GUILTY FL - Calyx, 16, & Beau Schenecker, 13, shot to death, Tampa, 27 Jan 2011 #7

[turaj]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts...egin-in-julie-schenecker-murder-trial/2179870

I think the verdict was correct based on the Florida Law and my only change would be guilty and insane. I do feel that the extend of her mental illness reached close to insanity in terms of being out of touch with the real world.

Again I am stunned by not one family member getting up and wanting the judge to make very sure that some help for her mental illness is a part of whereever she goes. Frankly this is the ultimate involuntary committment that family and friends should have sought long ago and at least in the six months before this happened instead of sending emails behind her back. Confront the situation headon. PS may be a very worthy military man but he was out of his league as far as mental health issues and their possible outcome.

As for that juror who could not talk to media fast enough ...well I think he made it clear that there were some general conversations before deliberation ...I want to listen to him again but I remember thinking wow...that does not seem right...first that he is talking while they are deliberating and with no time in deliberation he seemed to know the thoughts of the group in general. As evidenced by so many jurors talking so fast yesterday...well people are getting savvy now and being on a jury can get you some good media exposure and at the extreme more. Watching the voir dire I sensed that clearly there were some that "wanting on" and maybe they got there. I was offended when their full names were announced in the courtroom. I think the court should afford them much more privacy than what I saw in this case. If you are going to give their complete names then why not just have cameras on them during the trial?

I myself was pretty hard on the defense team but at the end I could see they really believed in their case...not that she was not guilty but that they had a very sick woman for a client and wanted some mitigation because of that. I learned some new things in Jennifer's closing.

I don't know a thing about family dynamics in the Powers family. I think the sister may visit but the parents sure seem "checked out" and I understand you can't read anything into it...I'm sure they are devastated but they seem different than Reeva's mother. She is right there and her daughter is not in the courtroom. These people are sitting right behind their daughter...I just can't imagine not reacting to something...also those were their grandchildren and while again I don't know anything I was waiting for some information on times they spend with the Schenecker family...probably not relevant just human interest.

 

[Hoosgirl]

Your honor - I'm prepared and I accept your sentence.

I apologize to everybody in this courtroom who I've broken, for the lives I have destroyed. And not just this courtroom -- anybody who knew our family, Calyx and Beau, our children's friends, teachers, coaches, our relatives...everyone has been so deeply affected, and I understand. There are people who have been affected by this that may have just read about it in the paper. For the children who wonder, "Mommy are you ever going to shoot me?"

I apologize for what happened, what I did, I take responsibility. I was there. I know I shot my son and daughter. I don't know why.

Your honor, the judicial system in the U.S. is the best in the world. (indistinct)...I'm proud to stand in front of you. (indistinct)..and to serve my country...(indistinct)...I'm an American fighting man...and I'm prepared to give my life in their defense

I trust and I believe in you...you run a great court...I thank my attorneys who supported me so well, and put in many many hours on this case. I will never be able to repay...but to say thank you.

Thank you to the entire American judicial system. I am not playing, your honor -- that is heartfelt.

I know our children are in Heaven.. I want people to try to find comfort, as I do, that they are in no pain, and they are alive and enjoying everything and anything Heaven has to offer. Jesus protecting them and keeping them safe until we get there.

That's all your honor.

Does she really not ever say she is SORRY for killing her children? Just that she apologizes and doesn't know why? Wow.

Sent from my SM-G730V using Tapatalk

 

[turaj]

I do *not* understand this: I was an alternate once (awful position, all the work, none of the reward), and during deliberations I had to wait in the juror assembly room, and was still under the 'don't discuss' admonition.

The released alternates are now tainted and cannot be called back. So what if an juror can't serve? Mistrial??????? This is crazy.

Can someone clarify...I thought there were 4 alternate jurors during the trial...did the judge release all of them or just some? If all that would make no sense...during deliberations one of those people could have something happen and either be too ill to deliberate or be dismissed and then would have none.

So I assume it was just this one. No question he should have been admonished not to talk to anyone until this was over. Don't get this at all and frankly I understand the defense being angry...the judge was hearing none of it. In seems in the interest of a speedy trial (lightening fast) many things were overlooked including times when the mikes were still hot and they were having private conversations with each other (attorneys) and with the judge. They put in some extraordinarily long days too but assume jury was okay with it and releasing their names. As a juror if my name would announced publicly I would be very angry.

 

[Zuri]

When our family went through the three murder trials for my brother's death, we were told by the District Attorney to refrain from showing any emotion. My parents and 2 younger siblings were incredibly stoic. I bit my lip very hard to stay composed. Any criticism of the families IMO is unwarranted. They have been through hell and back. Unless you have walked in these shoes and God forbid you have or ever will, judging the families by their reactions is simply not fair. JMV

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

The jury got it right. I was surprised at how fast they returned but what is there to argue if one and all agree?

