Cesar Laurean's Trial

[LaLaw2000]

Well, I do not think the prosecution has made a great case, and I could just scream! As I stated in another place, Hudson read his opening statement and not even very well. It was very uncomfortable for me to watch. He should know this case backwards and forwards and be passionate about it. I did not hear the passion or even indignation that a young Marine and her unborn child was viciously murdered. I surely do hope that changes like right now! I could have given a more passionate opening statement and not had to read it.

I simply could not bear that McNeil asked Mary Lauterbach questions he knew darn well would be objected to and the objection sustained. He got his digs in. I do not care if Maria was not truthful about any number of things. I have so much compassion for Maria because she was a pregnant, very troubled young woman, and she really was alone for the most part.

A felony was committed as well as a murder. Anything less than LWOP is not justice for Maria and Gabriel.

JMO

 

[panthera]

Panthera I'm afraid that what you are hinting at is that the prosecutions case is not going well and I think it is something that all that are interested in and are thinking maybe the same. Seems it is not the open and shut case we all thought it would be. Well knowing Christina was not going to testify (and who did really think she would) seems to me IMO giving the defense and upper hand right now. OR maybe I'm scarred from past cases and just have no clue the reality this time 'round

To be honest, I've always had my doubts about how much his wife knew, and as of now with the state's case almost complete, if I were one of the jurors I would have doubts about convicting him of premeditated murder. It's been testified to what time his wife wasn't home, but what we don't know is what time Maria was killed. I never expected her to testify at the trial either, but on the other hand, she was once termed "cooperating" by the state. Since his arrest I would've thought a woman who was completely free of any involvement would have divorced this alleged murderer, who when arrested professed his love for Maria, but no, now she's using spousal privilege. Why? What is she afraid of that could come out at trial other than the note he wrote saying Maria killed herself and the four hour head start she gave him to get away? Is she afraid she'd have to explain how she lived in that house and didn't have a clue a woman had been killed in the garage and was being buried and burned in a fire pit in the back yard? What mother wouldn't ask questions when her child's swing was moved from the back yard to the front for no apparent reason? What man who was trying to hide the crime from his wife would have the victim's car parked outside the house for days? And again, why not get rid of the "murder weapon" instead of passing it off to a Marine buddy because he wanted a crow bar? I'll just say that "reasonable doubt" also means using "reason" and so far many things don't make sense. I want justice for Maria more than anything but I hope all the guilty parties at the defense table. MOO

 

[Topsail Girl]

Awesome post!! I do hope Mr. Hudson's closing arguements will be better than his opening!! Yes McNeil was harsh but I suspect much less harsh than he wanted to be had not Judge Smith put restrictions on him. In some ways I think that may come back to bite him - blaming the victim or even accusing her of mental unstability. I just don't know what to think right now...but then again the cameras and audio were ordered out of the courtroom so we have no clue what was eventually said. I've said before and will again no matter what her mental state she did not and her son did not deserve to be killed. Whether or not Cesar did it with premed or the heat of the moment - does not matter - she and the baby are dead. However after listening to testimony I am truly wondering just who it was that killed her. I do think Cesar did but I do think that Christina is a smart ole hen and helped him cover it up. That in and of itself may be the undoing of this case. To me, the prosecution has only been able to tie the fact that Cesar had a bon fire that stunk, his garage had Maria's blood in it and that her car was moved from the parking spot in the bus terminal. Oh and that the neighbor saw Cesar driving Maria's car. They have a t-shirt/photos that APPEARS to be the same..they have a murder weapon with no DNA from the killer - it's just a lot to overcome. Unless Dewey steps it up - well I duno. Not one person who was AT the bon fire has come forward in this trial - at least not yet. I'mmaaa just gettin' skeered I think.

 

[Topsail Girl]

I want justice for Maria more than anything but I hope all the guilty parties at the defense table. MOO
__________________


OMG in fewer words than me - you said what I've been trying to say....

 

[panthera]

I want justice for Maria more than anything but I hope all the guilty parties at the defense table. MOO
__________________


OMG in fewer words than me - you said what I've been trying to say....

Glad I'm not alone with those thoughts! I notice it's not correct though ~ should have said "are at the defense table". Oh well, it's late!


