CA - Joey, Summer, Gianni, Joseph Jr McStay Murders - Feb 4th 2010 #8

[Mica]

This is my fault. Someone brought up the lawsuit against EIP and I suggested Mike was behind it based on information posted here in the past. I don't think anyone is trying to throw shade on MM, including myself.

Thank you Force Ten. Nobody here did anything wrong.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Yes I see he missed a probation and sentence hearing due to ill health on June 18th 2009, but was in the casino on June 12th and 24th 2009. Amazing!

Yes, it's amazing how quickly he gets well.

 

[mrjitty]

This kind of thing is an irritant to defense attorneys but is not unusual.

Thanks @gitana1

I think several of us have commented that this courtroom has the worst procedure we have ever seen.

Frankly no High Court Judge i know of would allow the general tomfoolery that we have seen, and obviously it is completely annoying to the defense.

But it is interesting to see from your case law that such issues aren't show stoppers.

 

[gitana1]

Thanks @gitana1

I think several of us have commented that this courtroom has the worst procedure we have ever seen.

Frankly no High Court Judge i know of would allow the general tomfoolery that we have seen, and obviously it is completely annoying to the defense.

But it is interesting to see from your case law that such issues aren't show stoppers.

Do you know many high court judges?

I haven't followed it so I can't comment on whether the process being employed there equates to tomfoolery or not. What has been happening besides the issue of the expert info (which doesn't seem like anything unusual to me).

 

[missy1974]

No, he is neither. But he is the lead investigator of a capital murder case.

Still not a cell phone expert. Surely you could agree with that.

 

[missy1974]

Thanks @gitana1

I think several of us have commented that this courtroom has the worst procedure we have ever seen.

Frankly no High Court Judge i know of would allow the general tomfoolery that we have seen, and obviously it is completely annoying to the defense.

But it is interesting to see from your case law that such issues aren't show stoppers.

I'm thinking this is the norm there LOL Probably why they don't usually allow camera's

 

[missy1974]

Do you know many high court judges?

I haven't followed it so I can't comment on whether the process being employed there equates to tomfoolery or not. What has been happening besides the issue of the expert info (which doesn't seem like anything unusual to me).

I think part of what mrjitty is saying is the court hours, the ending court early because no more witnesses, ending it early because the judge has a dentist appt, interrupting because the Judge needed to take a call, early on a defense attorney was late a few times, the objections, etc. I could go on .. lol and this is only 7 weeks in, it is expected to last for months!!! But when they are only there 9:30am-12pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm (going to 4:30 has happened rarely), plus 15 minute breaks that are usually longer than that... oh and Monday - Thursday. Friday's are days off.

 

[Force Ten]

Found a few...

McStay murder suspect will represent himself

Robert Ponce, an attorney for 57-year-old Chase Merritt, said his client was diagnosed last week and is being treated by jail doctors, reports the Victorville Daily Press.


McStay murder suspect will represent himself

Despite Merritt's supposed health issues and lack of legal background, Ponce told the judge he believes Merritt has the intellect to defend himself. The judge subsequently allowed it, but said the matter was pending review until Merritt produced a note from the jail doctor saying he was fit to do so.

While I find Ponce to have been one of the more ethical lawyers Chase had, I think he misspoke, fibbed a bit or was misquoted about Chase's CHF being "recently diagnosed". In an interview (no longer available) with his step-mother, she reported he had the condition since the age of two.

 

[gitana1]

I think part of what mrjitty is saying is the court hours, the ending court early because no more witnesses, ending it early because the judge has a dentist appt, interrupting because the Judge needed to take a call, early on a defense attorney was late a few times, the objections, etc. I could go on .. lol and this is only 7 weeks in, it is expected to last for months!!! But when they are only there 9:30am-12pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm (going to 4:30 has happened rarely), plus 15 minute breaks that are usually longer than that... oh and Monday - Thursday. Friday's are days off.

Ahh. Yeah. That can be annoying. Not atypical. It depends on the style of the judge.

 

[Force Ten]

Still not a cell phone expert. Surely you could agree with that.

I surmise Smith has a pretty sound grasp of reading the data, at least tower location, etc. If there is any discrepancies or clarification needed, Boles could easily provide supporting testimony. To me it's really not an issue of Smith's credibility, or lack thereof.

