AB 10/10/19
1. Neighbor’s camera captured C.W. leaving his house the morning that the family was reported missing. A source close to the case revealed the neighbor moved the position of that camera right before the murders happened. If he hadn’t, none of it would have been captured. Wasn’t the only person on the block with doorbell camera. Others turned in footage from their cameras.
2. CW’s movements may have been monitored from the moment his family was reported missing by work truck.
3. AB played video of SW reporting her life was lousy until it wasn’t. Couldn’t afford their dream honeymoon in Cancun, but since joining Le-Vel they were able to earn free trips to New Orleans and Punta Cana. Able to earn money while away from home, able to travel with her husband and kids. Defense Attorney, Joey Jackson says this video speaks volumes for the prosecution. This is about a husband who abused the love, the trust, the respect, and the entirety of the relationship from a woman who loved him so, so much.
2. Is there a way around the hearsay rules, so SW can be alive and living in that courtroom for the jury to see? Former Prosecutor, Randy Zelin explains absolutely, because the hallmark of hearsay is that this piece of evidence is being offered for the truth of the matter asserted. Doesn’t matter if her feelings about C.W. and kids are truthful or not, videos will serve to portray SW’s state of mind. SW’s state of mind is critical because C.W. has made it critical by alleging that she is responsible for the children’s deaths. His own confession ultimately may end up being his undoing not once, but twice. CW opened the door for the hearsay exception because he’s the one accusing SW of murder.
3. SW posted 82 videos in the 6 months leading up to her death. Tapered off near the end, many say this shows maybe what the relationship was like, but in some of her videos you really get to see how she felt about those little girls. If he’s accusing her of murdering her children, he’s going to have a hard time convincing a jury after they see the video where SW talks about not letting anyone come between “you and your goals, and what you’re building, your dreams, your foundation, and that’s what I’m building for my girls right now. I don’t want my girls to grow up like I did...I want my girls to take on the world, and I don’t want anything to stop them.” This sounds like a woman who wants the best for her children. In next video SW makes clear she wants the girls’ lives to be rich and full. AB shows vision board video where Bella repeats after SW, “I am blessed, I am healthy, I am confident, I am perfect,” etc.. Zelin says when you’re sitting there at that Defense table, on trial, and that video is played, it’s a sphincter tightening moment, where you realize maybe if C.W. is lucky he’ll come out feet first, but at a very, very old age. AB shows another video where SW talks about always living for other people until she started living for herself and her family, her kids. She doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone but her kids and herself. That’s all that matters. SW lives for her kids. Zelin says the jury, during trial, watching these videos are going to feel insult and disgust. They’re going to think how dare this defendant pin this horrific, unbelievable, indescribable tragedy on this woman. AB played video that SW took of C.W., without him knowing, of him singing hot dog, hot diggety dog, with caption, #HesGoingToKillMe. This is so prejudicial against CW.. Zelin says if the videos are coming in, they’re coming in. Every piece of evidence against a defendant is prejudicial, but for probative value, they are relevant. Because of his confession, it’s coming in.
3. Can SW’s videos work in CW’s favor? Defense Attorney, Rene Sandler, explains, if the Defense wants to use those videos, it needs to fit like a glove, like a piece in a puzzle, in order to be successful. They can backfire terribly, so the Defense must have a cogent strategy, otherwise, it’s going to backfire. AB shows video where Shanann talks about CW being the best thing besides her children that ever happened to her, she couldn’t have asked God for a better man in her life. CW is the best father she could have asked for for her children. Sandler says the videos can work in CW’s favor, they cut both ways, and she disagrees with previous guest about hearsay. If the Defense uses the video where SW praises him as a great dad, they open the door across the board. They have to be carefully strategic in weaving their defense. Sandler would have SW’s videos analyzed by a psychological expert to see if there are any nuggets whatsoever that can be used to help the defense. AB shows video where SW shows that she is close to a breaking point. Both girls, in red and white striped tees, are crying and fighting. AB says SW is the most patient mother she’s ever seen, but some people could twist that. Sandler says looking at SW’s face and body language in that video compared to others, it does show somebody that’s more tense in that moment. She would have an expert analyze these videos and to look professionally for anything the Defense could pull out to use to support their client. AB shows another video, the outdoor checker game where SW says, “Bring the baby before he’s a toddler and I don’t want him anymore.” That can be twisted, but it could blow back very hard against the defendant if they’re not careful. So all of the videos need to be viewed in their entirety by a professional to assist in a strategic presentation of evidence. Strategic game playing in court can be so ugly.
4. AB shows video where Bella thinks SW has 5 babies in her tummy. There was just one, Nico, but he didn’t make it.
