Cesar Laurean's Trial

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 12 - Frank Davis - basically he testified that Cesar did try to use Maria's card on 12-24 four times beginning at 17:00 and ending at 17:03. First 2 attempts failed for wrong PIN number. Last 2 attempts failed due to non sufficient funds.

Witness 13 - Malo Menard - lived next door to Laurean's but didn't know them other than a casual greeting when going into or out of their homes. Malo had used a section of Laurean's fence that was torn down as a ramp for his remote cars. Late December the piece of fencing was gone. Malo thinks the bon fire was around the 27th of December and there were 6 or 7 people in attendance not including the Laurean's. Malo testified that the Laurean's had never had a bon fire before and very rarely were visitors over at the Laurean's. Malo said that on more than one occasion all 3 vehicles were there together then he clarified that he saw all 3 there on two different occasions both times in late December.

 

[GeekyGirl]

*sigh* I really wish that I could watch this. IMHO the prosecution really needs to be making a clear distinction between the actual murder and the steps taken to conceal the murder because they are two entirely separate crimes. From everything I've read, and from talking to plenty of people who were pretty close to the action, I personally believe that Christina was eyeball deep in the cover-up. However, I've yet to see any verifiable evidence that she was involved in the murder. I'm worried that if the DA doesn't create a clear distinction between the events, it'll be enough for reasonable doubt in at least one juror's mind. Hudson had to know the defense was going to go for spousal privilege, which again, is a concept not a lot of people are familiar with. He needs to make clear that if Christina doesn't testify, it's bc Cesar won't waive privilege.

 

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 14 - Richard Alander - former neighbor of the Laurean's. His testimoeny was pretty much the same as Malo except he said he thought the bon fire was closer to New Year's Eve. Same story about the remote cars. He said he could not say for sure if he ever saw the 3 cars together at the Laurean home because he was not sure if Christina's SUV was there but he was sure Cesar's truck was there. His wife complained of the smell when Cesar was burning the bon fire. Richard told his wife that it was probably trash he was burning. He recalls Cesar driving Maria's car. He was in the yard playing with his remote car and saw Cesar driving it in late December.

 

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 15 - Special Agent Randy Dulay NCIS - computer guru - boring but I know he is gonna give some important info so I'm TRYING to pay attention LOL

 

[dgfred]

I've been assuming since the beginning that his wife was also Latino... guess that shows what you are doing when you 'assume'. Not that Latino or not matters one bit.

 

[Topsail Girl]

SA Dulay dropped some good testimony!!! He stated that he retrieved the index.dat file from Internet Explorer for the user accout Cesar Laurean. This file lists the history or website visits or google searches, etc. SOme of what he found

1/08/08 Google search "what happens in a homicide investigation"

1/08/08 Google Book Search "what happens in a homicide investigation"

01/07/08 Reeds Jewelry and one other I thnk Kay Jeweler

01/07/08 Welch Law Firm - very high profile defense attorney

01/07/08 Googled " Criminal Defense Lawyers in Jacksonville NC"

01/03/08 Mapquest request for a map from 103 Meadow to 2805 Highwoods Blvd in Raleigh NC - this was on the THIRD of January.

01/08/08 Goggled Puerto Vallarta employment via classified ads on the internet and a web site called Puerto Vallarta Jobs Employment and Careers

That is I got from him because the camera and sound was yanked to go outside for the live shot at noon for the news. GGRRRRR

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Well the darn feed went down just when the agent was talking about Maria's searches and if there were any searches to El Paso or Mexico.

We didnt get to hear what he said. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I hope the reporters tell what was said when the feed went out and we missed the testimony about searches on Christina's computer too.

:banghead::banghead:

 

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 16 - Special Agent Graham Grafton. Sorry I didn't get any of his testimony.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

SA Dulay dropped some good testimony!!! He stated that he retrieved the index.dat file from Internet Explorer for the user accout Cesar Laurean. This file lists the history or website visits or google searches, etc. SOme of what he found

1/08/08 Google search "what happens in a homicide investigation"

1/08/08 Google Book Search "what happens in a homicide investigation"

01/07/08 Reeds Jewelry and one other I thnk Kay Jeweler

01/07/08 Welch Law Firm - very high profile defense attorney

01/07/08 Googled " Criminal Defense Lawyers in Jacksonville NC"

01/03/08 Mapquest request for a map from 103 Meadow to 2805 Highwoods Blvd in Raleigh NC - this was on the THIRD of January.

01/08/08 Goggled Puerto Vallarta employment via classified ads on the internet and a web site called Puerto Vallarta Jobs Employment and Careers

That is I got from him because the camera and sound was yanked to go outside for the live shot at noon for the news. GGRRRRR

Well I was sort of disappointed that is all they say they found.

We all knew before now he had contacted a lawyer and had even gone to see him before he left for Mexico.

He was starting on Maria's when the reporter came on and the court feed went out.

