trial day 41: the defense continues its case in chief #122

[kaRN]

deedee, i agree with you. In fact, i believe any victim of abuse (or, a person that had/has a loved one a victim of abuse) would have disdain towards laviolette's testimony.

Laviolette put victims of abuse in danger - as a victim advocate, i do not understand why laviolette would have the audacity to rally behind arias.

Laviolette - presents herself as a victims' champion. She portrays herself as knowing about abuse - and caring about victims of abuse.

I know that her testimony has abusers a sense of soundness / vindication - abusers will look at laviolette's testimony and see that laviolette is defending arias (a known murderer). Laviolette has given abusers (more) power by firmly standing up for arias - excusing the fact that arias' stabbed her victim almost 30 times, slit his throat and shot him in the head.

Any abuser that has seen the picture of arias' victim travis alexander - knows that ta was the victim. It is likely that abusers have seen the pictures of ta's slaughtered body - the pictures showing the deep stab wounds to ta's back and back of head (showing that ta was trying to get away) - and thought, "female abusers have it so easy - if i did that to my wife - stabbed her 30 times at least 9 of those times deeply in her back showing that she was trying to get away - i would not have a chance - lucky arias!"

abusers now have "the laviolette's bendiction," to use to torment. Abusers can tell their victim, "look at which side laviolette is on - you think that you're abused? Think about it - this lady laviolette is dedicating herself to arias - do you want me to show you the pictures of what arias did to travis alexander? What do you think will happen to you if you try to tell people that i abuse you - they won't believe you. If anything, i will be the one to have laviolette testifying in my favor."

laviolette seems to be the true sense of "a wolf in sheep's clothing." i feel terrible to all of the victims that have put their trust in laviolette. Doing so was another betrayal for them. Laviolette has said that she is a victims advocate - dedicating herself to teaching the world about domestic violence.

I do not believe that a person with a true heart towards being a victim advocate could live with themselves by "painting" arias as a victim of abuse perpetrated by travis alexander.

A true victim advocate - not even for 300 million dollars an hour - would betray those living in a state of perpetual fear for their own life, the lives of their children. A true victim advocate would not give power to abusers.

Laviolette has given abusers not only power - but validation and permission. Laviolette might as well as joined forces with abusers worldwide - it seems reasonable that victims of abuse wold be left puzzled after hearing laviolette's testimony. Laviolette has given abusers another "tool" to use against their victim - "laviolette is defending arias," which will have to leave victims off balance, mixed up, mentally shamed, and "thrown" off guard.

"the laviolette's bendiction" is an unneeded advancement in the "abusers movement." i thought that we were working together to make progress - to end abuse. Then a pseudo victim advocate gives abusers (more) power.

Bravo!!!!! Beautiful post thurston!

 

[sacrablue]

Isn't being a good interrogator essential to being a good prosecutor?

Yes but more important you need to be a people person. The business of prosecuting is all about people and a successful prosecutor must be able to communicate effectively with individuals from all walks of life, witnesses, victims, defendants and law enforcement.
JM seems to get the information he wants but it's always a struggle with his unique style.

 

[Ricki]

Yesterday, I had to go out in the late afternoon and missed part of Wilmonts questioning. I think I left when she was talking about texts about his past girlfriends. The names were unfamiliar to me. Can someone brief me> I know I do have to catch up on that. I did not think Juan would get a turn yesterday. Where I was, I asked to turn the TV channel to HLN and to my surprise Juan was up at that time. It was so frustrating because my DH and his friend were talking over the TV so it was hard to hear but watched cross when I got home. AVL just gets her kicks on trashing TA. No empathy coming from her.
OT...My husbands friend is an ex parole officer and is friends with Henry Lee. He is also in the JA is guilty park.

 

[G&AMom]

My take on a very small point about ALV.

At the start of his questions, JM brings up that there was an 11 year lag between when ALV got her Bachelors and her Masters. My mom went back to school after my dad died, nearly twenty years after she got her Bachelor's degree. She had three kids in school. It took her eight years, taking one class at a time (and driving 40 miles one way to the university). I think ALV has a similar story. When JM asks her about it, she answers very calmly -- it's not an issue to her, I suspect, because she knows why it took her so long and she's not ashamed of it.

Yet, when the topic gets to her "analysis" of Jodi and this case, she's immediately on the defensive. She answers "no" to whether she perceives Travis is the victim because she's expecting to be challenged on the domestic violence theory. She knows her whole testimony is questionable, that others could get a whole different take on all those journal entries, emails and text messages. She doesn't like where JM is going, because she knows there are tremendous weaknesses in her analysis.

JMO

 

[rose222]

Good Morning all.

The last I saw last night was AV still droning on and Jodi looking actually scared for once.
Can anyone fill me in on how it ended please?

Morning The Farm!

JM was brilliant yesterday! AV tried to minimize the 'Is Snow White a battered woman?' part. She didn't want to talk about Snow White in that context because she realizes now just how ridiculous that is. She claims it was merely a catchy title. Yeah right! It is just as ridiculous for AV to claim that Arias is a battered woman. She's relying mostly on a lying murderer's words and Travis' messages taken out of context. She had the nerve to say that Travis was not a victim. :furious: She's so full of it! You could tell even before JM said a word on cross that AV was full of hatred and defiance. She has huge issues. She needs help.


