JMO the typical strategy with a problematic witness is to put all the bad stuff out there at the beginning, and hope that the jury will forget about it as the story unfolds. First her saccharine deal, then her poison coffee trip 9/23, then the metal rod trip 10/15, then the aluminum baseball bat trip 10/23. Each trip a 1600 mile round trip drive with KK's intention to murder KB. KK claims "PF made me do it!" When KB disappears 11/22 and is presumed dead, KK claims "PF did it!". Then she does the 1600 miles to clean up someone else's murder, per her story.
The Prosecution will hold her hand, treat her like a victim, give her a box of tissues. The then Defense will examine her and end by honing in again on her bad acts to reimprint them on the jury.
I cannot see a jury ever recuperating.
The Prosecution case is not that good. It is full of holes and blunders IMO.
They are searching the landfill because they need evidence IMO.
So, I agree with you that once they know her actions relative to the prior solicitations, the cleanup, etc., the jury is going to actively dislike KK, which is to say, they're going to hate her guts. She will not be viewed as a sympathetic witness in any respect.
Having said that, being an unsympathetic witness does not mean she will not be a credible witness in the jurors' eyes.
I do not think the Prosecution will hold her hand and treat her like a victim.
I think the DA will force KK to detail in cold, meticulous, precise fashion exactly what she said and did, and exactly what PF said and did, as relates to KB's murder.
There will be no hankies being proffered. KK will have to wipe her nose on her sleeve if she manages to muster up any crocodile tears.
The DA isn't interested in drumming up sympathy for KK.
He wants justice for KB.
Period.
I think the DA will be every bit as hard on KK on the witness stand as the defense will be on her.
KK's sweetie beauty of a deal is contingent upon her giving a truthful account of both hers and PF actions.
She knows that her deal is contingent on her getting on that stand and telling the truth.
Dan May is going to make sure that the jury sees what a horrible human being KK is, because that is part of showing the jury how awful the entire plot against KB was, and how truly helpless she was in the face of so much evil surrounding her.
After forcing KK to provide a full recitation of her despicable actions, the DA will then go on to show how, reprehensible a character as KK is, she pales in comparison to the evil machinations of PF. It is PF who planned, solicited, and viciously executed KB's murder.
After which, he desecrated her remains and tossed her in a landfill.
PF is toast. The jury is going to serve him up extra crispy.
JMO.