IMO

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Witness 16 - Special Agent Graham Grafton. Sorry I didn't get any of his testimony.

He really didnt reveal much. He was asked by McNeil if he was married to Grafton who was in charge of investigation into the sexual assault alligations and he said "yes". He asked had charges ever been brought against Laurean on that case and he said "no".

IMO

 

[Topsail Girl]

You know I was pretty sure that Roshaun Hames said Maria's car had been moved while he was off duty and I waivered on posting about it but in the end I did. Now I'm even more convinced that her car WAS parked in a differnt spot because Richard Alander testified that he saw Cesar driving Maria's car in late December. He (Cesar) must have been taking it back to the bus stop.

 

[STEADFAST]

SA Dulay dropped some good testimony!!! He stated that he retrieved the index.dat file from Internet Explorer for the user accout Cesar Laurean. This file lists the history or website visits or google searches, etc. SOme of what he found

1/08/08 Google search "what happens in a homicide investigation"

1/08/08 Google Book Search "what happens in a homicide investigation"

01/07/08 Reeds Jewelry and one other I thnk Kay Jeweler

01/07/08 Welch Law Firm - very high profile defense attorney

01/07/08 Googled " Criminal Defense Lawyers in Jacksonville NC"

01/03/08 Mapquest request for a map from 103 Meadow to 2805 Highwoods Blvd in Raleigh NC - this was on the THIRD of January.

01/08/08 Goggled Puerto Vallarta employment via classified ads on the internet and a web site called Puerto Vallarta Jobs Employment and Careers

That is I got from him because the camera and sound was yanked to go outside for the live shot at noon for the news. GGRRRRR

This might be what was said when they went away:
'In Laureans work desk investigators also found a sticky note with the names of criminal defense attorneys and a notepad that had written on it, "Arizona Airport."
http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/aug/...y-expected-continue-cesar-laurean--ar-332711/

 

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 17 - CWO2 Joel Larsen. He was Cesars commanding office until Cesar went UA. Larsen knew of the rape allegations and testified that he asked Cesar very pointed questions regarding a relationship or if there was any truth to the rape allegation. Cesar denied a relationship with Maria and also denied the rape allegation. The Christmas party was in the gym on base. About 500 people were there including spouses and children of the marines. Cesar did not go. ON 12/27/07 Cesar told Larsen that Marie had sent him flowers and that he (cesar) threw them in the trash. Larsen testified that he never saw flowers or a card. Larsen was of the opinion that it was strange that Maria who was UA at the time would send flowers to anyone risking her hiding spot. On 01/08/08 NCIS asked to speak with Laurean and Larsen accompanied him to their office. Laurean invoked his right to an attorney and upon leaving NCIS began asking Larsen numerous questions regarding his career in the military. IF MARIA NEVER COMES BACK WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY ARTICLE 32 HEARING? Cesar wanted to know why Mary Lauterbach was in NC. Larsen explained because Maria was UA. When a soldier goes UA you can not list them as a deserter for 30 days. Larsen tried to get Maria listed as a deserter soon after she went UA due to her late stages of pregnancy and some other "issues". She did not meet the criteria. The last time Larsen saw Cesar was around 11am on 01/10/08. Larsens opinion of Maria is that she stretched the truth. Flowers were actually supposedly sent to Christina - not Cesar. Larsen's previous opinion of Cesar being a stellar Marine is no longer his opinion. (He looks very upset to me IMO)

 

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 18 - Mariane Puneda. She was Christina's commanding officer. Saw an article on MSN (I think that what she said) about a missing Marine. She asked the marines in her building if anyone knew anything about it. Christina later went to her office crying and very upset. Mariane was going to say Christina told me her husband -but it was objected to. ARGH!! I believe this was on 01/08/08. On 01/10/08 Mariane met Christina in town and Mariane said Christina was extremely upset even more than 2 days before. Mariane drove Christina to Attorney Paul Castle's office. Mariane was called by her COI and was told to get Christina out of the attorney's office immediately. Mariane tried but could not and 2 more attorneys and 2 NCIS officers came in and got Christina out of there and took her to Onslow County Sheriff Dept. Mariane went with her and at the request of the deputies, Mariane took Christina back to her house to stay because the Deputies did not want Christina to go home. Twice that same day Mariane went with Christina near her (Christina's) house, again at the request of the deputies.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Witness 17 - CWO2 Joel Larsen. He was Cesars commanding office until Cesar went UA. Larsen knew of the rape allegations and testified that he asked Cesar very pointed questions regarding a relationship or if there was any truth to the rape allegation. Cesar denied a relationship with Maria and also denied the rape allegation. The Christmas party was in the gym on base. About 500 people were there including spouses and children of the marines. Cesar did not go. ON 12/27/07 Cesar told Larsen that Marie had sent him flowers and that he (cesar) threw them in the trash. Larsen testified that he never saw flowers or a card. Larsen was of the opinion that it was strange that Maria who was UA at the time would send flowers to anyone risking her hiding spot. On 01/08/08 NCIS asked to speak with Laurean and Larsen accompanied him to their office. Laurean invoked his right to an attorney and upon leaving NCIS began asking Larsen numerous questions regarding his career in the military. IF MARIA NEVER COMES BACK WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY ARTICLE 32 HEARING? Cesar wanted to know why Mary Lauterbach was in NC. Larsen explained because Maria was UA. When a soldier goes UA you can not list them as a deserter for 30 days. Larsen tried to get Maria listed as a deserter soon after she went UA due to her late stages of pregnancy and some other "issues". She did not meet the criteria. The last time Larsen saw Cesar was around 11am on 01/10/08. Larsens opinion of Maria is that she stretched the truth. Flowers were actually supposedly sent to Christina - not Cesar. Larsen's previous opinion of Cesar being a stellar Marine is no longer his opinion. (He looks very upset to me IMO)

