Cesar Laurean's Trial

[panthera]

(respectfully snipped)

Mary on the stand - Maria told her on Mother's Day 2007 that she had been raped. In June 2007 she found out Maria was pregnant and spoke to her about giving the baby up for adoption. Early December Mary had a baby shower for Maria. Maria returned to Jacksonville and the last time Mary spoke to Maria was 2:30 or 3:30 on the 14th of December while Mary was still at work. Mary was planning a visit to see Maria for Mary's birthday which is right before Christmas. Conversation was casual making plan to go out to eat and Maria complained about the weather being crazy that winter. Mary arrived home that evening and found Anne talking to Durham on the phone (Maria's room mate) concerning the strange note that Maria had left. Mary was quite surprised to hear what the note said because it was so out of the ordinary for Maria's demeanor that day.

It seems Mary was out of the loop on a lot of things in Maria's life when they last talked on 12/14, including no mention what Maria's plans were that day to go see Laurean, buy the bus ticket , etc. MOO

 

[dgfred]

It seems Mary was out of the loop on a lot of things in Maria's life when they last talked on 12/14, including no mention what Maria's plans were that day to go see Laurean, buy the bus ticket , etc. MOO

Well she probably would have left out anything pertaining to him anyway at that point.

 

[panthera]

Well she probably would have left out anything pertaining to him anyway at that point.

I've just always wondered, if Maria had lived, if she would've gotten on the bus for El Paso, or where she'd be when her mother came to visit. She seems to have walked away from Durham's place by leaving that note, and it seems was planning on leaving the Marines also. Something we'll never know I guess! MOO

 

[panthera]

Queston sustained when Mary was asked if anyone in her family ever needed a kidney transplant........wonder what that was about??

Mary also said no family in El Paso TX.

 

[dgfred]

I'm thinking maybe Maria and Cesar were 'planning' to meet up in Mexico.
I think maybe that is what he told her, then she got cold feet/or something else caused her to not want to go. All these spottings at the PX together has shaken my feelings for what was going on.

 

[panthera]

A lot of sustained questions during cross-exam and now Mary is off the witness stand.

 

[Topsail Girl]

Queston sustained when Mary was asked if anyone in her family ever needed a kidney transplant........wonder what that was about??

Mary also said no family in El Paso TX.

If I remember from early on and I do mean EARLY on - there was some talk of a brother needing a transplant or he would die or some such thing. I don't know if I ever heard or knew who's brother it was.

 

[lonetraveler]

Yep, exactly TG.

Now comes the divorce after he is convicted... still leaves us not so sure what she did or did not know while the bodies were there.

Was she ever given immunity by LE?

 

[Topsail Girl]

I have no idea Lonetraveler. I don't know that we've ever heard one way or the other in all this time.

 

[panthera]

Judge is excluding cameras for the rest of the day. :banghead:

 

[panthera]

If I remember from early on and I do mean EARLY on - there was some talk of a brother needing a transplant or he would die or some such thing. I don't know if I ever heard or knew who's brother it was.

Thanks. I still wonder what relevance it has here in the trial, if any.

 

[lonetraveler]

Just checking in. I've been reading backwards for a little while. Babysitting grandchildren today.

 

[lonetraveler]

I have no idea Lonetraveler. I don't know that we've ever heard one way or the other in all this time.

I was just wondering if immunity was given in exchange for testimony. Now, I see that she is going to use the spousal priviledge deal.

 

[Topsail Girl]

Thanks. I still wonder what relevance it has here in the trial, if any.

If I recall correctly it was a lie. It was something Maria made up - that her brother or her mom's brother or some brother of someone had to have kidney transplant. - Goes to her credibility which is at this moment getting shot even worse than it has in FRONT of the cameras. I can't recall exactly what this is called but at any rate this is the defenses chance to have all those objections that were sustained in open court to be heard now. Both parties agreed that the camera's were not going to be allowed to air this part of the trial.

 

[panthera]

If I recall correctly it was a lie. It was something Maria made up - that her brother or her mom's brother or some brother of someone had to have kidney transplant. - Goes to her credibility which is at this moment getting shot even worse than it has in FRONT of the cameras. I can't recall exactly what this is called but at any rate this is the defenses chance to have all those objections that were sustained in open court to be heard now. Both parties agreed that the camera's were not going to be allowed to air this part of the trial.

I understand that but is there a witness on the stand or is this the attorneys before the judge without the jury? :waitasec:

 

[STEADFAST]

If I recall correctly it was a lie. It was something Maria made up - that her brother or her mom's brother or some brother of someone had to have kidney transplant. - Goes to her credibility which is at this moment getting shot even worse than it has in FRONT of the cameras. I can't recall exactly what this is called but at any rate this is the defenses chance to have all those objections that were sustained in open court to be heard now. Both parties agreed that the camera's were not going to be allowed to air this part of the trial.

I don't know what Maria's credibility has to do with Laurean's murder trial. She's not pretending to be dead. Why are they even addressing her credibility? I would think that would backfire with a jury.

 

[dgfred]

I think maybe the defense is going for reduced (away from Murder 1) charges by the idea that Maria was threatening him (with/by lying)... maybe. :waitasec:

 

[panthera]

I don't know what Maria's credibility has to do with Laurean's murder trial. She's not pretending to be dead. Why are they even addressing her credibility? I would think that would backfire with a jury.

I believe they're going to her state of mind. The note Laurean left said Maria killed herself. Another thing is it appears Maria didn't share everything with her mother. MOO

 

[GeekyGirl]

I don't know what Maria's credibility has to do with Laurean's murder trial. She's not pretending to be dead. Why are they even addressing her credibility? I would think that would backfire with a jury.

Overall, by attacking her credibilty IMO they are attempting to make her a less sympethetic victim and create empathy for CL's situation at the time of the murder. They could also be setting up for a reduced charge based of lack of premeditation.

As I've said previously, I think the DA is hedging their bets in case they can't prove premeditation (which is tough because it's a state of mind). 10 to 1 they jury instructions will include the first degree murder as a result of the felony murder rule in addition to first degree murder by premeditation. I think that's why they spent so much time on the Dec 24th ATM transaction.

 

[GeekyGirl]

I believe they're going to her state of mind. The note Laurean left said Maria killed herself. Another thing is it appears Maria didn't share everything with her mother. MOO

Yes, but the jury won't ever see the note. It'll be intersting to see how McNeill manages to plant the suicide seed when he presents the defense.