GUILTY NC - Laura Ackerson, 27, Kinston, 13 July 2011 #7

[borndem]

Originally Posted by Boodles
Q: do you think the attorneys help the defendant make up their story? I know it's not allowed and a breach of ethics, but in reality is that how it works? Or did AH come up with this seriously convoluted sequence all by herself?

Pretty sure they do it in the most legal way possible.
As in "Would you say you were ever in fear of Grant?"
"Amanda, would you say Grant was controlling?".

They can not put the words in your mouth, but they can subtly lead you down the road...
Now that is not to say there are not more ethical attorneys who would do nothing of the sort, but I think it works this way for the most part (for BOTH sides, Pro. and Def.).

Yes, agreed. The defendant's story (not meaning a "lie") has to be cohesive and not contradictory. The def. tells them what happened and prolly forgets things & adds them as s/he goes. The attys ask questions & get the def to clear up confusing or irrelevant parts, etc.

The attys have to be careful, however, and not re-configure the story or ask too many questions, especially if they think they might put him on the stand due to the attys being accused or charged with subornation of perjury. Knowing too much could really hem in the questions they want to ask.

In the case of Jason Young, they didn't ask, or he didn't tell 'em, or he lied to them about killing Michelle. That way, they can ask, "Did you kill your wife?" totally assuming he didn't, and he can answer, "No, I didn't kill my wife, I loved her."

In this case, I feel confident that AH lied to her attys prolly more than she did on the stand. I'm sure Gaskins & Co. said many times, "Well, don't tell them that!" and similar... What a bunch of folks... And the youngster up there with them -- he's being taught murder defense law by Gaskins?! Not good, IMO.

 

[Prancy]

Even if all jurors believe that defendant lied about not knowing about Laura being killed in the apt, will they believe there is sufficient evidence to convict her of murder?

Will they believe she acted in concert with Grant in the murder? If she didn't act in concert, then why lie about seeing him do it?

I guess the more she admits to seeing and knowing the more involved she becomes and the more likely she will be convicted of Accessory After the Fact.

I never predict a jury anymore. They can do some very strange things. I just expect the unexpected.

 

[MissSallyAnnie]

imo, but she looks very pretty in that picture. Tanned, smiley, slim, happy.

That was 10/07.

Amazing what a difference a few years, a bad man, and some horrific decisions, can make upon a woman. Ruined potential.
---

Yes, very sad when you think of the decisions she made, something we'll never understand. I can't help but wonder if she has any regret whatsoever. She says she would never have done this in a "gazillion years", yet she did.

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

:lol: At Vinnie. "Does anyone know what kind of noise an alligator makes?"

http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Alligator_sounds_audio

sounds like a power saw to me. :what:

 

[Nymeria]

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/13359688/

Just after the 37 minute mark.

Does anyone have a link to the Chick fila videos? I'm disagreeing with someone here, who says that GH dropped AH off and later picked her up. That's not the case is it? I'm being told that you can see someone in the passenger seat (front) as the vehicle makes it's way around the drive thru.

ETA-I could SWEAR I saw her get dropped off when they showed this in Grants trial btw. I thought the Durango dropped off her and the kids then came back for her.... or maybe someone said that and it stuck in my head :dunno:.
Have to give juries credit, you have to remember every single detail!

 

[SurfieTX]

Does anyone have a link to the Chick fila videos? I'm disagreeing with someone here, who says that GH dropped AH off and later picked her up. That's not the case is it? I'm being told that you can see someone in the passenger seat (front) as the vehicle makes it's way around the drive thru.

It was introduced through Det. Brian Hall, but I'm not sure which part on Youtube, part 1, 2 or 3. He testified to a LOT.

 

[MissSallyAnnie]

The same Gaskins as some posters have said were amazed that his license to practice law hadn't been revoked is very ethical?

huh? which is it :smiliescale:

Yep, sure is.

 

[TigerBalm]

The same Gaskins as some posters have said were amazed that his license to practice law hadn't been revoked is very ethical?

huh? which is it :smiliescale:

Didn't know that they were married but it states it in this article from 2009.