 

[Force Ten]

I think part of what mrjitty is saying is the court hours, the ending court early because no more witnesses, ending it early because the judge has a dentist appt, interrupting because the Judge needed to take a call, early on a defense attorney was late a few times, the objections, etc. I could go on .. lol and this is only 7 weeks in, it is expected to last for months!!! But when they are only there 9:30am-12pm 1:30pm - 4:30pm (going to 4:30 has happened rarely), plus 15 minute breaks that are usually longer than that... oh and Monday - Thursday. Friday's are days off.

Yes, this is turning into a Tuesday through Wednesday trial.

 

[thelmadawg]

Where has Joe Nelson been? He hasn’t covered the trial. Maybe he will return since streaming has stopped.

I had emailed back and forth with Joe just before the trial. He indicated that D'Altey (sp?) would be covering the trial instead. I assume it was a management decision. But after viewing a few of the new guy's reports, I'm hoping we can apply some persuasion and get Joe back on the case - tweeting and general coverage.

 

[citygirl]

I had emailed back and forth with Joe just before the trial. He indicated that D'Altey (sp?) would be covering the trial instead. I assume it was a management decision. But after viewing a few of the new guy's reports, I'm hoping we can apply some persuasion and get Joe back on the case - tweeting and general coverage.

I hope you have success. He was the best at the time. I've been trying to figure out how he dropped off ? Now I know. Thanks .

 

[citygirl]

I'm still amazed that there are no people in the court room to give us updates. There was so much interest long ago. I mean just regular people who followed. Locals from early on. Maybe since it ended up being in San Bernardino instead of San Diego? I'd almost welcome RB. Yikes!

 

[katydid23]

I am thinking that maybe the San Bernardino public has little interest or even knowledge about this case. Bodies are found dumped out on the outskirts of their county quite routinely. But the victims are rarely from their area. Lots of Vegas mob hits and Los Angeles murders end up there.

 

[HelenK]

Where has Joe Nelson been? He hasn’t covered the trial. Maybe he will return since streaming has stopped.

He has been missing in action for a long time where this case is concerned. I even messaged him about it - never got a reply. Perhaps he feels that covering trials of political figures and such is more important than the slaughter of an entire family.

 

[HelenK]

I'm still amazed that there are no people in the court room to give us updates. There was so much interest long ago. I mean just regular people who followed. Locals from early on. Maybe since it ended up being in San Bernardino instead of San Diego? I'd almost welcome RB. Yikes!

Good heavens, Girl, you don't want to do that!

 

[missy1974]

While I find Ponce to have been one of the more ethical lawyers Chase had, I think he misspoke, fibbed a bit or was misquoted about Chase's CHF being "recently diagnosed". In an interview (no longer available) with his step-mother, she reported he had the condition since the age of two.

It's unclear in some of the articles if they are quotes from the lawyers outside of court or if they are from statements made during hearings sometimes. I do feel that it was mentioned in court, and considering Judge Smith required a note or whatever from his jailhouse doc saying he could physically handle it before allowing him to represent himself, there has to be some truth to it. IMO As for when he was diagnosed... who knows lol

 

[mom2chloe]

Yes, it's amazing how quickly he gets well.

CM is like a middle school kid looking to get out of class. I envision him contemplating his options and choosing to present to the ER with chest pain versus a court date.
I am not meaning to make light of a medical condition but I will never be convinced of CM’s diagnosis as we know he was well enough to hit the casinos but didn’t seem to make time for court appearances. I want to see the documentation of his alleged heart condition from the DT otherwise in MHO it is more hearsay.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Do you know many high court judges?

I haven't followed it so I can't comment on whether the process being employed there equates to tomfoolery or not. What has been happening besides the issue of the expert info (which doesn't seem like anything unusual to me).

I'm so appreciative you have provided valuable information to us, like always.

Yes, I do believe mrjitty has seen many high court judges during his career. LOL!

He is an attorney as well, but not one who practices in our country.

I have to agree with mrjitty about this particular case.

It is without a doubt one of the strangest trials I've ever followed when it comes to so much wasted down time. It may be the worst in that category.

Thank you again for replying to our question.