Cesar Laurean's Trial

[panthera]

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

Money missing from collection fund for Christmas decorations 2006; Maria suspected of taking money. Maria was spoken to and returned the money. She told Maria that Marines don't lie, cheat or steal. Maria explained she needed the money to visit her brother's grave site. Bier was unaware her brother had died....

 

[snowshuze]

Maria says she took money because she could go visit brothers grave site. Brother died after family altercation and she couldnt go to funeral. Father and sister were arguing and father threw object and hit brother and he died.
OIC called Marias mother. Mother denied death.
Says she creates fantasies in her mind.
OIC considered it a pretty serious lie.
Mother says she had concerns about joining Marines, and didnt think it was a good idea.
Sent Maria to OICIC and needed medical attention. Mental health eval.

 

[panthera]

Cesar had been assigned to counsel Maria.

 

[snowshuze]

Formally counseled and recommended for no promotion.

Dated Dec 12th, 2006.

Maria did well for 4 to 6 weeks, then began tardies again.

OIC told CL to councel Maria.

 

[snowshuze]

IMO, Mary painted a pretty picture in her testimony.

 

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Not ONE person has testified Maria was a violent person.Blaming the victim SUCKS.

 

[GeekyGirl]

Maria at the Christmas Party?!?! Wow... though it seems strange that we've never heard this from anyone else. I know it was reported that there were a lot of people there, but up until now I haven't heard anyone say that saw Maria OR Christina at the party... that changes the whole timeline. Grrr... Wish I could be watching.

 

[panthera]

Maria at the Christmas Party?!?! Wow... though it seems strange that we've never heard this from anyone else. I know it was reported that there were a lot of people there, but up until now I haven't heard anyone say that saw Maria OR Christina at the party... that changes the whole timeline. Grrr... Wish I could be watching.

From what I recall, it had been said that Christina was at the party, but not Maria. What time would Maria have gotten there if she was at the bus station buying the ticket as late as 5:00pm? And in the ATM video she sure wasn't dressed to go to a party. She also left the note for Durham sometime that afternoon and he was home around 4:30pm (approx.) so where did she change clothes? :waitasec:

 

[snowshuze]

Wondering why the heck this OIC didn't seek more intense psychiatric help for Maria.

 

[GeekyGirl]

Not ONE person has testified Maria was a violent person.Blaming the victim SUCKS.

I agree, it does. No matter what problems she had, she didn't deserve to die. Seems to me that Cesar could have prevented a lot of this by just admitting to the consenual sex (if, in fact, it was consenual) in the very beginning. Yes he would have possibly been facing adultery and/or fraternazation charges but by all accounts he was held in high regard by his command, while Maria was not. I think his career might have been set back some, but it would have been salvagable. And yes, I know what the UCMJ punishments for both charges are, but the Marine Corps has wide latitude in deciding how offenses are handled, and the reputation of the Marine in question plays a huge part in that.

 

[panthera]

Wondering why the heck this OIC didn't seek more intense psychiatric help for Maria.

From what she's said so far, especially with Maria not taking the medication, why was Maria even still in the USMC? :waitasec:

Defense arguing now to the judge why this testimony should be allowed, especially where Cesar was assigned to counsel Maria.

 

[panthera]

Judge rules that Bier may testify that Cesar was ordered to counsel Maria, in general, but not specifically what for.

Much of the other testimony about Maria is sustained.

 

[GeekyGirl]

From what I recall, it had been said that Christina was at the party, but not Maria. What time would Maria have gotten there if she was at the bus station buying the ticket as late as 5:00pm? And in the ATM video she sure wasn't dressed to go to a party. She also left the note for Durham sometime that afternoon and he was home around 4:30pm (approx.) so where did she change clothes? :waitasec:

Theoretically, it's possible for her to change clothes and have made it back on base to the party by 6:30pm. The route from the bus station back to the main gate is mostly a straight shot down 24, and most of the traffic would be going in the opposite direction at that time of day. No idea where she would have changed clothes though... the locker room at the gym where the party was maybe? Just seems highly unlikely...

 

[panthera]

Theoretically, it's possible for her to change clothes and have made it back on base to the party by 6:30pm. The route from the bus station back to the main gate is mostly a straight shot down 24, and most of the traffic would be going in the opposite direction at that time of day. No idea where she would have changed clothes though... the locker room at the gym where the party was maybe? Just seems highly unlikely...

Thanks. It's not that I don't believe today's witness but I'm finding it odd that this is the first time we've heard Maria was at the party. MOO

 

[snowshuze]

Testimony not allowed about theft, apparently.

 

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Judge is staying with the not allowing specifics.

 

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Maria requested discharge, WHY didn't they discharge her?? Prosecution objected so we won't know.

 

[snowshuze]

Based on her observations, CL was an outstanding Marine.

 

[GeekyGirl]

Wondering why the heck this OIC didn't seek more intense psychiatric help for Maria.

From what she's said so far, especially with Maria not taking the medication, why was Maria even still in the USMC? :waitasec:

Defense arguing now to the judge why this testimony should be allowed, especially where Cesar was assigned to counsel Maria.

Other than referring someone for a mental health eval, the unit doesn't really have a lot of say in what kind of treatment a Marine receives. While I think the Mental Health do a tremendous job with the resources they have, IMO I think Maria's behavior would have been written off as someone who was having difficulty adjusting to military life. It's a fairly common thing, and i think that most of the time, they give junior Marines the benefit of the doubt. As she was not (I don't believe) identified as being suicidal or a danger to others, I doubt anyone was super agressive in treating her, especially if she wasn't proactively asking for help.

 

[snowshuze]

No questions from Prosecution. Two more witnesses after recess.

Can't WAIT to hear closings.