CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #18

[Texas Red]

I really can't wait to see Dr. Rudin's testimony. I want to see what he came up with after getting the Faro Scans. From the 402 hearing, he said that once he had the info from the Faro Scans, he was actually able to give the angle of the camera on Mitchley's front porch! (fascinating to me lol) The guy did it on his lunch cuz well... he had nothing better to do LOL

In that 402 hearing... Dr. Rudin had that back light matching to Merritt's truck back light... I think it was after Dr. Rudin did more calculations that the State had to switch gears and it was now a "reflection" on the latch.

The guy that testified for the defense... what I liked is that he actually showed it with the side cam view as well, I don't believe Rudin in the hearing anyway, or Liscio did that (but I don't 100% recall on Liscio)

IIRC I was more convinced with Dr. Rudin's 402 hearing testimony that it was Merritt's truck.... they lost me when they put Smith on the stand saying oh it was a reflection. JMO

Rudin is going to be fun regardless... he has no filter LOL

The PT attempting to portray the lower sidelight on the truck as a reflection has done them an insurmountable amount of harm. It makes them appear dishonest and disingenuous to seriously contend that the glow imitating from the video is a reflection. The problem this creates for them is it demonstrates the level of deceit they're capable of. After seeing this any reasonable person must ask themselves how much of the other evidence they've presented is also compromised.

 

[Karinna]

I have been totally overwhelmed with work and unable to check in.

UGH

also I am so disturbed and saddened to learn that Chase will never be executed or put on death row because there will be no death sentencing in the state California.

I understand the anti death position, but with this comes the chance that Chase can see freedom one day, unlikely I know..but it opens the door.
To be saddled with the taking of a life even if it is Chase Merritt is a cruel responsibility for society to be burdened with. Imagine running the execution program at a prison...how horrible and disturbing.

But how do you punish a soulless baby killer and grifter? really nothing will ever get through to him..really there is nobody home. He has no empathy, no guilt.

at least death row , even if no excecution..the claustrophobic hot dark little cells where SP is
would be at least some well deserved torture for CM..

I can't believe no one has killed him in prison yet. God only knows what all he did to that poor family.

mOO

Agree with what you say except i'm okay with LWOP. If he is convicted.
I think CM will be screwed in or out of prison IMO. He will be like Casey Anthony, a social pariah, always having to watch over his shoulder. And who will he work for if he gets acquitted, or who will do any type of business with him now? I guess he could always try another alias, LOL.

 

[la2cabo]

The PT attempting to portray the lower sidelight on the truck as a reflection has done them an insurmountable amount of harm. It makes them appear dishonest and disingenuous to seriously contend that the glow imitating from the video is a reflection. The problem this creates for them is it demonstrates the level of deceit they're capable of. After seeing this any reasonable person must ask themselves how much of the other evidence they've presented is also compromised.

How ironic, that's exactly what I was thinking after listening to a couple of the DT witnesses. The forensic accountant today and the young guy last week, can't remember his name. In my opinion they did a huge disservice with their testimony and made the DT look desperate.

 

[la2cabo]

Agree with what you say except i'm okay with LWOP. If he is convicted.
I think CM will be screwed in or out of prison IMO. He will be like Casey Anthony, a social pariah, always having to watch over his shoulder. And who will he work for if he gets acquitted, or who will do any type of business with him now? I guess he could always try another alias, LOL.

Indeed. At his age it's difficult enough to find work but throw in the accusation of being a killer and it makes it that much more difficult.

 

[Karinna]

Indeed. At his age it's difficult enough to find work but throw in the accusation of being a killer and it makes it that much more difficult.

Definitely. And he will have a much harder time of trying to leech off of anyone as well.

 

[Plumeria5]

I haven't visited your lovely state in many years, so I can't remember. Is it common, in certain "tourist-y" areas, for merchants to require a photo I.D., when using a bank debit card? I live in San Diego and have had to show one myself.

Aloha! I rarely am asked to show my ID here but I have a debit card that is from a bank exclusive to Hawaii. I would think tourists are asked quite frequently.

 

[mothwings]

Unfortunately, I do believe CM will want a mistrial declared.

It once again stalls the case back, and it's far better for CM than going off to prison if it reaches a verdict of Guilty.

Imo

I've been wondering the whole trial who that younger lad behind James McGee and now with McGee being out, I have to ask—anyone know who that guy with glasses is?

