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

[jacct]

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 2m2 minutes ago
Holleran: Identifying picture of Colleen Ritzer's body uncovered in woods, with the stick found.

Victoria WarrenVerified account ‏@vwarrenon7 2m2 minutes ago
This testimony has both mother's (Colleen's and Philip's) holding their heads. #PhilipChism remains emotionless, head down.

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 2m2 minutes ago
Gallery gets even quieter and stiller, as the photo of Ritzer's dead body is shown to witness. Lots of tension.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
Holleran IDs picture of Colleen Ritzer's body after it was uncovered in woods. Prosecution wants to publish photo on projector

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 2m2 minutes ago
These pictures of Colleen Ritzers body will be passed among the jurors

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
Judge Lowy tells jury sometimes evidence can "illicit an emotional response." Asks them to be disciplined

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 2m2 minutes ago
Lowy: if any juror wants to recess, let me know. picture being shown to jurors now.

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 43s44 seconds ago
The picture is in a manilla folder. Each juror is opoening the folder, looking, passing it down. One just grimaced.

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 46s46 seconds ago
Meanwhile the lawyers are at sidebar

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
Jury takes morning recess. They return at 11:05 am

 

[Elainera]

The student probably made a statement to police during their investigation, and what she said would have been written down. If a witness does not remember what s/he previously said in their statement, attorneys are allowed under certain circumstances to provide the witness with that statement to "refresh their recollection" and help them to continue to testify. It's a rule of evidence and common during trials.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_612

Thank you. I would like to know what her original statement had been.

 

[atthelake]

I think I read in the beginning that he does have a sealed "record" in Tennessee. I'm just not sure what it does entail. Will try looking for the link.

It's just that it got me to thinking that he was questioned by her about Tennessee innocently and he knew he had done something and was upset because he thought she knew?

 

[Skigirl]

Ramci did not mention the red hands we have heard about before although he clearly saw PC just after the murder, just outside the bathroom. Wouldn't he have noticed the bloody hands?

I think the blood was on the gloves -- sounds like he may have taken them off

 

[Skigirl]

I was reading some old articles... his ex-girlfriend from TN granted some press interviews and her picture has been published in several news outlets. IMO, she bears a striking resemblance to Colleen Ritzer: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...oken-son-murdered-teacher-Colleen-Ritzer.html

 

[jacct]

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
Jurors are back in courtroom for #PhilipChism trial. Lawyers are at sidebar.

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 1m1 minute ago
Now Osler with cross of State Police Lt. Holleran.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 2m2 minutes ago
Osler asking about area around where Ritzer body found

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
On screen is a crime scene photo that shows leafy area of woods with black and yellow backpack on ground

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 57s57 seconds ago
Hollernan says the backpack contained #PhilipChism's school papers. He IDs identification belonging to Chism.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
Holleran estimates #PhilipChism's backpack was found 10 ft. from Colleen Ritzer's body. His testimony is done. Next up is Trp. Michael Perry

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 2m2 minutes ago
Osler is done with Holleran. Defense, again, is trying to show irrationality of crime. Why leave ID 10 feet from body?

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 3m3 minutes ago
Judge Lowy tells jurors trial is "fairly well ahead of schedule."

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 4m4 minutes ago
Next: Trooper Michael Perry of crime scene services section. Responded to scene with Holleran night of murder.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
He responded to DHS for murder probe, assigned to help Crump. Perry did video

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Took video in the dark in the woods

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Assisted Holleran in uncovering Ritzer. Slowly removed debris from the body. He stood near her feet, was bent over

Rupa Shenoy ‏@RupaShenoy 3m3 minutes ago Beverly, MA
#PhilipChism prosecutors are having Perry detail again, very graphically, the condition of Ritzer's body.

 

[jacct]

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 4m4 minutes ago
"there was a stick coming out of the leaves. I attempted to remove the stick from between her legs." Stick was in vaginal area

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Perry told Holleran he felt resistance moving the stick

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Perry handed an evidence bag by ADA. It's the bag they placed stick in. Perry takes stick out of bag

Rupa Shenoy ‏@RupaShenoy 3m3 minutes ago Beverly, MA
#PhilipChism prosector is having Perry confirm and hold up for jury a stick found in Ritzer's body.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Stick is about three feet long

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
ADA puts stick bag in bag. No cross by defense. Perry leaves stand. Next up Trooper James Crump

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
Trooper James Crump is now on witness stand. The recycling barrel has been wheeled backed into the courtroom.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
Crump is assigned to crime scenes services section of @MassStatePolice. He is trained in fingerprint collection and analysis.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
Judge Lowy calls a sidebar with lawyers

 

[Skigirl]

The defense may be trying to show how "irrational" the crime was, but I think the strategy is going to backfire. It makes him seem even more dangerous and lends urgency to the need to put him away, IMO.

 

[Elainera]

I think the blood was on the gloves -- sounds like he may have taken them off

I think he was seen on video walking around the school with red hands. If Ramci saw him just after he exited the bathroom he should still have had red hands.

