The Sidebar - Harris Trial

[Bc007]

I think the judge should have just given the definition. Her decisions are so odd to me. If they are asking about this- it's my opinion they dismissed the malice murder charge already. If they are asking about the meaning of "wanton" there may be a dispute about negligence. Just my take...

I think we will have a verdict tomorrow morning....

 

[just the facts pls]

The group (or its leader) obviously likes structure. They don't sound very flexible, either. Just an observation.

I kind of don't blame them, though. Court never started on time, breaks were always longer than anticipated, and court ended early.

I would be ready for any kind of dependable schedule by now.

 

[ShHolmz]

I think we may be here a while, folks. This jury seems a bit obsessive and inflexible from their notes and questions so far.

My guess would be the woman that was on previous jury and already served as a foreman is in charge again.

 

[minor4th]

I understand what you are saying. However, willful, wanton, and reckless are not exactly synonymous. The jurors should clearly and fully undetstand the charge before being asked to decide Ross's guilt. It makes me very uneasy that the jurors are struggling to undetstand the charge.

I don't think this means they are struggling with the charge - although they might be.

The jurors should each have a basic understanding of what wanton means - there's no legal definition.

 

[ScotAng]

They have enough context to figure out what criminal negligence means even if someone doesn't understand what wanton means.

Agree. Out of 12 people, that's pretty concerning.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Roget's Thesaurus: wanton (adjective) - unprincipled, unconscionable, unscrupulous.

 

[minor4th]

I'm curious what they'll consider when trying to figure out criminal negligence, since the State imo didn't directly link any of his actions/failure to act with this charge.

The closest I can guess is whether or not they believe his Whisper texting before, and during CFA , then at the intersection, constituted a wanton, wilful, or reckless disregard of Cooper's safety because he was so preoccupied with that he "forgot" Cooper.

Seems the State's position is that "forgetting" itself is the criminally negligent conduct.

 

[GA_Peach]

There's an ex forewoman on this jury, I wonder if she's an alternate. Wanton's a pretty basic word, I'm puzzled why they'd focus on that in particular.

Also wondering what part of the RH/Stoddard interview they're discussing since they requested the transcript. They obviously don't want to watch the whole thing again.

I am wondering if she is the foreperson because she would "make sure that the law is followed."

 

[Hope4More]

I understand what you are saying. However, willful, wanton, and reckless are not exactly synonymous. The jurors should clearly and fully understand the charge before being asked to decide Ross's guilt. It makes me very uneasy that the jurors are struggling to understand the charge.

Not necessarily struggling. Maybe a few jurors don't have the same definition of "wanton" and the foreman just wants an i's dotted and t's crossed approach to deliberations.

 

[Bc007]

I was wondering if she is the foreperson because she would "make sure that the law is followed."

Depending on how intense her last trial was its possible she doesn't want the job again.

 

[La Louve]

Swoon, Burning Man. Someday I hope to do that!! I almost have all the gear to tackle it, but I always chicken out and just do Bonnaroo.

You should go! I wanted to go for a long time but have asthma and didn't think I could handle the dust. But an RV (and extra inhalers) makes it much more comfortable. Not sure I could do Burning Man in a tent, TBH.

Just make sure you read the first timer's guide cover to cover so you're super prepared. My first burn, nobody believed me when I told them I was a virgin burner. I've gone camping my whole life and if anything I was probably over prepared!

Home:

 

[minor4th]

Interesting this was Stoddard's first murder case.

 

[Hope4More]

Seems the State's position is that "forgetting" itself is the criminally negligent conduct.

Well, that seems a bit loosey goosey if so, given "forgetting" is rather the antithesis of a deliberate choice to be reckless or wanton.

 

[Hope4More]

You should go! I wanted to go for a long time but have asthma and didn't think I could handle the dust. But an RV (and extra inhalers) makes it much more comfortable. Not sure I could tent camp though, TBH.

Just make sure you read the first timer's guide cover to cover so you're super prepared. My first burn, nobody believed me when I told them I was a virgin burner. I've gone camping my whole life and if anything I was probably over prepared!

Home:
View attachment 104306

What the heck is a "virgin burner"? Sounds like an arsonist who hasn't yet torched her first target?

 

[minor4th]

Well, that seems a bit loose goosey if so, given "forgetting" is rather the antithesis of a deliberate choice to be reckless or wanton.

Exactly - but seriously what are they going to argue? That texting before and after forgetting is criminally negligent? They don't have a theory for criminal negligence, so they were purposely vague about this IMO

 

[La Louve]

I can see how some jurors might not know what the word wanton means. It's not a word you hear used much in every day conversation.

 

[minor4th]

Hope -

From that court chatter video, attorney Holloway speculated that something that came out in Brewer's testimony might have conflicted with what they expected Diamond to say, so the defense made a strategic decision not to call Diamond and have potentially conflicting expert testimony.

But he says he doesn't know and points out what I kind of said at the time - when you're in the middle of trial, you have to be fluid and flexible and make strategic decisions on the fly about presenting witnesses and evidence, and this was somehow the result of that process.

 

[Hope4More]

Exactly - but seriously what are they going to argue? That texting before and after forgetting is criminally negligent? They don't have a theory for criminal negligence, so they were purposely vague about this IMO

I have a feeling that the jury's consideration of criminal negligence IS going to pivot on whether or not they believe RH forgot Cooper, and if so, what kind of forgetting happened. FBS? Or was he so preoccupied with texting that he was indifferent to Cooper and plain vanilla forgot him? (In which case reckless disregard could easily apply, if not malice murder, because IMO plain vanilla forgetting is irreconcilable with missing all those cues to remember throughout the day).

 

[La Louve]

What the heck is a "virgin burner"? Sounds like an arsonist who hasn't yet torched her first target?

LOL I've been a "pyro" since I learned how to build my first campfire when I was a girl scout!

A "Burner" is someone who goes to/participates in Burning Man. A "virgin Burner" is someone coming to Burning Man for the first time.

With your excellent deductive reasoning skills, I'm surprised you didn't figure that out on your own

 

[Bc007]

Was there a question about Dr. Diamond?