Rebecca Zahau Wrongful death trial begins. Trial coverage and discussion #4

[Jessica2012]

I did not mention Dan Webb.

Which of the defense lawyers were you referring to?

 

[MyBelle]

I am not claiming that he used LE written reports. That is a direct quote from the media based on his evidence.

I responded to your post #184 where you under-scored the term, "written reports" in order to disparage Dr. Berman's professional expertise. It will be up to the jury to decide the credibility of Dr. Berman's professional expertise.

 

[Tortoise]

Which of the defense lawyers were you referring to?

None. My post clearly referred to Adam painting the door.

 

[Jessica2012]

The investigation was solid but the ME was pulled?

The DNA and fingerprints back up murder -

To quote Keith Greer (page 1 of this thread)

The jury will most likely have the ME’s autopsy report to consider as evidence. We are waiting on the judge to rule on that, IIRC. If the autopsy resport is not admitted, what good would it do for Lucas to testify?

The defense has debunked every one of the Plantiff’s points. There was no washing or wiping down of fingerprints, She was not hog-tied. She was not strangled. There is no DNA or fingerprints of Adam’s. Only Rebecca’s DNA and fingerprints are found in the items used in the suicide.

If Rebecca’s fingerprints or DNA is not on the paint tube, perhaps that means she painted the message soon after getting out of the shower. After all, he uses that as a reason that Adam left no DNA or fingerprints, right?

Greer has proved nothing, IMO, except that the SDSO made the correct call.

 

[MyBelle]

The jury will most likely have the ME’s autopsy report to consider as evidence. We are waiting on the judge to rule on that, IIRC. If the autopsy resport is not admitted, what good would it do for Lucas to testify?

The defense has debunked every one of the Plantiff’s points. There was no washing or wiping down of fingerprints, She was not hog-tied. She was not strangled. There is no DNA or fingerprints of Adam’s. Only Rebecca’s DNA and fingerprints are found in the items used in the suicide.

If Rebecca’s fingerprints or DNA is not on the paint tube, perhaps that means she painted the message soon after getting out of the shower. After all, he uses that as a reason that Adam left no DNA or fingerprints, right?

Greer has proved nothing, IMO, except that the SDSO made the correct call.

I think Greer has proved that the SDSO and ME got it right. At least I've been convinced. Looking forward to see the jury's view.

 

[Lezah]

There seems to be an opinion by a few fellow posters here that that the evidence in this case is legally insufficient to find AS liable, simply because a higher proportion of the evidence is circumstantial.

However, it is my understanding after researching this subject that the lack of direct evidence is not dispositive of the issue of a defendant's guilt.

Circumstantial evidence is equally as probative and valid as is direct evidence in establishing the ‘guilt’ of an individual.

It appears that the actions, words and the conduct of an accused, as well as any inconsistent statements and any implausible explanations to the police - could all be considered probative of wrongful conduct for a jury.

In fact, circumstantial evidence ALONE is sufficient to establish ‘guilt’

This is a good Judge, and a very fair Judge IMO. I believe she will guide the jury appropriately and wisely.

From what I have seen of them, this also looks like a very common sense jury IMO. If they use their common sense, and interpret the evidence that has been put before them using that common sense, I’m very hopeful this will be a just verdict.

( Re No DNA... I am mindful of the fact that there are quite a few convicted murderers in jail where there was no BODY found ...let alone no DNA.)

Just my opinion...



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[Tortoise]

The jury will most likely have the ME’s autopsy report to consider as evidence. We are waiting on the judge to rule on that, IIRC. If the autopsy resport is not admitted, what good would it do for Lucas to testify?

The defense has debunked every one of the Plantiff’s points. There was no washing or wiping down of fingerprints, She was not hog-tied. She was not strangled. There is no DNA or fingerprints of Adam’s. Only Rebecca’s DNA and fingerprints are found in the items use in the suicide.

If Rebecca’s fingerprints or DNA is not on the paint tube, perhaps that means she painted the message soon after getting out of the shower.

Greer has proved nothing, IMO, except that the SDSO made the correct call.

Could you provide a link to back up that Lucas didn't testify because his AR was not admitted please.

That is certainly an interesting spin on what I have heard from reporters and our own members feedback.

 

[stmarysmead]

I apologize. I did go back just before you posted this and realized you had answered. I was just getting ready to acknowledge it. My bad.