Next week JM will bring out an AHA-ness from the seemingly insignificant Snow White talk. He doesn't do anything without a meticulous plan and goal. Let's be patient for the genius to do his thang.

 

[Threeplus1]

Exactly -- witnesses who are telling the truth -- or are confident in their expert opinions -- don't have to know where the attorney "is going." Therefore, they also don't have to leave wiggle-room in their answers.

I agree! Go back and watch Lisa Andrews (Diadonie) testimony. She answers each question succinctly. She says yes, no, or "I did say (write) that" without argument or evasion. Very easy to answer when you aren't testifying with an ulterior motive. Just answer the questions honestly!

 

[kaRN]

To me the most important thing JM got Alice to answer was that NO....Travis Alexander was NOT a victim of abuse....JA is the victim.

Can you believe this woman's thinking?

Surely next week JM will show her pictures of a murdered TA.

JW also got ALV to make a crucial point for the prosecution. Gotta love her for that. After the hours of delving into TA's diary and documentation of his anger towards JA, the mean names (which were spot on) etc., it's highly unlikely TA begged JA to come to Mesa on her road trip like the DT would have us believe.
Notice how ALV doesn't touch that subject??

 

[cityslick]

Yes but more important you need to be a people person. The business of prosecuting is all about people and a successful prosecutor must be able to communicate effectively with individuals from all walks of life, witnesses, victims, defendants and law enforcement.
JM seems to get the information he wants but it's always a struggle with his unique style.

If hell freezes over and she is aquitted, one of the first thing that going to be scrutinized as to reasons why is going to be this. In reality though I don't think it's going to matter, the girl is toast, everyone knows it yet we continue to play the game that we call a 'trial'. It would actually be beneficial if she didn't get the dp, as her endless appeals on death row would only further cost taxpayer money, with no guarantee that she would ever be executed.

 

[deedee21]

So far he looks like a career interrogator....

The jury gets him. Thats what counts. Shes a fake and a fraud.

 

[Beccaboo]

So far he looks like a career interrogator....

He absolutely is using interrogation techniques on the defenses witnesses. Despite what the THs are saying, it has been a very successful approach for JM. All of the defense witnesses have spent days on end, repeating the same lies over and over. Their lies are very well rehearsed. The interrogation techniques JM is using are the quickest, simplest way through the rehearsed lies to the truth.

As far as the Snow White thing goes, he is doing this for a reason. Had he had more time the reason would be clear already. AVL has used Snow White as an example of multiple types of abuse using the very "formula" she used to label JA as abused. I have total faith that Juan will wrap this all up in a neat little bow come Monday

 

[deedee21]

If it were reversed, this case would have lasted 3 days.

 

[rose222]

JW also got ALV to make a crucial point for the prosecution. Gotta love her for that. After the hours of delving into TA's diary and documentation of his anger towards JA, the mean names (which were spot on) etc., it's highly unlikely TA begged JA to come to Mesa on her road trip like the DT would have us believe.
Notice how ALV doesn't touch that subject??

This woman has no qualms about ignoring all evidence that points to Arias being a jealous stalker and snooper! Everything Travis did was wrong. Everything Arias did was okay. It makes her look delusional! Is she that out of touch with reality? She is downright scary.

 

[rose222]

The jury gets him. Thats what counts. Shes a fake and a fraud.

Based on his super successful record juries love him! He uses the same style in every murder case. His obvious frustrations are part of his tactic. It would be silly if the prosecutor, who is supposed to convince the jury to send the defendant to prison for life, is not outraged.

 

[deedee21]

Hey Rose 222 Every body was looking for you.

 

[Nhic]

Regarding juror #5.

AFAIK (and please correct me if this is wrong), juror #5 could be on either side. If she's pro-defense, is it possible the DT asked her to be in court so they could again try for a mistrial?

 

[Steely Dan]

That's a correct report. I just watched the youtube video.

"Gender Fairytales and Domestic Violence" - Alyce LaViolette - 10/16/08 - YouTube

It's mostly about feminism, gender equality, and views of domestic abuse. She starts talking about Snow White at 25:20 and finishes about 40:00. Her point is as in the article. She's not really going into how SW is abused, but how fairy tales exhibit iconic gender roles. SW is a passive, sweet, nice persona, the kind of person who will put up with abuse. She says they want a victim to go from SW to being the Wicked Witch, a stronger character.

In her drawing, I guess JA is trying to say she was a passive, nice character who got beat up. Obviously, ALV gave JA some training on her views of abuse.

:goodpost:

 

[rose222]

Hey Rose 222 Every body was looking for you.

Me? lol. I was supposed to go on a weekend trip but I cancelled it.

Monday isn't far off and we get to start with our JM!! I'm pumped!

 

[StephanieHartPI]

The diaries irritate me. A bunch of fantasy babbling from a liar. I can't believe they are taking up this much trial time and experts are even reading them. Then acting like they're real.

 

[Laine]

Does anyone know what ALV said to Samantha? I can't believe she actually did that.

 

[Nhic]

SW is a passive, sweet, nice persona, the kind of person who will put up with abuse. She says they want a victim to go from SW to being the Wicked Witch

Ohhhhh! So rather than be a nice, sweet person ALV believes victims should morph into wicked witches? In other words, she believes JA was perfectly within her "rights" to butcher Travis Alexander. wow. :furious: