IN - Grandfather charged in cruise ship death of toddler Chloe Wiegand #4

[oviedo]

I hope not. How could they? It's obvious that SA knew the window was open and deliberately lifted Chloe up to and out an open window.

but they are backing him - from the Indystar article i posted upthread - IMO this looks like they are backing him
Chloe Wiegand death: Video viewed by IndyStar shows final moments before cruise ship fall
In response to the leaked video, the family released the following statement through Winkleman. The family said that they had not wanted the video released to protect their older child.

"The family publicly asks the Puerto Rican authorities, why was this footage released?" the Wiegand family said in a statement released through Winkleman. "Why do you continue to inflict such heinous emotional distress on our family? Haven't we been punished enough by the loss of Chloe?"

The family requested an independent investigation into the leak.

 

[al66pine]

Video. Right to Control?

Question - do families have the right to control evidence in the possession of the prosecutor?

@oviedo . If your question relates to this situation specifically, "family" i.e. Chloe's parents having right to control "evidence" i.e. vid of Chloe's fall & events on board cruise ship, answer = NOPE. "Family" - parents - not a party.
Tho G'pa faces crim charge, I doubt - jmo - he has any "right" to control evidence pre-trial. And imo, virtually certain vid will be admitted into evd and shown at trial, if case goes to trial.

In situations like this, if parents could "control" evd and prevent use of vid at trial, prosecutors would be severely hampered in prosecuting. A 'victim' family could conspire w other(s) to kill, for, say, life insurance and if they could prevent use of vid at trial, the others(s) would never get convicted. Speaking generally and not saying this relates in anyway, shape, or form to Chloe's case.

I won't speculate about any possible/conceivable consequences for the PR prosecutor/atty staff -if in fact - he/she/they leaked the vid.

 

[katydid23]

Statement from the family, taken from this article:

Grandfather offered plea deal in girl's cruise ship death as Puerto Rico TV show airs video

"In a statement, the Wiegand family said: "The family is shocked by the deplorable and disgraceful misconduct that led to the release of this footage. The family's sole motivation for not releasing the video was to protect their older child. That motivation has not changed. The family publicly asks the Puerto Rican authorities, why was this footage released? Why do you continue to inflict such heinous emotional distress on our family? Haven't we been punished enough by the loss of Chloe? Finally, the family requests an immediate, independent investigation done into the circumstances surrounding the leak." "

So they want to protect their oldest child from any damage from this video. And yet the entire family has been on an extensive publicity tour, 'Good morning America', NBC News, etc etc, and that wasn't damaging to his psyche?

 

[katydid23]

Odd that the family seems to be more upset at the fact that the video was leaked than at the possible contents of the video.

EXACTLY.

 

[Gardenista]

Video is probably exactly why they offered a deal. Pretty damning evidence. Why waste taxpayer money on an open and shut case?

Because he needs to do prison time IMO.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

EXACTLY.

They thought they could keep the truth hidden. Now, it's out in the open (window!).

I had never heard the expression "an act of games" previously, but I get it now. Grandpa did actually dangle Chloe out the window, and it's obvious that he knew that window was open

 

[oviedo]

They thought they could keep the truth hidden. It's all out in the open (window!). I had never heard the expression "an act of games" previously, but I get it now. Grandpa did actually dangle Chloe out the window, and it's obvious that he knew that window was open.

yep - i have always thought it was the old throw and catch the kid in your arms game - IMO

 

[sl222]

Any doubt now about why he was charged?

I've always thought he should be charged; I've been following this from the start and posting here in all the threads. I did have times of sympathy for him as far as making a horrific mistake, but like we always thought, the footage was going to shock us and be even worse than we thought. I have always thought the initial reports were going to prove accurate.

Now any sympathy I had for him is gone, because this was not just an error in judgment, this was putting her life in grave danger and as hard as it is to say, there is a lot that looks suspicious to me as well. I never thought I'd get to that point of having to wonder for even a second if there was any intentionality here. I'm not sure if it's permitted to discuss that aspect yet. He has definitely lied about what he thought about the window. But she didn't just slip; it wasn't him misjudging distance or his balance, what he did made it certain that the chance of her falling was 100% unless he was some superhero fit person who could grasp a little wide-awake toddler during this cruel disgusting spectacle and then still be certain of being able to pull her back in. It's just sick, isn't it.

