GUILTY SC - Five Jones children, ages 1-8, Lexington County, 28 Aug 2014 *Father Arrested*

[Hope4More]

Jones, blaming Amber for his killing their babies:

"We can blame Amber for this one. If she hadn't gone bopping the boy next door, she would have been home, and none of this would have happened. "

"She caused the whole thing."

"You can't blame it on him (the boy next door), it was her fault."

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 51m51 minutes ago
The prosecution calls Shelby Derrick, a crime scene investigator with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department to the stand.
She testified back on May 20, saying she drove to Atlanta to pick up Jones's cell phone from Smith County (Miss.) investigators.


Caroline Hecker‏Verified account @CHecker_WIS 44m44 minutes ago
Jury is shown video clip extracted from phone of Amber Kyzer, the mother of the children. 8-year-old Merah is seen crying in the video, being told by Jones to look into the camera and "tell your mom what you want to tell her." Merah cries, "Mommy, come back." @wis10


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 44m44 minutes ago
Prosecution shows a video of the oldest daughter, Merah, crying. Derrick says she extracted that video, which was shot in June 2013, off Amber's cell phone.


Caroline Hecker‏Verified account @CHecker_WIS 42m42 minutes ago
The jury watches a second video of 6-year-old Nahtahn crying, looking into the camera, but its hard to hear what he's saying. It was the second video sent to Kyzer's phone, testifies Shelby Derrick from LCSD, who performed the extraction. @wis10


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 42m42 minutes ago
Another video, also from 2013, shows Elias getting emotional as well. No further questions from both sides, leading Derrick to step down from the stand.

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 42m42 minutes ago
While all the attorneys are meeting for a sidebar, Timothy Jones Jr. starts to cry, tears rolling down his face as he wipes them off with a red handkerchief.


Caroline Hecker‏Verified account @CHecker_WIS 33m33 minutes ago
We've taken another break--this time--because Jones loses his composure. For the first time in three weeks--we see actual tears falling on Jones face. It comes after two videos, one of Merah and one of Eli, crying wanting their mom. @wis10


Caroline Hecker‏Verified account @CHecker_WIS 16m16 minutes ago
Here's a better video of Jones losing his composure in the courtroom today, right after watching two videos of his children crying for their mother. For the first time, we see tears welling in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. @wis10

(video clip: Caroline Hecker on Twitter )

 

[Hope4More]

Also on call, Jones says he's been thinking/figuring out what the "catalyst" must have been for him to kill, and has realized that he saw himself in his kids, didn't want them to experience the pain he had, etc.

In other words, he ginned up his supposed reason for killing his babies after the fact, and after speaking to his attorneys ..

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 21m21 minutes ago
Jury returns from a break, and prosecution begins to play an audio recording of a conference call between Jones Jr., his father, and a relative from November 2014.


Caroline Hecker‏Verified account @CHecker_WIS 17m17 minutes ago
The jury is now listening to a phone call Jones made from SCDC to his father and aunt in November of 2014. It's hard to understand as its played aloud in the courtroom. @wis10


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 26m26 minutes ago
Right now, the jury is listening to a phone call when Jones was incarcerated in November of 2014. His father, an aunt, and a cousin are all on the call. However, it's very difficult to make out anything being said. #TimothyJones @wachfox


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 13m13 minutes ago
Audio from the phone call is tough to follow at times, bne notable nugget from the phone call is Jones Jr. saying "they think I'm a little bit crazy around here." The phone call took place while Jones was still in custody.


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 9m9 minutes ago
On the call, Jones tells his family, "I feel like I'm going insane", saying the catalyst was Nahtahn wanting to go back to his mother. He says he could blame his ex-wife, Amber, for this.


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 2m2 minutes ago
After the phone recording ends, Judge Griffith calls for a lunch break.

 

[YESorNO]

Caroline Hecker‏Verified account @CHecker_WIS 13m13 minutes ago
Here's a look at the heartbreaking videos played in court, which prompted Jones' emotions. It appears as if he is telling Merah and Eli to communicate with their mom in a video, which was later sent to her. @wis10

(video clip: Caroline Hecker on Twitter )

 

[Hope4More]

From call:

Jones said: "I can tell you how I'm feeling. I'm feeling like I WENT insane (not currently going insane,as tweeted by Tim Scott )."

"To go insane, there has to be a catalyst, right? My catalyst was the fact I see myself in those kids. N was trying to get back to his mom. Just like me. I didn't want him to go through that pain. (...) that's what caused me to snap."

"It wouldn't haven't gotten to that point (if it weren't for Amber cheating on him/leaving)."

(Implying that he "snapped" BEFORE killing N, and that his rage was driven by N wanting his mother, not broken electrical outlets. He strangled N, didn't he? Before or after breaking N's favorite toy.

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 16m16 minutes ago
Testimony will continue around 1:30

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 14m14 minutes ago
Here are some scenes from inside the courtroom today. Jones Jr. got visibly emotional when videos of his two oldest children were played to the jury. Testimony continues around 1:30.

 

[Hope4More]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 14m14 minutes ago
Here are some scenes from inside the courtroom today. Jones Jr. got visibly emotional when videos of his two oldest children were played to the jury. Testimony continues around 1:30.

Yet Jones Jr. showed no emotion whatsoever as photos of each of his decomposing babies in trash bags were shown to the jury.