 

[jacct]

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 52s52 seconds ago
Sidebar over. Crump describes taking photographs at Danvers High on Oct. 23, 2013

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 39s40 seconds ago
Crump took into evidence items that didn't have any biological material -- like the note near RItzer's body

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 44s45 seconds ago
The note says "I hate you all" in blue pen

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 54s55 seconds ago
The note is entered into evidence. It was first folded and face down (writing down) but prosecutor shows it straight up.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Crump now looking at #PhilipChism Danvers High school ID which was also found #PhilipChism

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 2m2 minutes ago
Also entering into evidence school ID on black lanyard, with thumb drive. Placed on projector.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 51s52 seconds ago
Trooper Crump was asked to test for fingerprints as part of his job. The bin was tested for prints.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 55s56 seconds ago
Crump looking directly at jury pool as he explains fingerprinting processing

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 52s53 seconds ago
Trooper used a typical method for identifying prints - Superglue fumes. But he had to create a large test chamber first.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 52s52 seconds ago
Four prints were developed but one was extremely clear says trooper. He's now showing jurors where print found.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Crump now showing jurors how he found fingerprints on the bin, along the top, consistent with someone opening bin

 

[Skigirl]

I think he was seen on video walking around the school with red hands. If Ramci saw him just after he exited the bathroom he should still have had red hands.

When was the sighting relative to the video? How many minutes before or after?

 

[atthelake]

The student probably made a statement to police during their investigation, and what she said would have been written down. If a witness does not remember what s/he previously said in their statement, attorneys are allowed under certain circumstances to provide the witness with that statement to "refresh their recollection" and help them to continue to testify. It's a rule of evidence and common during trials.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_612

Lesson learned through so many cases we have seen. If you are told your conversation is being recorded make sure you get to approve and request to approve any documentation of such recording if it is written down.

 

[jacct]

I think he was seen on video walking around the school with red hands. If Ramci saw him just after he exited the bathroom he should still have had red hands.

I think the tweeter wrote that wrong. Chism is seen on the video walking with the bloody gloves on, then he goes outside by the bushes and changes clothes and removes the gloves. It is later that he is seen again in the video on the second floor, and he has a different shirt on.

 

[Elainera]

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 4m4 minutes ago
"there was a stick coming out of the leaves. I attempted to remove the stick from between her legs." Stick was in vaginal area

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Perry told Holleran he felt resistance moving the stick


Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 3m3 minutes ago
Stick is about three feet long

bbm

I think this is reason for the blood pool under her. The long stick was stuck in her, when pulled out blood came gushing out.

Terrible. So so terrible.

 

[Elainera]

When was the sighting relative to the video? How many minutes before or after?

IIRC the testimony of his friend said 3:13 pm - 3:14 pm.

 

[Elainera]

I think the tweeter wrote that wrong. Chism is seen on the video walking with the bloody gloves on, then he goes outside by the bushes and changes clothes and removes the gloves. It is later that he is seen again in the video on the second floor, and he has a different shirt on.

Aha! Thank you for clarifying that. So he went back into the bathroom after changing, exited again, which is when his friend saw him, and then went down to get the bin?

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago
The trooper took a photo of the print so he could enlarge it and better see the pattern.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 2m2 minutes ago
A blow up of a fingerprint found on recycling bin is up on projection screen

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
MacDougall calls for a sidebar.

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 35s36 seconds ago
Added fingerprint to Mass. database that includes fingerprints of all known criminals. #PhilipChism came up. In there bc of arrest.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 39s39 seconds ago
Print matched in #PhilipChism because he was arrested in Danvers on 10/23/13. It was his right middle finger

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 44s44 seconds ago
Crump IDs an inked impression of #PhilipChism middle finger

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 56s57 seconds ago
Big black and white fingerprint now up on #PhilipChism projection screen

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
Jury is looking side by side of a fingerprint taken from recycling barrel and a fingerprint taken of #PhilipChism when he was arrested.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 47s47 seconds ago
Crump also examined branch removed from Ritzer body

 

[atthelake]

I think he was seen on video walking around the school with red hands. If Ramci saw him just after he exited the bathroom he should still have had red hands.

Does it really matter in the big scheme of things?

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago
Prosecutor asks about the stick Perry found. Crump explains whether the stick would tested for prints or forensic evidence.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 2m2 minutes ago
Crump talking about good surfaces to find fingerprints. Glass window is good, carpeting is bad

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
How an object is handled can also effect fingerprints. Environment too. "fingerprints are very fragile," Crump said

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 56s56 seconds ago
They decided not to test the stick for fingerprints. More likely to get biological evidence from the stick than fingerprint.

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Crump also processed the box cutter #PhilipChism was found with

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 2m2 minutes ago
Quick cross from Osler. #PhilipChism was in fingerprint database only bc of his arrest in this case? Yes. Nothing else in database? No.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago Defense stresses the only reason #PhilipChism prints in database were due to his arrest the day of the murder. That's only question.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 2m2 minutes ago
Danvers police Detective Robert Sullivan is taking the stand.

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 27s27 seconds ago
He worked with Baldassare on video. Jurors about to see more footage.