 

[LietKynes]

You mean they want money?? I thought they said what they wanted was for RCCL to “fix” their ships so no one else will have to go through what they have gone through?

As I'd posted before--- it would be ok for them to be granted a settlement as long as all of the monies go towards the ship's improvements.
Would they be willing to accept this ?

 

[sl222]

In response to the leaked video, the family released the following statement through Winkleman. The family said that they had not wanted the video released to protect their older child.

"The family publicly asks the Puerto Rican authorities, why was this footage released?" the Wiegand family said in a statement released through Winkleman. "Why do you continue to inflict such heinous emotional distress on our family? Haven't we been punished enough by the loss of Chloe?"

The family requested an independent investigation into the leak.

IMO, If they'd grieved privately and not continued to go on TV over and over, blaming and suing RCCL, then I doubt there would have been this leak. Otherwise I think the sympathy factor and respect for the family's privacy would have ruled. The public has been hearing this since July and debating what happened. Plus at least half the people who know about this now didn't even catch the inital July event. IMO.

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

As I'd posted before--- it would be ok for them to be granted a settlement as long as all of the monies go towards the ship's improvements.
Would they be willing to accept this ?

I kind of doubt that...but...JMOO

 

[Kindred]

Alright after seeing that video I'm actually angry enough that I logged into my PACER account and downloaded the court filings to see their offical arguments. Their claims and "examples" they are showing have me laughing at how ridiculous they are. Not to mention the money grubbing.

 

[sl222]

DM releases (the side view only of) the video and then moderates comments so most of the ones they print are sympathetic.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Now that the video has been released that shows SA dropping Chloe out the open window, I wonder if he will take the plea deal? I'm sure his defense attorney has seen the video and must know that it will be difficult to refute the facts. Did he encourage SA to accept the plea deal, or is his lawyer convinced that he will prove the case for colorblindness?

I haven't talked to DH today and want him to watch the video before I say anything about it. I'll let you know later how he reacts.

 

[oviedo]

Now that the video has been released that shows SA dropping Chloe out the open window, I wonder if he will take the plea deal? I'm sure his defense attorney has seen the video and must know that it will be difficult to refute the facts. Did he encourage SA to accept the plea deal, or is his lawyer convinced that he will prove the case for colorblindness?

In the INDYSTAR article link I posted, his lawyer makes a comment that he is not guilty and he won't plead or something along those lines. IMO (but I will go find the link)
ETA - here it is. unbelievable IMO
Chloe Wiegand death: Video viewed by IndyStar shows final moments before cruise ship fall
Ortiz previously told IndyStar surveillance video of the incident is consistent with the grandfather's assertion that he believed the window was closed.

"My client thought that the window was closed," Ortiz said. "Nothing in the video is inconsistent."

 

[oviedo]

In the INDYSTAR article link I posted, his lawyer makes a comment that he is not guilty and he won't plead or something along those lines. IMO (but I will go find the link)
ETA - here it is. unbelievable IMO
Chloe Wiegand death: Video viewed by IndyStar shows final moments before cruise ship fall
Ortiz previously told IndyStar surveillance video of the incident is consistent with the grandfather's assertion that he believed the window was closed.

"My client thought that the window was closed," Ortiz said. "Nothing in the video is inconsistent."

I'm sorry to quote my own post but in light of what we've seen - how can Ortiz say this? What about the part where his client sticks his head out the window???
JMO

 

[LietKynes]

Because he needs to do prison time IMO.

He would be wise to accept the plea deal that's been offered; and go home.
And should be grateful that the charges weren't upgraded.
Imo.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

In the INDYSTAR article link I posted, his lawyer makes a comment that he is not guilty and he won't plead or something along those lines. IMO (but I will go find the link)
ETA - here it is. unbelievable IMO
Chloe Wiegand death: Video viewed by IndyStar shows final moments before cruise ship fall
Ortiz previously told IndyStar surveillance video of the incident is consistent with the grandfather's assertion that he believed the window was closed.

"My client thought that the window was closed," Ortiz said. "Nothing in the video is inconsistent."

I guess Ortiz must have seen a different video

 

[dgfred]

Him immediately collapsing was heart-breaking to me.

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

DBM