Lawyer's career ends in crime
Johnny Gaskins once defended criminals. After a federal conviction, he is one too.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2009/10/18/146633/lawyers-career-ends-in-crime.html#storylink=cpy

 

[MissSallyAnnie]

Yep, sure is.

Actually, I believe his license was revoked, but appears to have been reinstated, not sure how that happens with a criminal conviction.

 

[MissSallyAnnie]

I bet when Grant read Dr. Calloway's description of him as being "small in stature" he went ballistic. Amanda made sure to try and stretch his height, and included that Grant may be short, but he is "stout". She was attracted to his "stoutness"

 

[geevee]

Back live

 

[Karmady]

Actually, I believe his license was revoked, but appears to have been reinstated, not sure how that happens with a criminal conviction.

It was suspended for the period of his supervised probation and no shorter than two years. When the two years were up, he was reinstated.

http://www.ncbar.com/discipline/actions.asp?page=4&keywords=gaskins

 

[borndem]

Ok today is the first day I have watched any of this trial and I haven't read a great deal about it either.

So I'm completely fresh and watching this defence attorney for the first time.


Now ... while I agree that this bloke would put a glass eye to sleep .. I can't help thinking that there's something very affable and likeable about him, which might appeal to some members of the jury?

I haven't followed any of this trial so have no idea what has gone before. However listening to this closing - it sounds both very thorough and dare I say it, does have some skewed logic to it ( least it does to anyone like me, who is completely ignorant of the case) and his bumbling delivery is somewhat endearing? He's not one of these snide scathing defenders but just a nice man setting it out for us to understand ... is how it comes across.

I watched the 'not guilty' trial in Florida that shall not be named from start to finish and I thought the defence team was absolutely useless ... and look what happened there. I also watched the very recent Florida trial that I thought was an absolutely, without a doubt slam dunk, and I didn't think much of the defence ... and look what happened there?

I sincerely hope that's not the case here ... but I don't think this rather affable and kindly gent is coming across that badly - at least to my eyes and ears.

Just my opinion of course and I know it goes against what everyone else is seeing and hearing, but I just thought I'd maybe offer up an alternative point of view?

I'll get me coat! :blushing:

:seeya: "Walk right in, sit right down, baby let your hair hang down...":seeya:

Please stay, Martha!! Your comments are very valuable to us -- it's a perspective that most of us can't have since most of us have been here from the start.

Let us know how you feel after the PT's closing, please!

 

[Chelly]

back in session

 

[MissSallyAnnie]

Amanda sure does appear calm and relaxed, considering her fate is up in the air. I'd be a mess.

 

[jmt707]

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/13359688/

Just after the 37 minute mark.



ETA-I could SWEAR I saw her get dropped off when they showed this in Grants trial btw. I thought the Durango dropped off her and the kids then came back for her.... or maybe someone said that and it stuck in my head :dunno:.
Have to give juries credit, you have to remember every single detail!

At around 42:50-55, you see the Durango round the restaurant and something/someone is in the passenger seat. It is something white. I don't know what it is and maybe it's nothing. AH was wearing her signature black outfit that she also wore as she ditches her surplus acid in Texas.

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/13359688/

Just after the 37 minute mark.



ETA-I could SWEAR I saw her get dropped off when they showed this in Grants trial btw. I thought the Durango dropped off her and the kids then came back for her.... or maybe someone said that and it stuck in my head :dunno:.
Have to give juries credit, you have to remember every single detail!

Remember anything that a juror may be fuzzy about can request to see the evidence again.

 

[borndem]

Boz: "Today Justice Arrives!"

YES!!

You took the words right out of my next post, Chelly!! Wasn't that great?!!!!

Ahhhhh, the Boz.

 

[MissSallyAnnie]

And they both reported they didn't intend to get real jobs. They both imagined creating art around a little table with their children.

 

[CUCKOOHEAD]

At around 42:50-55, you see the Durango round the restaurant and something/someone is in the passenger seat. It is something white. I don't know what it is and maybe it's nothing. AH was wearing her signature black outfit that she also wore as she ditches her surplus acid in Texas.

The two boys in their car seats in the backseat and baby Lily in her's in the front passenger? Or did any of the kids even have car seats? Where would Grant sit in the back with the coolers full of body parts?