Closing Arguments- Chase Merritt Charged W/Murder of Joseph, Summer, Gianni and Joe Jr McStay #2

[MsFacetious]

I am wondering if we will get audio of this later, I hope so.

Don't think so, didn't the reporters say that they were not informed of the impromptu hearing?

 

[smr]

At 18:00 in the following video, with jury absent, McGee tells the judge that during the morning break a McStay family member was observed speaking with the witness neighbor Ms. Mitchley in front of the jurors:

 

[1MTIrish]

At 18:00 in the following video, with jury absent, McGee tells the judge that during the morning break a McStay family member was observed speaking with the witness neighbor Ms. Mitchley in front of the jurors:

A family member speaking to a witness neighbor of the deceased victims is infinitely different than a member of the defense team seeking out members of the jury, albeit alternates. The defense team, as officers of the court, have the highest responsibility for integrity and ethical behavior.

 

[smr]

A family member speaking to a witness neighbor of the deceased victims is infinitely different than a member of the defense team seeking out members of the jury, albeit alternates. The defense team, as officers of the court, have the highest responsibility for integrity and ethical behavior.

The film crew is not member of the defense team.

The issue with the family member speaking to the witness was they were doing so in front of the jurors, a violation of rules.

 

[MsFacetious]

The film crew is not member of the defense team.

The issue with the family member speaking to the witness was they were doing so in front of the jurors, a violation of rules.

As long as both witnesses have already testified, they can talk to each other. The exclusionary rule is applicable before they've testified. I don't even think the exclusionary rule was applied in this case, so it may not have been an issue anyway.

My issue is why the hell were the witnesses and the jurors even in the same area?! That is just asking for a mistrial. That is ridiculous! Was that the case throughout the entire trial?!

 

[oceanblueeyes]

If I was the prosecution after these shenanigans by the DT, I would be very worried there may be one or more stealth jurors sitting on this case.

The DT knows it only takes one to throw this case into a retrial.

What a hot mess.

Jmho

 

[Niner]

Does anyone know what time the jurors started deliberating this morning? And has it been said what their hours will be? 9am to 4pm or ??

TIA!

 

[MissJames]

At 18:00 in the following video, with jury absent, McGee tells the judge that during the morning break a McStay family member was observed speaking with the witness neighbor Ms. Mitchley in front of the jurors:

So , the judge asked they not have discussions about the case in public areas where jurors or media might overhear them. For all we know they could have been talking about the weather. That they were talking to each other was not the issue.
FAR different from media or defense team approaching an active alternate juror while deliberations are in process.

 

[MissJames]

The film crew is not member of the defense team.

The issue with the family member speaking to the witness was they were doing so in front of the jurors, a violation of rules.

All I can say is, we see things very differently . One was deliberate , the other was not .

 

[MsFacetious]

Does anyone know what time the jurors started deliberating this morning? And has it been said what their hours will be? 9am to 4pm or ??

TIA!

Also: If the jury wants to continue deliberating into the evening will that be allowed?

 

[Tortoise]

The film crew is not member of the defense team.

Looks like Robert Wallace is -

Several new members either joined or are positioned to join Merritt’s defense team and were present during Friday’s court proceedings.

Forensics expert Randolph Beasley has also joined Merritt’s team, as has media advisor Robert Wallace.

Defense: AT&T not providing subpoenaed records in McStay family murder case – San Bernardino Sun



Prosecutor Britt Imes says they want assurance that for all months of trial the 12 deliberating jurors were not approached by "hyperactive" member of defense team. Smith will consider it
Richard K. De Atley (@RKDeAtley) | Twitter

 

[Niner]

Okay - refresh my memory here - getting on the "old" side! Is this the first FULL day of deliberations for the jurors? Did they deliberate on last Thursday?

TIA! (Again!)

 

[MsFacetious]

Okay - refresh my memory here - getting on the "old" side! Is this the first FULL day of deliberations for the jurors? Did they deliberate on last Thursday?

