GUILTY MA - Colleen Ritzer, 24, brutally murdered, Danvers, 22 Oct 2013 #1

[Jinkasaurus]

Court done for the day- not sure what happened with PC - he never came back to courtroom. Jurors back at 8:30am tomorrow

https://twitter.com/hashtag/philipchism?f=tweets&vertical=news&src=hash

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 44s44 seconds ago
Ritzer's dad is also back. No sign of the judge. We just heard court officer say "She's down there now." Not clear if it's dr.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 3m3 minutes ago
Lawyers keep coming and going from courtroom. Hard to know what is happening.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 2m2 minutes ago
Some slight movement in the courtroom, Sherriffs officers called into lockup area by court officers #PhilipChism

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago
A court officer just spoke to #PhilipChism mom

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 3m3 minutes ago
The stenographer is here. That's when you know something is happening

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
No word on #PhilipChism competency. We are told court will resume at 830 am Wed.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
#PhilipChism trial to resume at 8:30am. Jurors told to return at 10:15. We don't know what happened with Dr. and Chism.

 

[Spellbound]

I can't thank you all enough for keeping this thread so up to date. I have not been able to be here much when there is actual courtroom presence, so appreciate you all very much.

 

[LietKynes]

news.yahoo.com/mom-slain-math-teacher-testifies-frantic-search-160434745.html

Just... :gaah: !!!!!

Fine, then. Put him in a different room and carry on.

My sympathies to the Ritzer family !!!!
:moo:

 

[pappa rob]

I guess this is the beginning of his "play acting" since he's declared fit for trial. I say if he wants to explode, let him. Then the jury will see what he's really like.

 

[atthelake]

I guess this is the beginning of his "play acting" since he's declared fit for trial. I say if he wants to explode, let him. Then the jury will see what he's really like.

or playing to the consideration that now he is on treatment drugs ...he sees what he did when he was not on drugs? if so plead guilty and do an allocution to save us all the time and effort and money and tragic harm to the family hearing the rest of the story

 

[Tealgrove]

Kinda thinking about this out loud and please know that I am NOT try to defend this kid in any way shape or form.

I will buy the fact that there is something mentally wrong with PC in a very big way. However, I do agree that he is competent to stand trial.

James Holmes (Aurora Theater) was initially deemed incompetent, he received treatment and when he was competent to stand trial then the trial began and it was done.

Clearly PC is mentally ill and I wonder why the same route was not taken with him. Find out what's going on, treat him (drugs I'm sure), and get him to a point where he can sit there and be accountable. I don't understand why this wasn't done in advance of the trial and why we are dealing with it now. To me the Defence are totally responsible for this foolishness and THEY should be held accountable. I think the time has come to put him in a room by himself, let him watch on a monitor and get on with it. Enough of this drama. A woman was savagely, raped and murdered. Her poor family and friends are sitting in the courtroom to see that justice is done while this kid acts out.

This trial is no longer about Colleen, who she was, and what has been lost. It's all about PC and the drama surrounding him and that's JUST NOT RIGHT.

 

[AnaTeresa]

Unless he is declared incompetent, you can't force medication on him. The defense attorneys aren't responsible for these shenanigans - it's all Chism.

 

[Skigirl]

Unless he is declared incompetent, you can't force medication on him. The defense attorneys aren't responsible for these shenanigans - it's all Chism.

I wish I could have understood what was said between the prosecutor and the defense attorney. Defense approached the prosecutor who was not in the mood. I've never seen anything like that in court before. It sounded like it was a dispute over defense's selective use of the psychiatric findings from his hospital eval, but I couldn't catch more than that. An officer/security came over to gently break it up.

 

[jacct]

Laurel J. SweetVerified account ‏@Laurel_Sweet 50s51 seconds ago
When we left #PhilipChism last night, Court Officer Paul Gaeta said the future of his trial "could go either way."


Livestream: http://www.wcvb.com/news/newscenter-5-breaking-news/26098608

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/philipchism?f=tweets&vertical=default

 

[AnaTeresa]

I wish I could have understood what was said between the prosecutor and the defense attorney. Defense approached the prosecutor who was not in the mood. I've never seen anything like that in court before. It sounded like it was a dispute over defense's selective use of the psychiatric findings from his hospital eval, but I couldn't catch more than that. An officer/security came over to gently break it up.

I wish we could have heard more, too. It would make it easier to tell if it was just the prosecutor getting frustrated with a difficult case and possibly not getting along with the defense attorneys, or if there is more to it and the defense attorneys are pulling something inappropriate.

Attorneys are only human. When I worked in criminal defense, I was lucky to be in an area where both prosecutors and defense attorneys got along well and were able to have a decent sense of collegiality, even when advocating fiercely for their respective sides. But there's always that case that gets to you - that case where you can't help but take it personally. I would bet good money the prosecutor is fired up about this one, as it's horrific and Chism is particularly vile - and now malingering once again. Getting heated could be something important and an indication the defense attorney is pulling something, or it could just be losing their cool during yet another unnecessary delay due to Chism's antics. :twocents:

 

[Tealgrove]

Unless he is declared incompetent, you can't force medication on him. The defense attorneys aren't responsible for these shenanigans - it's all Chism.