If he cried real tears when the videos played, those he took of his children to torment Amber-and them- the tears were for himself.

 

[Hope4More]

Dr. Ross (testified at trial) is on the stand for the State, testifying about the condition of the babies' bodies as she received them for autopsy.

Photos of their bodies are being shown. No emotion from Jones Jr. The redhead defense atty looks square on, unlike her colleagues, but shuts her eyes and grimaces when photos of Gabriel's (broken) baby body are shown.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Yet Jones Jr. showed no emotion whatsoever as photos of each of his decomposing babies in trash bags were shown to the jury.

If he cried real tears when the videos played, those he took of his children to torment Amber-and them- the tears were for himself.

Wow. I just got back from running a bunch of errands and I obviously missed a lot.
My first thought also was those tears were more for him. He was clearly prodding those children to say those things to their mother.
His blaming Amber for HIS killing the children is pretty despicable.

 

[Hope4More]

Death certificates for each baby is entered into evidence, Ross is answering each baby's age and cause of death. Last 2: Abigail: age one. homicidal violence. N: age 6. homicidal violence.

She also indicates that Jones Jr cut deeply enough into N with the saw to reach bone.

(Sorry, can't spell out N's name. Too close to my own son's).

 

[Barnabas]

I feel so bad for these jurors. This is something that will haunt them forever. I don't think I could be on a jury like this, I would not be able to control my feelings.

 

[Hope4More]

I feel so bad for these jurors. This is something that will haunt them forever. I don't think I could be on a jury like this, I would not be able to control my feelings.

Actually, I'm wondering if this very long break has something to do with jurors. It began with the judge calling time to listen to defense objections about the school principal testifying about the impact on the school community the murders had.

This judge runs a tight ship & is quick. Loong wait for a simple objection.

Just now- back, and back to the yearbook, this time about a tribute to Merah, N, and Elias. Principal's voice quivers some...

 

[Hope4More]

Principal shows Merah's 2nd grade list of goals. Her first goal: I will be a good daughter.

Jones Jr. pulls out his dry, perfectly folded hanky to dab at his dry eyes.

 

[Hope4More]

The principal leaves the stand, shakes hands with State attorney, goes to back of courtroom and sits down.

Babysitter Joy returns and takes the stand. She's already near tears.

Tim Jr. looking positively hostile. (Seriously, he is GLARING at her).

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 2h2 hours ago
Janice Edwards Ross, who performed the autopsies on the five children in Newberry, is on the stand. She testified back on May 20 about the autopsies and the cause/manner of death for the children.


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 2h2 hours ago
Dr. Ross, the medical examiner who did the autopsies, is back on the stand today for the prosecution. #TimothyJones @wachfox


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 2h2 hours ago
The solicitor went over autopsy photos with Dr. Ross. However, the jury is not seeing them right now. They are free to look at them during deliberations because they've been submitted into evidence. #TimothyJones @wachfox


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 2h2 hours ago
Solicitor Rick Hubbard is showing Dr. Ross pictures of the children prior to their autopsies. Hubbard is entering the pictures into evidence, but, as ruled earlier, they won't be shown to the jury in court. Jurors could access those during deliberations.

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 2h2 hours ago
Dr. Ross steps down from the stand after reviewing the death certificates of the five children with Hubbard.

Next up: Janet Ricard, the former Assistant Principal at Saxe Gotha Elementary School. She was the second overall witness called to the stand on May 15.


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 2h2 hours ago
Janet Ricard, the former Asst. Principal at Saxe Gotha, is back on the stand for the prosecution. Last time she told the court about a time Eli brought a turtle to school in his pocket. #TimothyJones @wachfox


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 1h1 hour ago
Ricard says Merah was a "little lady" and was always wearing dresses and smiling. #TimothyJones @wachfox


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 1h1 hour ago
Ricard says she first met the Jones children when Merah was starting first grade and Elias was in kindergarten. She says she was really close with Elias, and all three children were "really sweet" and made friends easily.


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 1h1 hour ago
When asked about Merah, Ricard says she was always in a skirt or a dress, but she was "always smiling" and loved to make new friends. Prosecution displays a school photo of Merah and brings some items from their time at the school up to the stand.


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 1h1 hour ago
Here is a school picture of Merah Jones @wachfox #TimothyJones

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 1h1 hour ago
As the prosecution and defense review some of Merah's school materials (which includes school pictures), Jones Jr. starts to tear up again, clearly upset while dabbing his eyes with the red handkerchief.


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 1h1 hour ago
Ricard says Merah received awards for her academic progress, including "Most Improved Reader" award at the end of second grade.


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 1h1 hour ago
Ricard says a lot of community members wanted to memorialize the children after they were found dead. With frequent objections from the defense, Judge Griffith calls for a break.

 

[YESorNO]

Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 39m39 minutes ago
Ricard is back on the stand after the jury break. Prosecution shows a picture of a page featured in the yearbook honoring the three oldest Jones children. They also created a mural with a beach theme in their honor.


Tim Scott‏ @TimScottTV 31m31 minutes ago
Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes stands with Ricard in front of the jury as they show off some things the children made while they were in school.


Courtney King‏ @CourtReportKing 24m24 minutes ago
Right now the jury is watching a video of Ricard teaching Eli how to read when he was in first grade. #TimothyJones @wachfox