I watched JS's statement to the court. I can imagine the stress she is under after hearing the verdicts. She is probably in shock. And so her statement was disjointed. I imagine her brain is wrestling with a ton of thoughts and so being completely lucid may be impossible at that point.

JS admitted she knew what she had done. I thought it telling that she didn't include her ex husband in her apology or her MIL who came to help her over the years.

I hope she continues to receive the treatment she needs. Yes she is right her children are in heaven but she had no right to put them there.

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

She also wanted to add to her distress.. she wanted to have 5 children. Thankfully, Parker got a vasectomy. jmo

I know that having other children can't ever erase the pain of losing two but because PS had the vasectomy doesn't that mean he probably will never have other children.

This whole situation is so awful all around.

 

[Zuri]

I agree completely, with the jury's decision.

Based on Florida Law, I agree too. There really was no other option. I also echo those that posted about Georgia Law having the option of Guilty but Insane possibly being added to other stae's statutes. It was clear to me that JS is very Mentally Ill and needs to remain in a structured environment where she can get the help she needs and her meds monitored. In prison, she does not have the option to self medicate nor be non compliant.

This has been such a sad case. Those children did not deserve to die, especially at the hands of their mother. God Rest their souls and may the Powers and Schenecker Families find some peace. JMV

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

I agree. She was comfortable leaving those journals as her legacy because she had no intention of being around when they were discovered

I've done some really dumb a$$ things when I was snockered. Alcohol can also give a person a sense of bravado, of being invincible. Maybe JS forgot the venom in some of her writings or thought she could get away with no more than another stay at some spa rehab place?

 

[turaj]

I guess that's why I am feel sad tonight because I was sooooo sure that it was M1.....when she gave her speech I realized how much was misfiring in her being....there's something unsettling there that creates some ''reasonable doubt''. There's a huge ''defect'' there. Did anyone run IQ tests on her?? She may have been brilliant in the past but something's wrong. Brain damage comes to mind and I think someone should run some cognitive tests asap.

It WAS mental illness...every expert agreed on that and not just garden variety depression which is so common...it was extreme. The defect here comes in every state having their own version of possible verdicts...correct here would have been guilty and insane (since there is not one of extreme mental illness) and had she done this is another state that would be the verdict...I don't want her released ever. I am not confident she can ever be rehabilitated and if off meds it all could happen again. Where I differ with many is I don't think she wanted to be like this at all and I'm not sure today even with some perspective she can understand why she did this...that is real mental illness. Many have said she was faking it on the perp walk...I think many give her much more credit for manipulation that she deserves especially on all those drugs. Dr. Obregon was to me the "whipping boy" on the stand as he was really the only Dr. that treated her prior to the murders and clearly as was said by the defense he was "out of his league" with this patient. His professional actions are no doubt being looked at. But where were the others...his supervisor (he was only resident) her treating therapists...she had a 20 year history...none of those people were called...Dr. O was the only one. Again...none of this probably would change the outcome but things I have thought about. This trial has made me really understand how awful it must be to be this sick and have really on one family, friends or even Docs really understand it. Julie S's actions are disgusting but so is untreated mental illness.

 

[turaj]

The jury got it right. I was surprised at how fast they returned but what is there to argue if one and all agree?

I watched JS's statement to the court. I can imagine the stress she is under after hearing the verdicts. She is probably in shock. And so her statement was disjointed. I imagine her brain is wrestling with a ton of thoughts and so being completely lucid may be impossible at that point.

JS admitted she knew what she had done. I thought it telling that she didn't include her ex husband in her apology or her MIL who came to help her over the years.

I hope she continues to receive the treatment she needs. Yes she is right her children are in heaven but she had no right to put them there.

I found her statement chilling and consistent with everything I have come to know of her during this trial. I mean how many defendants just having been convicted for two first degree murders tell the judge how much they like him and how he ran a great court??? Then she continued by not saying how she wished she had not killed the kids but rather what a great place they are in now....people usually reserve those sentiments for comforting family where a natural death after long illness has occured. I felt like she was still justifying the killings and it does not seem that she has come very far since day one. She admitted the responsbility long ago. Then the part about her military service 2o years ago? Frankly she may have done well to take the stand because after those words I felt even more strongly that while she is guilty of the murders and should get max penalty...she is insane in my books!!

