Trial - Ross Harris #8

[arkansasmimi]

Definitely agree now with your thought that Kilgore deliberately used Mr. Memory as bait, including not supplying him with complete case info on some specific key points he anticipated Boring would bring up on cross. I think he wanted a preview so he could better prep Diamond, and he knew Boring is arrogant enough to tear into Mr. Memory , not realizing he'd tipped his hand.

LOL. It's strategy. Sacrifice a pawn to advance your Queen. The DT is too meticulous and well prepared to allow an unintentional ambush. jmo.

I also still very much believe Mr. Memory laid down, effectively, several crucial points that the jury could not have missed.

And the name Dr. Diamond being brought up a few times...

 

[Hope4More]

Here is the one line of questioning that I wish CB pursued today.

Your theory assumes that a memory failure actually occurred, correct?
If the defendant actually left his child in the car on purpose, would any of those triggers have worked?

A trigger prompts one to remember. He wouldn't need to remember if he left Cooper in the car on purpose. Unless he forgot that he left Cooper in the car on purpose? I guess I don't understand that point....

And, Brewer could only discuss things theoretically. He couldn't testify that Ross actually forgot. In any case, only a very short portion of his testimony was overtly case specific at all.

 

[arkansasmimi]

I am relistening to the testimony from this morning. Dr. Brewer stated that his conclusion that JRH was fatigued/stressed was based entirely on the one email sent to Mr. Brown at 12:30 a.m. on June 18. That was the only piece of evidence pointing to work stress. Wow. I missed that this morning.

http://www.wildabouttrial.com/trial_videos/justin-ross-harris-trial-archive/

Day 21 - Morning Session around 2:51:30 into the video.

Then Boring gave times where RH had been up early the last 4 days and up late. JMHO that gave pause to he could have been fatigued. Especially if he had been working on things as well as real life stuff.

 

[arkansasmimi]

No. He/she was in Ross's wedding.

Depending on who testifies tomorrow, we will have at least three witnesses who were previously scheduled to testify no longer testifying. These four witnesses were scheduled to testify at some point in time - Dr. Diamond, Dr. A, the forensic pathologist, and Ross's friend.

Thanks Peach! And I was under impression it could be 1 more witnesses to possible called (not talking about RH) Maybe I misunderstood will go back and listen when get caught up.

 

[minor4th]

I thought the bolded portion, the things that can protect one from memory lapse, worked against the DT. Because both parents said they had big fears about Cooper being left in the car. And the defendant had only days previously, seen a video about it, and commented about how bad it would be if it happened to his son. And he mentioned the 'Take A Second Look' movement, So NOT taking simple precautions, seems negligent in itself, imo.

Yes, I agree that cuts against the defense.

On the other hand we have to consider what is reasonable as far as expectations for protecting against this or any kind of tragedy. For example, every parent knows that that there is a risk to their child every time they drive with their child in the car ... It is a known and foreseeable risk. But do we expect parents to never allow their children to ride in a car because it exposes them to the risk of serious harm or death? No, that would be unreasonable.

 

[Hope4More]

The insert video button isn't working for me (sorry), but I encourage people to watch the 4 or 5 minutes of testimony starting at 3:20:38 in the below video. It's when the exchange gets a little testy, and Dr. Brewer denies that Ross knows more about hot car deaths than any other parent.

https://livestream.com/wildabouttrial/events/5184001/videos/140868793

Hope4More, post #139 gave me a good laugh. My notes from this morning's testimony look nothing like yours. While the main bullet points are the same, my included quotes tell a completely different story. It just reinforces how two people see the same information so differently. :loveyou:

I'm very interested in what conclusions you drew so differently from the identical bullet points. Care to share? Truthfully, I didn't think the inferences I made about the relevance of each was especially subjective.

 

[minor4th]

He also said the car seat being in sight is a trigger to remember

Could be a trigger - but not like seeing or hearing the child.

 

[GA_Peach]

Thanks Peach! And I was under impression it could be 1 more witnesses to possible called (not talking about RH) Maybe I misunderstood will go back and listen when get caught up.

The defense was very vague. They planned to call one witness tomorrow and then potentially add a couple minor witnesses. In any event the defense planned to be done with their witnesses by lunch.

 

[SuperTmo]

I really thought this trial would drag out until turkey day....what's the next big trial to anticipate...

Seriously! I was counting on this trial to get me through the month of November. My boyfriend comes home from his deployment to Kuwait sometime between Nov 29 and Dec. 2. He's been gone since since February but the last few weeks are going to be the longest I think! I needed this to distract me!

 

[arkansasmimi]

It was all over social media that Ross's longtime friend Ben McRea (who now goes by Rachel McRea) was supposed to testify on Ross's behalf. Now, s/he no longer is.

Thanks... well this makes sense why he wouldn't be called JMHO (unless he is being called as a rebuttal witness)

Justin Ross Harris' former friend speaks out against him (2014) http://www.walb.com/story/26058618/justin-ross-harris-former-friend-speaks-out-against-him
Snip:

"Ross was family to me. I loved him like a brother," McRea said.

Fast forward to one month ago, June 18, the day Ross' son Cooper died in a blazing hot SUV just outside of Atlanta.

"At first when it was being reported as an accident, I felt so terrible for him," McRea told FOX6 News.

Now, McRea says he is stunned over shocking allegations about Ross revealed by the prosecution at a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Authorities alleged that Ross sexted multiple women while Cooper was in the hot car, conducted online searches about child hot car deaths and about living a child-free life.

