Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #34

[gitana1]

I don’t know anybody like that!

My brothers, sort of. Both do watch or read the news but neither had heard of this case before I started talking about it with them.

 

[nwmouse]

I know she is not on trial. We were discussing how the defense might present their case. They would have to offer solid reasons why she could have done this.

By saying SW was nuts?
I doubt it.
Because if SW was nuts when she allegedly "actively-strangled" Cece, does that mean CW went nuts too and instead of trying to stop SW he decided to kill them all and break Cece and Bella's bones to cram them in crude oil vats?

A rational person would think that CW would stop SW "actively" strangling CeCe, subdue her with ropes if necessary and then call 911 to learn how to do CPR to resuscitate baby CeCe, make sure Bella was breathing and have the cops come asap.

Edited to add the MOO.

 

[gitana1]

Not *wanting* it released isn’t enough - it’s assumed to be public unless there’s a really good reason to seal it... so someone (media or even a member of the public) can make the request, custodian still has to argue why it shouldn’t be released.

Yes. This is constitutional stuff. We don't want secrecy when it comes to the criminal justice system.

 

[Amandaaa]

So what other reason than tainting the jury pool can you think of for the state not wanting the report released before trial?

It’s possible there’s something in it they didn’t expect, or don’t fully understand and need to figure out...?

 

[mtnlites]

We talk a lot about NUA but I wanted to give a shout to Amanda T. I feel so badly for her and her husband. Now THEIR grief was unquestionable. And they also contacted LE. Kudos to them.

 

[MerryB]

Defense doesn't have to prove that she did it, they only have to prove that he did not.

The burden of proof is on the prosecution; however, if the defense is claiming that CW killed his wife after finding she had killed the children, I think they will have to offer reason(s) why she could have done this.

 

[Seattle1]

I don't think it was broken or disabled for the reason you stated. I do think the reference to CW's statement to LE that it wasn't working has significance, because of the fact that it is even mentioned in the affidavit. My thoughts are LE did check it and it was working.

JMO.

Very good point!

 

[The Saint]

Defense doesn't have to prove that she did it, they only have to prove that he did not.

The Defense has to prove reasonable doubt.

 

[mickey2942]

Still, SW isn't on trial. If I was on the jury, the defense could go on and on about how she killed her children. Okay. She is dead. Moving on.

What was reasonable about CW strangling his wife, in response to her killing the children? Okay, he is crazy and whacked. He is still alive. Life in prison without parole.

 

[gitana1]

You know, I seriously wonder if folks in "fly over" land have more sense. Would Casey Anthony been free with a jury trial in Montana or Colorado?

I don't think so. Folks here, don't have time for foolishness. CW will find some pretty harsh critics on his jury. Who will want to know why he didn't call the police when his wife went crazy.

It's interesting. My BA is in American Studies so this kind of thing really interests me. And you may be right. Studies show sort of regional personality prevalence or character types.

People who live in the plains areas are thought to be friendly but conventional. Which I take to be no-nonsense. U.S. Regions Exhibit Distinct Personalities, Research Reveals

 

[DexterMorgan]

Question for all lawyers.

Is trial by Judge better than trial by jury when you are totally innocent and dont want any bias simpletons deciding your fate?

 

[Layla123]

So what other reason than tainting the jury pool can you think of for the state not wanting the report released before trial?

I have no idea! The Prosecution also said, “The disclosure of this information to the public prior to trial could result in tainting witnesses that have not yet been interviewed...” I don’t begin to understand how the COD could affect a future witness. Unless they think a witness might repeat what they read in the autopsy report, rather than what they actually witnessed. But then that person would be a lousy witness.

 

[gitana1]

I’m not so sure. A lot of people have been wrongly convicted over the years, but I know it’s not perfect, but it’s the best there is.

Yes. And 99.9% of them are black/brown or poor or both. CW isn't any of those.

 

[gitana1]

I don't believe HIPAA extends to autopsy reports in cases like this. Emily Glass' autopsy report was made public. She died by gunshot to the head, the weights of her organs, bruises on her body, even the striae on her belly were included in the autopsy report that was made public.

I think Jon Benet Ramsey's autopsy report was before HIPAA? But the autopsy of a little girl was made public, including details of her genitalia and possible signs of sexual abuse noted by the ME.

We are not just talking about case and manner of death, we're talking about a full body post-mortem examination by a medical examiner/coroner.

It's not the same as the notes that are made during the autopsy, it doesn't include things like "after doing a Y-incision I found ..." But there's no privacy for the deceased in it.

Yeah, no. It doesn't.

 

[gitana1]

@Amandaaa - didn’t you say you couldn't find one?

I did. Cited above.

 

[MerryB]

Yeah, no. It doesn't.

I did not say it did.

 

[gitana1]

I’ve never heard of a case like this.

People have cited cases like this repeatedly on these threads. Pommy mommy even has a chart.

 

[mickey2942]

It's interesting. My BA is in American Studies so this kind of thing really interests me. And you may be right. Studies show sort of regional personality prevalence or character types.

People who live in the plains areas are thought to be friendly but conventional. Which I take to be no-nonsense. U.S. Regions Exhibit Distinct Personalities, Research Reveals

That is very interesting. I live in Montana, moved to the East coast for several years, folks there are different. It was like wearing new shoes that never really fit well. I came back home, and it was like comfy boots.

People who live in the East, West coast, are more liberal, in general, and probably more open to more ideas or stories. Here, it is, "does that make sense?" Yep. Nope. Trial over.

 

[gitana1]

Question for all lawyers.

Is trial by Judge better than trial by jury when you are totally innocent and dont want any bias simpletons deciding your fate?

Maybe. Depending on who you are, the facts and who the judge is.

 

[mtnlites]

The Defense has to prove reasonable doubt.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they have to prove that SW did it. In the CA case, defense did NOT try to prove that GA molested CA or that Caylee died accidentally in the pool-they just had to plant those seeds. Likewise, defense doesn't have to prove that SW did it, just introduce enough reasonable doubt to make jurors believe that CW may NOT have done it.