GUILTY CA - Classic (Orson West, 3) & Cincere (Orrin West, 4), still missing, Calif. City, *Mistrial on counts 4 & 5)* 21 Dec 2020 #8

[PommyMommy]

Pre-Verdict
May 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

Court officials sent the following email at 8:52 a.m.: "Media to be present at 11:00 a.m. in D-4 today, May 19 with cameras if they wish to film based upon prior court orders." #WestsTrial

The email did not specify that a verdict has been reached in the trial of Trezell and Jacqueline West, but the court has previously said filming would only be allowed during opening statements, closing arguments and a verdict or other outcome in the case. #WestsTrial

The Wests are charged with second-degree murder and other offenses in the deaths of Orrin, 4, and Orson, 3. The boys' bodies have not been found. #WestsTrial

Prosecutors allege the boys were killed 3 months before the Wests reported them missing. Defense counsel says the boys were taken from their backyard by an unknown person or persons and the Wests had nothing to do with their disappearance. #WestsTrial

Several people have already gathered outside the courtroom ahead of the 11 a.m. hearing. #WestsTrial

Defense attorney Timothy Hennessy, lead counsel for Trezell West, showed up outside Department 4 but the doors to the courtroom are still locked. He moved on to another courtroom. #WestsTrial

So far Timothy Hennessy and Victor Nasser, attorneys for Trezell West, have been spotted on the second floor of the courthouse, but they had hearings in other courtrooms. No one has entered Department 4 yet. #WestsTrial

The bailiff is allowing a cameraman to begin setting up ahead of the 11 a.m. hearing. #WestsTrial

A couple attorneys not connected to the case attempted to enter the courtroom but the bailiff said only attorneys directly involved in the case are allowed to enter at this time. A large turnout is expected. #WestsTrial

Timothy Hennessy has entered the courtroom. #WestsTrial

About a dozen people are waiting outside the courtroom. #WestsTrial

Alekxia Torres Stallings and Fatima Rodriguez, attorneys for Jacqueline West, have entered the courtroom. #WestsTrial

About a dozen more members of the public have arrived and are waiting in the hallway, as are some attorneys. #WestsTrial

The hallway outside Department 4 is now packed with people. It appears the courtroom will be filled to capacity. #WestsTrial

It's unclear if everyone will be able to fit inside. #WestsTria

Victor Nasser, co-counsel for Trezell West, has arrived. #WestsTrial

A woman who has been at every hearing told people assembled outside to make sure family gets inside first. No one except attorneys has entered so far. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith has arrived. All attorneys have now arrived. #WestsTrial

The bailiff came out and said there will be one row for media, one row for attorneys and six rows for the public. He cautioned the public to not push or shove as they enter, and said the proceedings will be audiostreamed. #WestsTrial

We should be let in momentarily. The bailiff said he was dealing with some issues but hoped to begin letting people in soon. #WestsTrial

Media and the public are entering now. #WestsTrial

Trezell and Jacqueline West are present with attorneys, as are prosecutor Eric Smith and lead investigator Sgt. Thomas Hernandez from the BPD. #WestsTrial

Judge Charles R. Brehmer has instructed everyone to fill each chair. The courtroom is packed. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Verdict - Trezell West
May 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The hearing has begun. #WestsTrial

The jury has reached a verdict on 5 of the 7 counts for both defendants, have not reached a verdict on two counts and said they're deadlocked on them. #WestsTrial

The verdict on the 5 counts will be taken today and the jury will be asked if there is anything further that could help them reach a verdict on the 2 other counts. If not, a mistrial will be declared on those 2 counts. #WestsTrial

The jury is entering the courtroom. #WestsTrial

The jury has failed to reach a verdict on the charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder a they apply to Orson West. #WestsTrial

A mistrial has been declared on those 2 counts. On count 4 the vote was 8 votes guilty, 4 not guilty, count 5 had 10 votes guilty, 2 not guilty. #WestsTrial

Trezell West's verdict will be read first. #WestsTrial

The verdict is being read. #WestsTrial

On count 1, second-degree murder, Trezell has been found guilty of second-degree murder. #WestsTrial

On Count 2, involuntary manslaughter, he has been found guilty. #WestsTrial

On count 3, he was found guilty of child cruelty. #WestsTrial

ON count 6, he was found guilty of child cruelty. #WestsTrial

ON count 7, Trezell was found guilty of falsely reporting an emergency. There was a shout when the first count was read, and now multiple people are sobbing. #WestsTrial

Trezell showed no reaction. #WestsTrial

 

[PommyMommy]

Verdict - Jacqueline West
May 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The verdict will now be read for Jacqueline West. On count 1, second-degree murder, she has been found guilty of second-degree murder. #WestsTrial

Guilty of involuntary manslaughter, guilty of child cruelty. #WestsTrial

Guilty of the other child cruelty charge, and guilty of falsely reporting an emergency. #WestsTrial

The jury has been excused. #WestsTrial

Sentencing is set for July 13. #WestsTrial

A determination on whether the Wests will be retried on counts 4 and 5 will be made public at sentencing. #WestsTrial

Prosecutor Eric Smith said the gag order remains in place. It's expected to be lifted at sentencing. Attorneys are not allowed to discuss the case until then. #WestsTrial

 

[cuffem]

Verdict - Trezell West
May 19, 2023
https://twitter.com/KGETnews

The hearing has begun. #WestsTrial

The jury has reached a verdict on 5 of the 7 counts for both defendants, have not reached a verdict on two counts and said they're deadlocked on them. #WestsTrial