Also, does anyone know what McGee is sick with? I thought in some states two defense attorneys and a mitigation specialist is required with a capital case so with McGee being sick, could Chase claim ineffective assistance? In a death penalty case, it seems almost incumbent upon lawyers to be in court whenever it is in session.

Maline was saying he was "rushed into action" or something similar which was quickly objected to and sustained. LOL

 

[Recidivist]

They were speculating today that it is either cancer or something with his heart. Someone in chat claims to be in the know. Take that for what it is worth, since in the end, we are all pretty much anonymous.

The person who knows everything said she couldn't disclose his condition. I was the one who said I thought it was his heart or cancer. But that is just a guess on my part.

 

[Niner]

Okay.... was there a witness after Shogren? If so, name & title please....

 

[smr]

I totally agree with this. When the two youngish sounding females jurors addressed the judge, the sounded very casual and relaxed. I think they have made up their minds. Gotta say, I am kinda worried they have settled on a not guilty verdict (just my analysis on their voices and the two or three sentences they spoke, LOL)

So you were in the court? What were the "two or three sentences they spoke"?

 

[Bobcat1]

I wonder did you all hear the Judge today when he said at the end that one juror was excused at their request and replaced with an alternate juror. The excused juror asked to be released for religious reasons. and that was granted. The judge did not elaborate on the reason. The judge also said he was not going to be in court Monday 5/6/19 and one of the jurors wasn't available for half a day on Thursday 5/9/19. So now that makes the week of only two and a half days in session. He also went on to say that later in May two other jurors are scheduled on a weekend cruise and won't be available. How that interferes with the court schedule gets me, they don't have court on Friday's so that gives them a 3 day weekend. What do they want a 4 day weekend. He also said the jurors were only approved through April and that they would have to deal with that problem as well. Then PT Ime's said he wasn't available the week of May 13th. I bet PM is pulling his hair out because the original closings were scheduled for the 5 and 6 of May and he was scheduled to be there but had to change reservations and lost money from cancelled reservations made in-advance to save the limited funds he has from donations, The costs increase because of the delays and now he will lose money. This is the second time PM lost money from the courts changing and at the last minute cancelling or changing the court schedule. He can only schedule and make reservations with advance notice and has to try to rely on the courts schedule. This judge and the court schedule is ridiculous and hurting everyone.

 

[geevee]

I wonder did you all hear the Judge today when he said at the end that one juror was excused at their request and replaced with an alternate juror. The excused juror asked to be released for religious reasons. and that was granted. The judge did not elaborate on the reason. The judge also said he was not going to be in court Monday 5/6/19 and one of the jurors wasn't available for half a day on Thursday 5/9/19. So now that makes the week of only two and a half days in session. He also went on to say that later in May two other jurors are scheduled on a weekend cruise and won't be available. How that interferes with the court schedule gets me, they don't have court on Friday's so that gives them a 3 day weekend. What do they want a 4 day weekend. He also said the jurors were only approved through April and that they would have to deal with that problem as well. Then PT Ime's said he wasn't available the week of May 13th. I bet PM is pulling his hair out because the original closings were scheduled for the 5 and 6 of May and he was scheduled to be there but had to change reservations and lost money from cancelled reservations made in-advance to save the limited funds he has from donations, The costs increase because of the delays and now he will lose money. This is the second time PM lost money from the courts changing and at the last minute cancelling or changing the court schedule. He can only schedule and make reservations with advance notice and has to try to rely on the courts schedule. This judge and the court schedule is ridiculous and hurting everyone.

I did hear the judge talking about releasing Juror 12 and the picking of the alternate with a number draw but didn't catch that it was for religious reasons (sometimes Judge is hard to hear).

I couldn't agree with you more about the lackadaisical scheduling in this trial, I really feel sorry for PM and the hardship that is causing him.

 

[smr]

There are some of us who cannot comprehend how anyone can support a baby killer. Just saying...

A convicted baby killer or a suspected baby killer? There are some of us who cannot comprehend how anyone does not make that distinction. Just saying...

From what I read in chat today... he is seriously ill or has been diagnosed with a serious illness. A few weeks back, right before they took that long break, McGee had made a comment about being at the doctor on a particular day and he would not be available for a hearing. It sent off bells in my head back then lol

So although we all love to hate defense attorney's, I don't think we should really make light of it unless we find out he just had the sniffles, which I do not believe to be the case. Even the prosecution was noticeably subdued last week when Maline/McGee wanted to speak to the judge in private. It seems that it is not really affecting the trial, Maline seems to be carrying on without McGee, but I just don't know the legalities of it all. Maline being death penalty qualified seems to be in question? If this could be an appeal issue later? Even if Merritt agrees to continue now, does he understand the impact? And then could it still be appealed later?

