Cesar Laurean's Trial

[snowshuze]

Didn't sound to me like she had plans to return soon, if ever.
Now why would she go to a place she's never been, in another country,with very little money?

There was a plan,and someone had to instigate it.
Meanwhile CL is having discussions with his OIC to salvage his Marine career, because Maria was seriously making waves.
If something happened that day to tip Maria off CL wasn't on the up and up, and she goes to his house to confront him, he may have just decided to kill her and be done with it..... definitely a lack of planning , but at least her body was placed so he could keep an eye on things. And I'm thinking NOW that Christina helped him. ALOT.

 

[LaLaw2000]

I am trying so hard to think of the way to word this but I'm just at a loss. I'm trying to ask how much does the jury know about Christina? They know she was Cesar's wife but what else. Do they even know enough to consider the possibility that Christina is actually the murderer.n I too missed some testimony but I do recall the prosecution asking Larsen if Cesar went to the Christmas party but I do not remember his asking that of Christina. Does any of that make sense??? Does anyone understand what I'm trying to ask? LOL

O/T but I had a brain tumor removed a while back and it left me with some minor impairments - sight and hearing being the biggest. Sometimes, though, words will fail me and for that I apologize if I sound like a fruit loop at times. When I get tired I make silly typos and sometimes ramble on so please just over look me at those times. Ok?

Topsail Girl - :hug: - so sorry you have had a brain tumor. You do not even come across as having any impairments at all. You make a great deal of sense.

I understand what you are saying/asking (I think). Not everyone had followed Maria's case as closely as most of us did. I was consumed with it every day for so very long. I'm sure not everyone on the jury was.

I see your point. We all speculated that Christina could have done it, been involved, and also that she could have only been involved in the cleanup. What you say or ask is certainly a great possibility. Let's say no one on the jury knew hardly anything of Christina. They would know that she had not been charged with anything and that there was the motive, means, and opportunity for Cesar to have committed the murder. There is a great deal of evidence against Cesar for the jury to consider. He was accused of assaulting Maria and there was an RO in place for the two to stay away from each other. There is the ATM evidence and the Lowe's video of him buying supplies for the very fire pit that Maria and Baby Gabriel was found burned in. There was blood evidence belonging to Maria at his home. Cesar gave away what is thought to be the murder weapon (crowbar). There was his computer searches about Mexico. He fled the country. So, yes, I would say that IF this jury did not know the details concerning Christina that we know, they could conclude that Cesar did indeed committ this murder(s). As far as I can see, even the fact that Cesar's DNA or fingerprints was not on the crowbar, would not be a huge stumbling block for the jury.

With that said, we have to wait and see what more McNeil comes up with tomorrow, and how convincing his closing statements are to the jury. McNeil has seemed to inject a little reasonable doubt in there. We have to see just how much weight the jury gives to that.

I know I will be a nervous wreck during the jury deliberations!

JMO

 

[GeekyGirl]

Topsail Girl - :hug: - so sorry you have had a brain tumor. You do not even come across as having any impairments at all. You make a great deal of sense.

I understand what you are saying/asking (I think). Not everyone had followed Maria's case as closely as most of us did. I was consumed with it every day for so very long. I'm sure not everyone on the jury was.

I see your point. We all speculated that Christina could have done it, been involved, and also that she could have only been involved in the cleanup. What you say or ask is certainly a great possibility. Let's say no one on the jury knew hardly anything of Christina. They would know that she had not been charged with anything and that there was the motive, means, and opportunity for Cesar to have committed the murder. There is a great deal of evidence against Cesar for the jury to consider. He was accused of assaulting Maria and there was an RO in place for the two to stay away from each other. There is the ATM evidence and the Lowe's video of him buying supplies for the very fire pit that Maria and Baby Gabriel was found burned in. There was blood evidence belonging to Maria at his home. Cesar gave away what is thought to be the murder weapon (crowbar). There was his computer searches about Mexico. He fled the country. So, yes, I would say that IF this jury did not know the details concerning Christina that we know, they could conclude that Cesar did indeed committ this murder(s). As far as I can see, even the fact that Cesar's DNA or fingerprints was not on the crowbar, would not be a huge stumbling block for the jury.

With that said, we have to wait and see what more McNeil comes up with tomorrow, and how convincing his closing statements are to the jury. McNeil has seemed to inject a little reasonable doubt in there. We have to see just how much weight the jury gives to that.

I know I will be a nervous wreck during the jury deliberations!

JMO

Thank you for the wonderful post, I wasn't even looking at how their lack of knowledge about Christina could benefit the prosecution. As you said, I think most of us have been following this case for quite awhile, so it's difficult to even imagine how all of this would appear to a juror who, presumably, had little to no prior knowledge of the case.