TIA! (Again!)

They did, but only for a couple of hours. Today they started late though, so not technically a full day either.

 

[smr]

As long as both witnesses have already testified, they can talk to each other. The exclusionary rule is applicable before they've testified. I don't even think the exclusionary rule was applied in this case, so it may not have been an issue anyway.

My issue is why the hell were the witnesses and the jurors even in the same area?! That is just asking for a mistrial. That is ridiculous! Was that the case throughout the entire trial?!

It was either right before or right after Ms Mitchley's testimony, and before Mike McStay testified.

Also, Mike McStay, who was to testify right after Ms. Mitchley, was apparently sitting in the front of the audience watching Ms. Mitchley testifying. You can catch a glimpse of him getting up briefly around 40:20 here:

 

[Bernina]

McStay case: Judge reprimands film crew, tied to defense team, for approaching 2 alternate jurors – Press Enterprise

A man tied to a documentary film crew and the defense team in the case of Charles Ray Merritt, who is charged with the the 2010 murders of the McStay family, was told Monday by the judge to stay away from the courthouse for the rest of the case and that he may face contempt after he allegedly approached two alternate jurors to interview them.

 

[katydid23]

I don't want a verdict today, that isn't long enough. They need more time than that. They have a lot to go over and go through.



That's what I've always thought too. Then, how did they all end up dead and buried?


.

I agree that a verdict today would be too quick. I am guessing end of day Wednesday or Thursday morning.

As for the trigger, to the killings.... I think Joey figured out about the first stolen check, and confronted Chase about it. They argued and things got ugly.

I don't think Joey flat out fired him , yet. But he probably said he wasn't paying him anymore until a certain amount was paid back. He probably wanted Chase to keep working, to pay some of the debt off , before he would receive any more cash.


Whatever form the argument came , I believe Joey 'disrespected' Chase, and made it clear that he wasn't going to allow things to coast along as before. Joey wanted to be paid back and he wasn't cutting Chase in on the new jobs until Chase worked off some of his debts.

I think Chase had a lot of buried anger/resentment. He felt like he should be co-owner. He should be the one building a new home for his family, with 100k in his checking account. And now Joey was disrespecting him, harshly criticising him, and after all Chase had done to build top this company, by his own sweat and talent.

 

[MsFacetious]

That's right, Mike was in the court room for the whole thing. So they didn't invoke the exclusionary rule. Which makes sense after 9 years. People would have talked to each other anyway.

It was either right before or right after Ms Mitchley's testimony, and before Mike McStay testified.

Also, Mike McStay, who was to testify right after Ms. Mitchley, was apparently sitting in the front of the audience watching Ms. Mitchley testifying. You can catch a glimpse of him getting up briefly around 40:20 here:

 

[MissJames]

Looks like Robert Wallace is -

Several new members either joined or are positioned to join Merritt’s defense team and were present during Friday’s court proceedings.

Forensics expert Randolph Beasley has also joined Merritt’s team, as has media advisor Robert Wallace.

Defense: AT&T not providing subpoenaed records in McStay family murder case – San Bernardino Sun



Prosecutor Britt Imes says they want assurance that for all months of trial the 12 deliberating jurors were not approached by "hyperactive" member of defense team. Smith will consider it
Richard K. De Atley (@RKDeAtley) | Twitter

Yep - That was July ,2016 . Even if he’s no longer “technically” on the defense team , he certainly has ties & he CERTAINLY knows better than to speak with active alternate jurors.
If he is still actively part of the team there needs to be consequences for all of them.

 

[Longtimenoc]

My goodness this turn of events blew my socks off. Was this guy some over eager idiot or was he complicit with the whole defense team? He is an actual member per reports.

Anybody in their right mind knows you can't tamper with a jury! Was this an attempt by the defense to force a mistrial? No wonder Judge Smith needs a couple days to get to the bottom of this.

 

[Niner]

They did, but only for a couple of hours. Today they started late though, so not technically a full day either.

Thank you!