The verdict on the 5 counts will be taken today and the jury will be asked if there is anything further that could help them reach a verdict on the 2 other counts. If not, a mistrial will be declared on those 2 counts. #WestsTrial

The jury is entering the courtroom. #WestsTrial

The jury has failed to reach a verdict on the charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder a they apply to Orson West. #WestsTrial

A mistrial has been declared on those 2 counts. On count 4 the vote was 8 votes guilty, 4 not guilty, count 5 had 10 votes guilty, 2 not guilty. #WestsTrial

Trezell West's verdict will be read first. #WestsTrial

The verdict is being read. #WestsTrial

On count 1, second-degree murder, Trezell has been found guilty of second-degree murder. #WestsTrial

On Count 2, involuntary manslaughter, he has been found guilty. #WestsTrial

On count 3, he was found guilty of child cruelty. #WestsTrial

ON count 6, he was found guilty of child cruelty. #WestsTrial

ON count 7, Trezell was found guilty of falsely reporting an emergency. There was a shout when the first count was read, and now multiple people are sobbing. #WestsTrial

Trezell showed no reaction. #WestsTrial

The jury was so close to voting guilty on the other 2 counts.
Thanks! Pommy on putting these together.

 

[cuffem]

 

[cuffem]

 

[cuffem]

This coverage has camera shots on TW and JW as guilty is read.

 

[cuffem]

So many people did care about Orson and Orrin.

 

[Aloe]

Pommy Mommy helped with the tweets and the Media thread everyday. She even started the thread from the beginning.

Thank you both, @PommyMommy and @cuffem, for keeping up with the case and trial (happened in my home town of the early 60's), so that we could all see justice served for Cincere and Classic. I truly hope Classic will receive full justice in the near future with a new trial. MOO

 

[cuffem]

About the mistrial counts. You do not have one child Orrin murdered and the other child kidnapped or an accident, around the same time period. The logical thing is Orson was also murdered even though there is so evidence of it, he is gone.

 

[cuffem]

Thank you both, @PommyMommy and @cuffem, for keeping up with the case and trial (happened in my home town of the early 60's), so that we could all see justice served for Cincere and Classic. I truly hope Classic will receive full justice in the near future with a new trial. MOO

I had noticed that people are using the boys previous names. I was not sure if I should refer to them as Cincere and Classic now there is a guilty verdict?

 

[Sillybilly]

From the quoted link, to be clear:

The jury did not find a verdict for two counts, second-degree murder and conspire to commit a crime. Those counts are in regard to 3-year-old Orson West.

Thanks Seattle .. I've edited my post to correct.

 

[Aloe]

I had noticed that people are using the boys previous names. I was not sure if I should refer to them as Cincere and Classic now there is a guilty verdict?

Well, their legal names are Orrin and Orson. I just felt like I needed to use their birth names, as I so wish they had never met the Wests. MOO

 

[iamshadow21]

Well, their legal names are Orrin and Orson. I just felt like I needed to use their birth names, as I so wish they had never met the Wests. MOO

In a case like this... I tend to use the birth name. Classic, Cincere. For example, in another thread I use Sarasvati (Sherin Mathews), her name from the orphanage, rather than the name from her murderer/s.

It's harder when the abuser/murderer is the biofamily and there is no other name. Then, I just hope that they liked their name, and that at least once or twice, someone spoke that name to them kindly, with love.

If only these poor mites had a chance to grow up and choose their name. You either identify with a name or you don't. As someone who's endured abuse, sometimes the most empowering thing you can do is choose a name for yourself, whether that's the one you already had, or one that's brand new.

MOO

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I was afraid there wouldn't be justice and thank the jury for taking their jobs so seriously.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I was afraid there wouldn't be justice and thank the jury for taking their jobs so seriously.

I agree, and yes thank you to the jury. We can also take a tiny bit of solace from knowing that the people of Cal City *really*, truly cared about these two boys. "Where are the boys!!!!" They spent endless hours searching, caring, and demanding answers. Good, good, people. Out of a tragic and horrific story, the people of Cal City showed us what humanity and goodness looks like.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[GeorgiaRai]

I had noticed that people are using the boys previous names. I was not sure if I should refer to them as Cincere and Classic now there is a guilty verdict?

They will always be Orrin and Orson to me. They were failed by many adults in their short lives but, sadly, we can't erase their history, and I believe their entire story is worth knowing and remembering. I also hold onto the thought that while they were in the West family, maybe having brothers brought them some occasional joy? I don't see any other source of light in their lives, so I cling to that hope.

 

[mickey2942]

Interesting case, no bodies, no definitive cause of death. Not a lot of evidence. Thank goodness these folks are smarter than a Florida jury. It really makes me wonder about jury sequestration, which may have impacted jury decisions in Casey Anthony and OJ Simpson trials.

The prosecution and LEO did a good job presenting the information and pulling together a case with what they did have.

 

[Chelly]

Following Orrin and Orson's case from the beginning, I am frustrated jury was unable to reach an agreement on a guilty verdict for Orson's murder (charges 4 and 5). I figured if a reasonable person could conclude that Orrin was murdered, then that same person would conclude Orson was also murdered. I just hope Judge dishes out the harshest sentence the law allows on the other charges.... life in prison
MOO

 

[Curious-A]

Does anyone know if these guilty verdicts will have any impact, be considered or factor into a potential retrial for Orson’s murder?