 

[turaj]

When our family went through the three murder trials for my brother's death, we were told by the District Attorney to refrain from showing any emotion. My parents and 2 younger siblings were incredibly stoic. I bit my lip very hard to stay composed. Any criticism of the families IMO is unwarranted. They have been through hell and back. Unless you have walked in these shoes and God forbid you have or ever will, judging the families by their reactions is simply not fair. JMV

Zuri..you are 100% correct...I know nothing of their family and will try not to further impose how I think they should act when I have no first hand knowledge or experience. Sorry.

 

[Zuri]

Zuri..you are 100% correct...I know nothing of their family and will try not to further impose how I think they should act when I have no first hand knowledge or experience. Sorry.

Oh turaj, I was not singling you out! :loveyou: You are not alone in your thinking.

 

[popsicle]

"I take responsibility. I was there. I know . . . I know I shot my son and daughter. I don't know why.''

She knows why and there was no way she was going to state the reason she killed them. Manipulate to the end imo.

 

[turaj]

Well just watched the interview with "James" an alternate juror. In response to whether it was an emotional experience he quickly answered"no"....it "is what it is"!! Further on he said point blank that minds were made up one or two days ago...he said minds were made up. Frankly that really makes me question their communication prior to the deliberations..remember he never went to the deliberation room to get the initial vote and comments...so how did he know this????????? And I watched this on a laptop computer and I thought it was very emotional...very.

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

I found her statement chilling and consistent with everything I have come to know of her during this trial. I mean how many defendants just having been convicted for two first degree murders tell the judge how much they like him and how he ran a great court??? Then she continued by not saying how she wished she had not killed the kids but rather what a great place they are in now....people usually reserve those sentiments for comforting family where a natural death after long illness has occured. I felt like she was still justifying the killings and it does not seem that she has come very far since day one. She admitted the responsbility long ago. Then the part about her military service 2o years ago? Frankly she may have done well to take the stand because after those words I felt even more strongly that while she is guilty of the murders and should get max penalty...she is insane in my books!!

That old adage 'You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' comes to my mind. IMO I thought she was trying to butter the judge up with her admiration of his running of his court. She didn't practice that speech enough to make sure it worked.

I agree turaj JS still hasn't faced what she did at least not publicly in that speech she gave minimizing what she did by saying they are in heaven and get everything they ever wanted.

I think someone here wrote 'crazy like a fox'. That is how I view JS. Sick yes. Insane no.

 

[claudicici]

Does she really not ever say she is SORRY for killing her children? Just that she apologizes and doesn't know why? Wow.

Sent from my SM-G730V using Tapatalk

It sounded like an acceptance speech for an Oscar to me.I don't think she was sorry at all ....

 

[turaj]

That old adage 'You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' comes to my mind. IMO I thought she was trying to butter the judge up with her admiration of his running of his court. She didn't practice that speech enough to make sure it worked.

I agree turaj JS still hasn't faced what she did at least not publicly in that speech she gave minimizing what she did by saying they are in heaven and get everything they ever wanted.

I think someone here wrote 'crazy like a fox'. That is how I view JS. Sick yes. Insane no.

I just recalled the term for most of her speech and mention of the kids being in such a wonderful place "RATIONALIZING"....very common tool used by everyone everyday but often used by criminals and mentally ill people to allow them to look in the mirror and live with themselves. Was was doing this in open court big time.

 

[Jewels53]

When JS spoke to the judge and court after sentencing yesterday, I believe we saw a truly insane JS. It was sad to watch her try to form some sort of apology in her mind.

I just don't believe this was the same JS that committed the crime of murdering Calyx and Beau. I believe killing the children threw her over the edge. jmo

 

[geevee]

After hearing her statement before sentencing I don't think she should have been prosecuted; since her arrest she's been under better managed medical care (no ability to miss her meds, pick and choose them or mix them with alcohol, etc) and she still had a hard time stringing together two coherent sentences. Even the judge seemed to get it, no tongue lashing before handing down the sentence, he actually seemed a little choked up. The prosecutors and her family (including Parker) should have insisted on a lifetime commitment to a mental institution instead of a trial, I suppose the DA didn't think she deserved a hospital over a prison infirmary but in my opinion it would have been the right thing to do.

I do hope the judge looks into the statements made by the alternate juror, and turaj, yes, he dismissed all of the alternates, not just the one who spoke right away.

 

[Zuri]

That old adage 'You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' comes to my mind. IMO I thought she was trying to butter the judge up with her admiration of his running of his court. She didn't practice that speech enough to make sure it worked.

I agree turaj JS still hasn't faced what she did at least not publicly in that speech she gave minimizing what she did by saying they are in heaven and get everything they ever wanted.

I think someone here wrote 'crazy like a fox'. That is how I view JS. Sick yes. Insane no.

I agree too. Her speech to the Court was rather rambling and there appeared to be a disconnect with her between killing her children, no blatant remorse and somehow justifying it by saying they are in Heaven and in no pain.