I am a fan of McGee, I think he is a better talker than Maline and I just imagined McGee doing the closing. And I think this case could come down to the closing arguments. JMO

Thanks for the info, missy!

I don't believe McGee is pulling a fast one. I think he is seriously ill. He was doing a great job and there's no reason at all, from what I can see anyway, for him to want out at such a late stage in this trial! MOO

Super sad. I absolutely agree, things are going well and better and better for the DT IMO, only very serious health problem or emergencies could take McGee away. This is so unexpected.

 

[MrsPC]

deleted

 

[asyousay]

Hopefully we will hear about McGee today as it does seem suspicious the case isn’t going his way (imo) and now suddenly super sick which would give Chase more grounds to appeal.

 

[travelbug]

Aloha! I rarely am asked to show my ID here but I have a debit card that is from a bank exclusive to Hawaii. I would think tourists are asked quite frequently.

I travel there frequently and the majority of stores that have a self service card reader only require your i.d. if you are using the card as a credit card. If you run your purchase through as a debit (where you enter your PIN) they don't ask. If you have to hand the card to the cashier to run they usually ask for i.d.

 

[Niner]

Also - to keep my notes straight - was Juror #12 a man or woman? And the alternate is?? TIA! And I see no one answered my question on the "video guy"


Wednesday, May 1st:
*Trial continues (Day 48) (@ 9:30am PT) - CA - McStay Family: Joseph (40), Summer (43), Gianni (4) & Joey Jr (3) (Feb. 4, 2010, Fallbrook; found Nov. 11, 2013) - *Charles "Chase" Ray Merritt aka Charles Ray Mandel aka Charles Ray Morritt aka Chase Meredith (57/now 60) arrested (11/5/14) & indicted (11/7/14) of 4 counts of murder with special circumstance; plead not guilty. DP case.
Trial started 1/7/19. Dark on all Fridays. 8 women & 4 men (alternates include 4 men & 2 women). 4/30/19 Juror #12 excused, alternate in place.
Trial Days (1-45): (1/17/19 thru 4/25/19) reference post #853 here:
CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #17
4/29/19 Day 46: Jurors not yet present - discussing Dennis Shogren's (Forensic Accountant) report. State objects. Short break to check transcript on whether the defense laid a foundation for a Metro Sheet Metal statement of monies received. Maline says a foundation was laid with Carmen Garcia of MSM & prosecution says she was not shown it so no foundation was laid. Merritt's accountant says 2 payments were made. Result: Carmen Garcia was not shown the exhibit. Now they're looking at Sequeida's testimony. Foundation was not laid, court sustained the state's objection to the exhibit during Sequeida's testimony.
Defense witness: Dennis Shogren (Forensic Accountant). Trial continues on 4/30.
4/30/19 Day 47: Juror #12 has been released. An alternate juror has been put in place. Defense witnesses: Dennis Shogren continues testimony. FARO Scan guy (no name yet). Trial continues on 5/1.
Tentative Schedule for week of April 29th thru May 3rd: Court with jurors on April 29 (Monday), April 30 (Tuesday), May 1 (Wednesday) and May 2nd (Thursday). Dark on May 3rd (Friday).

 

[mrjitty]

She also got him to admit that these were the first checks ever deleted in Joey's QB accounts. And the first checks ever written out of the custom account.

The jury has to wonder why all that happened, right when Joey went missing.

Yeah - that was all very stupid by him IMO

I know a highly sought after expert witness who never lost a planning case (30 odd cases)

His key focus was always on assisting the court by explaining the science and the reality, rather than being a fan-boi for his client. Especially he tackled the other sides arguments head on and acknowledged where they were strong.

This is how you build your own credibility and reputation in Court.

Guys like this who are nakedly partisan end up damaging their own good work.

 

[mrjitty]

BBM, Who would receive the remaining 35% ?

We didn't see detailed ledgers for that period.

e.g. on Mitchell job the customer wired payments to both Chase and DK

 

[mrjitty]

Yes i suppose anything is possible in that regard. I just don't think DK had anything to do with the murders though.

Unfortunately Joey hadn't chosen the best business partners - seems DK waited all of a week before seizing his chance.