I found him to be such a genuine man. He has to look across the room at the prior Marine that he had rated in the top 3 OICs in his entire 18 years of military service. He seemed to still be shocked that this has happened.

I didn't think he looked upset but he did look sad. I know it pained him to know this is how it ended and that he had to tell the truth that Maria's reputation in the Corps was being untruthful.

Of course his opinion has changed. No Marine ever finds honor in a Marine who fled and went AWOL or finds themself in a courtroom charged with murder.

IMO

 

[Topsail Girl]

Actually Ocean, I think sad is a better description than upset. He was a very genuine man to me as well. I agree I think he is still in shock and just cant wrap his mind around it all.

I left work and I'm now home the last witness I saw was Deputy Daniel McCloud from WCSO and he was just being questioned about Cesar's truck. Ocean, did you catch any of it? If so could you fill me in on what I missed, please?

 

[Topsail Girl]

Witness 19 Mary Yordy - found Maria's military VISA card in the weeds att he bus station on Chapel Hill Rd in Durham. She took it into the bus terminal and a worker immediately recognized the name so he had her walk across the street to the police station and turn it in.

Witness 20 Officer C J Wisnieski Durham PD - testified that he took the card from Mary Yordy. Forensics from Onslow County arrived and took the card. Durham County Forensics searched the bus station inside and out. Officer Wisnieski also reviewed Passenger Manifests for Cesar's name as he was advised to do by OCSD's BOLO alert.

 

[GeekyGirl]

Wow... I finally got a chance to back and watch some of the testimony from yesterday. The most interesting thing (which actually doesn't relate to the murder) I heard hasn't yet been mentioned. The Marine that testified about Cesar wanting Maria to go to Mexico also said that the consensual sex may have have occurred at a party at Cesar's house, and the Marine thought that because Christina hadn't yet been activated, she and the child weren't living in the area. I suppose it's not a big deal, but that completely changes how I envisioned Maria and Cesar's relationship evolving.

Again, this is entirely speculation on my part, but it's not at all uncommon for Marines who are geo-bachelors to hide the fact that are married or misrepresent the state of their marriage (i.e. "we're getting a divorce"). If that was the case, I can only imagine how upset Maria was when she found out the truth. It's a pretty strong argument against McNeill's claim that the "relationship" was a fantasy in Maria's mind and speaks to the truthfulness of Cesar's character.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Actually Ocean, I think sad is a better description than upset. He was a very genuine man to me as well. I agree I think he is still in shock and just cant wrap his mind around it all.

I left work and I'm now home the last witness I saw was Deputy Daniel McCloud from WCSO and he was just being questioned about Cesar's truck. Ocean, did you catch any of it? If so could you fill me in on what I missed, please?

He convinced me that all of this is totally out of character for Cesar Laurean.

Another reason why I dont feel he premeditated this.

IMO

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Wow... I finally got a chance to back and watch some of the testimony from yesterday. The most interesting thing (which actually doesn't relate to the murder) I heard hasn't yet been mentioned. The Marine that testified about Cesar wanting Maria to go to Mexico also said that the consensual sex may have have occurred at a party at Cesar's house, and the Marine thought that because Christina hadn't yet been activated, she and the child weren't living in the area. I suppose it's not a big deal, but that completely changes how I envisioned Maria and Cesar's relationship evolving.

Again, this is entirely speculation on my part, but it's not at all uncommon for Marines who are geo-bachelors to hide the fact that are married or misrepresent the state of their marriage (i.e. "we're getting a divorce"). If that was the case, I can only imagine how upset Maria was when she found out the truth. It's a pretty strong argument against McNeill's claim that the "relationship" was a fantasy in Maria's mind and speaks to the truthfulness of Cesar's character.

Thanks for the information. I missed that.

But I do think she knew he was married since she was in the same department working right along beside him before the rape allegations and I read when the case first unfolded that everyone knew he was married and he talked about his wife and little girl a lot.

IMO