There are still so many questions I have about what happened that day, and sadly, I think that they will remain unanswered. Was the trip to El Paso/ Mexico planned well in advance, or did something happen that day that pushed her over the edge? Why did she buy a ticket for the 15th when the bus for the 14th wasn't sold out? Where did she plan on staying that night, as she wouldn't haven't been able to go back to Dunham's? How did she plan on communicating with Cesar if she threw away her phone?

Without really knowing the sequence of events leading up to her death, I'm not anyone can really say what excatly happened that day, except those people who were involved... and they aren't talking.

 

[GeekyGirl]

Next witness Cpl. Teina Robles. Active duty USMC; 4 years. Stationed at Camp Pendleton CA since 04/10. Scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan. Was stationed at Camp Lejeune in 2008. Knew Maria. Met at boot camp 2006. Worked in same section with Maria; saw her everyday. Had conversations with Maria about keeping the baby, Maria told her her mother was against her keeping the baby. Saw Maria at work on 12/14/07 appeared distraught and upset. Saw her from morning until around 3:00pm. Says M was upset about arguments with her mother about the baby. Says M talked about her situation with Cesar "in circles". Never saw M and C together. Knew of M's reputation for truthfulness as a "habitual liar". No further questions; no questions by state. Witness excused.

No further witnesses scheduled for today as it was not anticipated defense would be calling witnesses. Court adjourned until 9:30am tomorrow.

Kept meaning to point this out... I was always under the impression that both CL and ML got off at noon that day, but if they worked in different shops it's quite possible Maria had to work later than he did. If this wittness is accurate, then there is absolutely no way Maria went to Laurean home prior to buying the bus ticket. There just wouldn't have been enough time, given the traffic on that day.

 

[snowshuze]

First up, CMDR Carlton, registered nurse midwife...worked with Maria, OB care.

 

[snowshuze]

Saw her on 3 occasions, Sept thru Nov 2007. Last time Nov 26th .

 

[snowshuze]

Dating ultrasound, Aug 9th. 13 weeks and 1 day, consistant with last period, May 10th.
Estimated conception, middle to late May.

Classified as routine, uncomplicated.

Not placed on bedrest.


Cross:

No contact after Nov 26th.

Follow up scheduled for Dec 26th.

Nov 26th was 28 weeks and 6 days.

Re direct: estimated delivery was <didn't catch>

Dr Freeson? Does not recall.

Telephone consult,possible mental health appointment.

Dismissed.

 

[snowshuze]

Carmen Ortega.

Former Marine, acquaintance of Maria. Worked together, trainer.

 

[panthera]

Good morning and thanks snowshuze for the notes on the first witness!

2nd witness today is Carmen Ortega. Was in USMC 2004-2008. Currently in inactive reserves. Met Maria at Camp Lejeune 2006. Worked in same section with Maria; trained Maria.

Defense is trying to ask a lot of questions of this witness that are being objected to.

 

[snowshuze]

Defense keeps plugging away at specific instances of Marias alleged untruths. Objections are always sustained.

 

[snowshuze]

Witness mumbles and I can't decipher alot of what she's saying.

 

[snowshuze]

Amazing that no one <excluding one at the exchange> ever saw them together.

 

[panthera]

Witness knew of allegation that Maria raised against Cesar; Maria was transferred to another work unit. Testifying now about witnesses work relationship with Laurean. Testifying about the Christmas party she was told to go to. Saw Maria there at 6:30pm. After Maria was reassigned she didn't see Maria or Cesar together. Knew of Maria's reputation for not being truthful. Knew of MPO.

 

[panthera]

Amazing that no one <excluding one at the exchange> ever saw them together.

I noticed that. :waitasec:

 

[snowshuze]

Women and men BOTH attend combat training.

 

[snowshuze]

witness knew of allegation that maria raised against cesar; maria was transferred to another work unit. Testifying now about witnesses work relationship with laurean. Testifying about the christmas party she was told to go to. saw maria there at 6:30pm. after maria was reassigned she didn't see maria or cesar together. Knew of maria's reputation for not being truthful. Knew of mpo.

whoaaaa.

ETA: HOLY CARP.

 

[panthera]

Judge excuses jury to go over possible testimony of witnesses.


On the last witness, is it correct that she said Maria was at the 12/14/07 Christmas party at 6:30pm?

 

[snowshuze]

Jury excused to go over upcoming testimony of Caroline Bier. Chief Warrant Officer.

 

[snowshuze]

I feel about a million objections coming up.

 

[snowshuze]

Possible theft of money. Spoke to Maria, she returned money.