to Cindy on the day of the murder, the henkle duct tape coming from Ohio with the family, the search by Dominic Casey in the woods...which JA didn’t think was “hinky” at all. He indicated that by DC’s phone records that he was, in fact, speaking to the psychic. WOW.
I am also happy that JA has been able to move beyond the verdict. His attitude is more or less “it is what it is”....I don’t think I can ever feel that way. JMO
I do say THANK YOU THANK YOU to Mr. Ashton for taking the time to talk to us here at Websleuths and THANK YOU to Tricia for arranging the interview. Kudos.

 

[RR0004]

I just listened to the archived interview with JA. He was very gracious. However, it does seem to me (and rightfully so) that he is over this case. I found it funny that WS members did seem to know a lot more intricacies on some things than JA did....or maybe than he was willing to admit publically. He didn’t remember or know about the ICA/JB meltdown in court where Casey looked like she wanted to kill JB.... It was just a learning moment for me that “we” were, and still are, so into this case....more so than JA appeared to be.
Please know that I am not being critical. Maybe what I am trying to say is that some things we felt so passionate about, really were non sequiturs for him. The flurry of phone calls to Cindy on the day of the murder, the henkle duct tape coming from Ohio with the family, the search by Dominic Casey in the woods...which JA didn’t think was “hinky” at all. He indicated that by DC’s phone records that he was, in fact, speaking to the psychic. WOW.
I am also happy that JA has been able to move beyond the verdict. His attitude is more or less “it is what it is”....I don’t think I can ever feel that way. JMO
I do say THANK YOU THANK YOU to Mr. Ashton for taking the time to talk to us here at Websleuths and THANK YOU to Tricia for arranging the interview. Kudos.

You said what I was feeling...perfectly!
But there is one thing that I do hope he walks away with after the show...and that is the good that happens on this website. Real honest to goodness sleuthing went on here in Caylee's forum and I hope he does come and read. It's all amazing stuff.

 

[wonders]

I just listened to the archived interview with JA. He was very gracious. However, it does seem to me (and rightfully so) that he is over this case. I found it funny that WS members did seem to know a lot more intricacies on some things than JA did....or maybe than he was willing to admit publically. He didn’t remember or know about the ICA/JB meltdown in court where Casey looked like she wanted to kill JB.... It was just a learning moment for me that “we” were, and still are, so into this case....more so than JA appeared to be.
Please know that I am not being critical. Maybe what I am trying to say is that some things we felt so passionate about, really were non sequiturs for him. The flurry of phone calls to Cindy on the day of the murder, the henkle duct tape coming from Ohio with the family, the search by Dominic Casey in the woods...which JA didn’t think was “hinky” at all. He indicated that by DC’s phone records that he was, in fact, speaking to the psychic. WOW.
I am also happy that JA has been able to move beyond the verdict. His attitude is more or less “it is what it is”....I don’t think I can ever feel that way. JMO
I do say THANK YOU THANK YOU to Mr. Ashton for taking the time to talk to us here at Websleuths and THANK YOU to Tricia for arranging the interview. Kudos.

Oh thank you so much TotallyObsessed. You have said just about the way I was feeling. I was disappointed. I shall leave it at that.

 

[bayouland]

Oh thank you so much TotallyObsessed. You have said just about the way I was feeling. I was disappointed. I shall leave it at that.

BBM. So was I. I respect Jeff Ashton very much and he has earned the right to his own opinion many times over, but.......

I was very disappointed to hear that Cindy and George were just normal, friendly, people. (maybe not his exact words).

It blew me away.

JMO.

 

[Just K]

He is very good at skipping right over the meat, if he doesn't want to discuss or devolve information...RE: The Home Depot Video Tape that was not allowed in...he totally skipped over it. There was no discussion, specifically, about the Home Depot Tape. We still don't know what was on that tape and why it was not allowed.

 

[Dewey2Me1MoThyme]

I finally got a chance to listen and want to thank all that participated. Great show Kimster et al.

 

[2goldfish]

Thanks for bringing up about the juror who handed Ashton a note at the book signing. We might be safe in assuming from this that at least one juror read Ashton's book.

Also your take on the 4th piece of duct tape being over Caylee's eyes is very interesting. I had never thought of that so thanks for mentioning it. I think it is a more than reasonable assumption.

check the duct tape thread!! I didnt much participate in it (I found and still find it difficult emotionally) but someone(s) did an excellent job at figuring out the pulloff order of the strips and where the probable placement of them was.

 

[krkrjx]

check the duct tape thread!! I didnt much participate in it (I found and still find it difficult emotionally) but someone(s) did an excellent job at figuring out the pulloff order of the strips and where the probable placement of them was.

I have been reading some of the evidence and documents threads but there is so much info there! So much that I am missing a good deal of it.

Something Ashton said that got me thinking: He spoke about enhanced photos not being allowed in court as evidence and I certainy understand the logic behind that law because some types of enhancing could alter the facts. However, there are ways of enhancing that do not alter. A lot of forensics involves testing that enhances what seems invisible, i.e, blood stains that are not initially visible. The test enhances the view without altering what's already there. Seems to me that with current technology the trunk stain could have been enhanced.

But it doesn't really matter. The jury never considered any of the evidence so IMO had different evidence been made available to them they would also have not considered it. I have no doubt Ashton believes that also. He said the jury was not going to convict, and I think he meant no matter what. IMO, Ashton has a lot of feelings about the jury that he, being dipolmatic, is not expressing publicly.

 

[AZlawyer]

He is very good at skipping right over the meat, if he doesn't want to discuss or devolve information...RE: The Home Depot Video Tape that was not allowed in...he totally skipped over it. There was no discussion, specifically, about the Home Depot Tape. We still don't know what was on that tape and why it was not allowed.

The only Home Depot tape I recall was specifically identified in the documents as having only Cindy and George on it and was not "not allowed"--it was never offered into evidence (presumably because it was totally irrelevant). Is there some other Home Depot tape?

I have been reading some of the evidence and documents threads but there is so much info there! So much that I am missing a good deal of it.

Something Ashton said that got me thinking: He spoke about enhanced photos not being allowed in court as evidence and I certainy understand the logic behind that law because some types of enhancing could alter the facts. However, there are ways of enhancing that do not alter. A lot of forensics involves testing that enhances what seems invisible, i.e, blood stains that are not initially visible. The test enhances the view without altering what's already there. Seems to me that with current technology the trunk stain could have been enhanced.

But it doesn't really matter. The jury never considered any of the evidence so IMO had different evidence been made available to them they wouldn't also not have considered it. I have no doubt Ashton believes that also. He said the jury was not going to convict, and I think he meant no matter what. IMO, Ashton has a lot of feelings about the jury that he, being dipolmatic, is not expressing publicly.

He did talk about the kind of enhanced photos that might be allowed--he said the FBI attempted to use techniques that enhanced photos based on the lipids, proteins, etc. found in the item being photographed, but none of the photos really showed the outline on the spare tire cover.

 

[RR0004]

The only Home Depot tape I recall was specifically identified in the documents as having only Cindy and George on it and was not "not allowed"--it was never offered into evidence (presumably because it was totally irrelevant). Is there some other Home Depot tape?



He did talk about the kind of enhanced photos that might be allowed--he said the FBI attempted to use techniques that enhanced photos based on the lipids, proteins, etc. found in the item being photographed, but none of the photos really showed the outline on the spare tire cover.

I thought there was...never heard it only had George and Cindy. Thanks, AZ.
I still want to know if there were any jailhouse videos that we didn't see. I could have sworn one was missing.