Agreed. I never said to force medication on him. I said he needed treatment and suggested that drugs may be part of the treatment. If they are acknowledging a severe mental illness then treatment is required in whatever form that treatment may take.



I think his Defence Attorney's are afraid of him and don't know what to do with him. MOO

 

[pappa rob]

Unless he is declared incompetent, you can't force medication on him. The defense attorneys aren't responsible for these shenanigans - it's all Chism.

That could be just the tactic a defense attorney would employ.

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago
Defense lawyer Denise Regan is standing in the doorway to the holding cell area speaking with someone.

Laurel J. SweetVerified account ‏@Laurel_Sweet 55s56 seconds ago
Should his murder trial continue, #PhilipChism could waive his presence or be chained to the defense table during testimony.

Victoria WarrenVerified account ‏@vwarrenon7 3m3 minutes ago
Standing by in court waiting for #PhilipChism proceedings. No sign of teen murder suspect since refusing to come in court yesterday.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 3m3 minutes ago
The jury was told to return at 10:15 this morning, everyone else is there now waiting to hear what the judge will do.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago
Legally, the trial could proceed without #PhilipChism present but he has to waive his presence and must be competent to do that.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago
Defense lawyers are going back into holding cell area now.

 

[Skigirl]

I wish we could have heard more, too. It would make it easier to tell if it was just the prosecutor getting frustrated with a difficult case and possibly not getting along with the defense attorneys, or if there is more to it and the defense attorneys are pulling something inappropriate.

Attorneys are only human. When I worked in criminal defense, I was lucky to be in an area where both prosecutors and defense attorneys got along well and were able to have a decent sense of collegiality, even when advocating fiercely for their respective sides. But there's always that case that gets to you - that case where you can't help but take it personally. I would bet good money the prosecutor is fired up about this one, as it's horrific and Chism is particularly vile - and now malingering once again. Getting heated could be something important and an indication the defense attorney is pulling something, or it could just be losing their cool during yet another unnecessary delay due to Chism's antics. :twocents:

My impression is that the prosecutor loses her cool in a strategic fashion and for good reason (like something my counsel told me about a case that we were trying to settle on behalf of my company but was heading for litigation -- "it's fine to show anger, just make sure you do it on purpose.") I would love to see his psych eval. It sounds like there wasn't really a "diagnosis" of psychosis but rather they put him on meds because they couldn't rule out psychosis. Today should be interesting. :moo:

 

[Trident]

news.yahoo.com/mom-slain-math-teacher-testifies-frantic-search-160434745.html

Just... :gaah: !!!!!

Fine, then. Put him in a different room and carry on.

My sympathies to the Ritzer family !!!!
:moo:

They need to do what they did in Russia (don't know if they still do) - put the perp in a cage in the courtroom. As far as I'm concerned this critter needs to be caged and needs to hear it all and be seen by all. What he did to Ms Ritzer was much, much worse.

Quit molly coddling the punk.

:cow:

 

[jacct]

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 2m2 minutes ago
Court officers just opened door to lock up, motioned toward chair #PhilipChism has been sitting in at defense table.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Still no sign of #PhilipChism or Judge David Lowy

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago After an incident Tuesday in which a videographer recorded a sidebar and #PhilipChism entering court, judge making media read/sign rules.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Judge Lowy is in court

 

[jacct]

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
Judge David Lowy is speaking with the media about a violation of court rules yesterday involving the pool video camera.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 58s58 seconds ago
A stern Judge David Lowy warns media that our access is in "jeopardy" after violation of rules.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Lowy issues court order pertaining to media and then recesses. Still unclear if #PhilipChism is returning to courtroom

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 2m2 minutes ago
Judge did NOT say when he is coming back with a decision on how today is going to proceed.

 

[jacct]

[video=youtube;umr8ZyWBN-A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umr8ZyWBN-A&feature=youtu.be&a[/video]

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 55s55 seconds ago
Judge back. Dr. Merritt about to testify.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago
Just as dr. Is about to deliver report defense atty stands up and withdraws her competency hearing request.


Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago
Regan says #PhilipChism wants to waive his appearance for his trial today.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 55s56 seconds ago
Judge David Lowy says he must do a colloquy with #PhilipChism to make sure he understands what it means to waive his presence from court

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 58s59 seconds ago
Judge David A. Lowy says the court has found #PhilipChism competent to stand trial and his trial will resume.

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 33s34 seconds ago
Judge is going to have #PhilipChism come into court and he will speak to him

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 59s60 seconds ago
Court deems him competent and will make findings later on. #PhilipChism wants to stay in his cell. He has to come out for a colloquy.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 58s59 seconds ago
#PhilipChism comes into courtroom to speak with judge. Wearing dark suit and glasses

Victoria WarrenVerified account ‏@vwarrenon7 1m1 minute ago
#PhilipChism just brought in, handcuffed. Teen being sworn in

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 42s43 seconds ago
#PhilipChism is standing, Denise Regan is to his right, John Osler on his left

Victoria WarrenVerified account ‏@vwarrenon7 28s29 seconds ago
Heavy security flanks #PhilipChism as he addresses court for first time during his murder trial.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 40s41 seconds ago
#PhilipChism is answering questions about his age, education, his ability to read and write English, medications.