See you in the morning and hopefully we'll get audio & video! :seeya:

 

[Topsail Girl]

bon fire = again we don't know who killed Maria and her son or if it was premed or passion. We do know she and her son is dead. So why, if ther were all those people in attendance at the bon fire - why not Ward and his wife? Cause IMO Cesar wanted to get rid of the murder weapon and build the pit but not have Ward around to put pieces together. Maybe they were traveling...I guess Cesar never counted on the fact that Ward would watch the news.

IMO - I can not see it as a crime of passion with a 20 inch long blood spatter, but I'm not expert. To leave a 20 inch blood spatter path and blood on the ceiling makes me think rage. Not that rage isn't a crime of passion. But 20-inch???? I just don't get that...

 

[Topsail Girl]

Nite Panthera - I'm outta here too or I'll be up all night going back through footage and notes.

 

[Topsail Girl]

Maybe I've followee too many of thses cases to ever have an objective point of view. All I know is Jason Young is still awaiting trial and I am counting the days....I miss Michelle, I miss Rylan and I miss Cassidy.....

 

[Harmony 2]

bon fire = again we don't know who killed Maria and her son or if it was premed or passion. We do know she and her son is dead. So why, if ther were all those people in attendance at the bon fire - why not Ward and his wife? Cause IMO Cesar wanted to get rid of the murder weapon and build the pit but not have Ward around to put pieces together. Maybe they were traveling...I guess Cesar never counted on the fact that Ward would watch the news.

IMO - I can not see it as a crime of passion with a 20 inch long blood spatter, but I'm not expert. To leave a 20 inch blood spatter path and blood on the ceiling makes me think rage. Not that rage isn't a crime of passion. But 20-inch???? I just don't get that...

Thanks to everyone posting updates for those of us too busy to watch...

Regarding the 20 inch blood spatter, it could have been distributed across the surface, as cast off from the murder weapon, as it was pulled back from striking the victim. The speed, upward motion and momentum of the arm yielding the weapon account for the length. This could occur in a moment of rage but IMO not necessarily so.

 

[snowshuze]

I'm only getting to watch the trial in bits and pieces, while the grand daughter naps.

Seeing all the places blood that ended up in the garage... it's really bothering me.
He had to chase her all over the freekin' garage with that crowbar. And the blood spatter on the ceiling , IMO, got there from a backswing from the crowbar. At any point during this "crime of passion" CL could have stopped.

I have a BAD feeling about the way prosecution has delivered their case, so far.

 

[Topsail Girl]

I'm only getting to watch the trial in bits and pieces, while the grand daughter naps.

Seeing all the places blood that ended up in the garage... it's really bothering me.
He had to chase her all over the freekin' garage with that crowbar. And the blood spatter on the ceiling , IMO, got there from a backswing from the crowbar. At any point during this "crime of passion" CL could have stopped.

I have a BAD feeling about the way prosecution has delivered their case, so far.

If the prosecution doesn't step it up today I'm gonna have to agree with you Snowshuze.

 

[snowshuze]

TSG, prosecution has NOT told a story here <that I can tell>. They spent about half their time so far on chain of evidence testimony and have NOT laid out a sequence of events concerning the case. This is not like any trial I have ever watched. For lack of a better word...it's DRY.

 

[snowshuze]

If they are saving the Medical Examiner for last, maybe he/she can tell the story best?
We can hope.

 

[panthera]

Good morning everyone! The first witness testified about arresting Cesar in Mexico and bringing him back to the U.S. Now attorneys and judge are having a discussion out of the jury's presence before the next witness ~ presumably the ME.

 

[snowshuze]

Mr cameraman, PLEASE keep panning CL's face during the showing of the pictures?

I wanna see if he keeps that cools as a cucumber expression. Thankyouverymuch.

 

[panthera]

If they are saving the Medical Examiner for last, maybe he/she can tell the story best?
We can hope.

I predict the defense will ask, more than once, if he can determine who killed Maria and the TOD. MOO

 

[panthera]

Dr. Thomas Clark sworn in for the purpose of identifying autopsy photographs. No jury.

 

[panthera]

Defense objects under rules 401 & 403. Overruled. Judge says photos aren't duplicates, each shows a closer detail, are relevant; probative value outweighs prejudice and will be admitted. Attorneys also addressing judge re: prior stipulation to identity of body as being Maria.

 

[snowshuze]

Stipulation of ID of the body? HUH?

 

[panthera]

Jury returns to the courtroom. The judge is reading the stipulation to the jury re: identification of remains as Maria.