No problem. This thread is moving so fast sometimes, it’s easy to miss.

 

[stmarysmead]

I think whatever you read must have to refrerred to how the Planitiffs were trying to ‘split’ the verdict into two questions, a) was Rebecca Zahau’s death a murder? b) did Adam kill her?

So the jury can rule it was murder but wasn’t Adam?

 

[Jessica2012]

None. My post clearly referred to Adam painting the door.

It was not clear to me. Why on earth would Adam paint a message on the door? Rebecca was the painter. She is the one who knew where everything was. She is the one with paint on her.

 

[Jessica2012]

No, according to Greer the Judge ruled they could not do that. That claim was not a part of the Civil Suit.

 

[stmarysmead]

No, according to Greer the Judge ruled they could not do that. That claim was not a part of the Civil Suit.

Sorry, I’ve been popping in and out...I misunderstood.

 

[Jessica2012]

Could you provide a link to back up that Lucas didn't testify because his AR was not admitted please.

That is certainly an interesting spin on what I have heard from reporters and our own members feedback.

I never wrote that, I wrote:

The jury will most likely have the ME’s autopsy report to consider as evidence. We are waiting on the judge to rule on that, IIRC. If the autopsy resport is not admitted, what good would it do for Lucas to testify?

 

[justice be served]

stmarysmead:

Since you have indicated that you have only recently become involved in this case, I think you will find this Forbes article on the case interesting and it was posted very early on:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sheneg...-note-inconsistent-with-suicide/#50c040be7fde

Just want you to have a sense on the MSM take on things early on.

Shacknai Hires PR Firm Before Police Conclude that Zahau Committed Suicide

 

[MyBelle]

No, according to Greer the Judge ruled they could not do that. That claim was not a part of the Civil Suit.

It also would set a terrible precedent for a case that was already on pretty thin legal ice, imo.

 

[justice be served]

There seems to be an opinion by a few fellow posters here that that the evidence in this case is legally insufficient to find AS liable, simply because a higher proportion of the evidence is circumstantial.

However, it is my understanding after researching this subject that the lack of direct evidence is not dispositive of the issue of a defendant's guilt.

Circumstantial evidence is equally as probative and valid as is direct evidence in establishing the ‘guilt’ of an individual.

It appears that the actions, words and the conduct of an accused, as well as any inconsistent statements and any implausible explanations to the police - could all be considered probative of wrongful conduct for a jury.

In fact, circumstantial evidence ALONE is sufficient to establish ‘guilt’

This is a good Judge, and a very fair Judge IMO. I believe she will guide the jury appropriately and wisely.

From what I have seen of them, this also looks like a very common sense jury IMO. If they use their common sense, and interpret the evidence that has been put before them using that common sense, I’m very hopeful this will be a just verdict.

( Re No DNA... I am mindful of the fact that there are quite a few convicted murderers in jail where there was no BODY found ...let alone no DNA.)

Just my opinion...



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I really respect your sense of the outcome because you have spent a lot of time in the courtroom and your postings are consistently well thought out and with excellent critical thinking skills.

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

 

[Lezah]

It was not clear to me. Why on earth would Adam paint a message on the door? Rebecca was the painter. She is the one who knew where everything was. She is the one with paint on her.

IMO whoever wrote the door message used the paint tube to write the first S. They used the brush once they discovered the tube wouldn’t do the job.

They were clearly unfamiliar with acrylic paint in tube form, both it’s viscosity and it’s application.

Any artist ( even a hobby artist) relatively familiar with acrylic would know this simple fact, and we know RZ was a painter, so this goes to her knowledge and understanding of the paint...

...and the lack of knowledge of the person who painted the message.

I posted a detailed opinion on this a few threads back.

Just my opinion...


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[justice be served]

It was not clear to me. Why on earth would Adam paint a message on the door? Rebecca was the painter. She is the one who knew where everything was. She is the one with paint on her.

BBM. Do you really think that Rebecca pinched her own nipples while committing suicide?

 

[Tortoise]

I never wrote that, I wrote:

So the autopsy report was not admitted after he was withdrawn. The point about there being no point to him testifying is just a red-herring then.

 

[Tortoise]

I really respect your sense of the outcome because you have spent a lot of time in the courtroom and your postings are consistently well thought out and with excellent critical thinking skills.

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

I second that.