"It was sickening. It really broke my heart. It was really totally against the type of moral character I thought he had. I'm just totally disgusted with his behavior, ashamed, very ashamed," McRea said. "It's almost like he's a monster and I'm like what happened? When did you become this person that we see on TV now? Or were you always like this and just hid it that well?"

McRea said Copper didn't deserve to die and that's why he's speaking out. McRea wants to make sure people understand the reality of this tragic situation.

"I just don't want baby Cooper to be forgotten. I want there to be justice for the suffering. What he had to go through," McRea said.

 

[Hope4More]

Could be a trigger - but not like seeing or hearing the child.

The difference between an indirect trigger (photo of Cooper on desk) and a direct trigger (Cooper crying in the back seat).

Brewer explained there is scientifically demonstrable evidence that indirect cues don't necessarily have the "power" to trigger recall.

 

[TexMex]

Could be a trigger - but not like seeing or hearing the child.

Jurors saw the car and proximity of car seat. There is no evidence RH did not see or hear Cooper.
IMO

 

[LyndyLoo]

Then Boring gave times where RH had been up early the last 4 days and up late. JMHO that gave pause to he could have been fatigued. Especially if he had been working on things as well as real life stuff.

Sorry as a person who worked both 8 and 12 hours shifts..both with only 45 minute breaks(8 hour shift) and 12 hour shifts with 1.25 hour breaks , which we never got due to demands....

Anyway..Poor Ross arrives to work 930 Am after breakfast with son..then tweets/and spends most the morning sexting and blogging..Go to lunch for over an hour..buys light bulbs..goes back in to work desk and leaves EARLY??? ..and You expect me to rationalize a stressful day ( or any day for this loafer)..and as described..it seems that was usual day..Home Depot was layed back..no strict hours... Talk about taking advantage!!

So during work hours he spent over 50% meeting his personal needs..takes his hour lunches..then leaves early..and You expect me to think he was stressed?

Please..Ross has absolutely no idea what "Workplace" stress is..Working 12+ hours in my day..with no breaks other than going to BR..often meant..because Other lives depended on us...So never complained..however..I as a Charge Nurse would put in for overtime due to that for my staff ...Working that extra hour or so..unpaid wasn't fair..BUT not a one nurse ever complained they were STRESSED..TIred..sure..and Not a one left early..nor spent time emailing, blogging or gossiping on the job!!

I guess, I'm old fashion...BUT claiming stress at work ( which has never been testified to BTW from witnesses) is beyond me..and BTW never earned above 57,000 a year either.. Ross is an empty vessel..earned $$ way beyond his worth..and took advantage of everything he could to meet his personal needs...THAT is more and more evident!!

 

[Hope4More]

Thanks... well this makes sense why he wouldn't be called JMHO (unless he is being called as a rebuttal witness)

Justin Ross Harris' former friend speaks out against him (2014) http://www.walb.com/story/26058618/justin-ross-harris-former-friend-speaks-out-against-him
Snip:

"Ross was family to me. I loved him like a brother," McRea said.

Fast forward to one month ago, June 18, the day Ross' son Cooper died in a blazing hot SUV just outside of Atlanta.

"At first when it was being reported as an accident, I felt so terrible for him," McRea told FOX6 News.

Now, McRea says he is stunned over shocking allegations about Ross revealed by the prosecution at a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Authorities alleged that Ross sexted multiple women while Cooper was in the hot car, conducted online searches about child hot car deaths and about living a child-free life.

"It was sickening. It really broke my heart. It was really totally against the type of moral character I thought he had. I'm just totally disgusted with his behavior, ashamed, very ashamed," McRea said. "It's almost like he's a monster and I'm like what happened? When did you become this person that we see on TV now? Or were you always like this and just hid it that well?"

McRea said Copper didn't deserve to die and that's why he's speaking out. McRea wants to make sure people understand the reality of this tragic situation.

"I just don't want baby Cooper to be forgotten. I want there to be justice for the suffering. What he had to go through," McRea said.

This jerk? He was the one and only "friend" of RH's who turned on him from almost the beginning , and went public with his betrayal. Gross.

 

[minor4th]

Jurors saw the car and proximity of car seat. There is no evidence RH did not see or hear Cooper.
IMO

No evidence he saw or heard him either.

 

[Hope4More]

Jurors saw the car and proximity of car seat. There is no evidence RH did not see or hear Cooper.
IMO

The defense doesn't have to prove RH did, just needs to provide reasonable doubt that he "must" have.

 

[popsicle]

Thanks... well this makes sense why he wouldn't be called JMHO (unless he is being called as a rebuttal witness)

Justin Ross Harris' former friend speaks out against him (2014) http://www.walb.com/story/26058618/justin-ross-harris-former-friend-speaks-out-against-him
Snip:

"Ross was family to me. I loved him like a brother," McRea said.

Fast forward to one month ago, June 18, the day Ross' son Cooper died in a blazing hot SUV just outside of Atlanta.

"At first when it was being reported as an accident, I felt so terrible for him," McRea told FOX6 News.

Now, McRea says he is stunned over shocking allegations about Ross revealed by the prosecution at a preliminary hearing earlier this month.

Authorities alleged that Ross sexted multiple women while Cooper was in the hot car, conducted online searches about child hot car deaths and about living a child-free life.

"It was sickening. It really broke my heart. It was really totally against the type of moral character I thought he had. I'm just totally disgusted with his behavior, ashamed, very ashamed," McRea said. "It's almost like he's a monster and I'm like what happened? When did you become this person that we see on TV now? Or were you always like this and just hid it that well?"

McRea said Copper didn't deserve to die and that's why he's speaking out. McRea wants to make sure people understand the reality of this tragic situation.

"I just don't want baby Cooper to be forgotten. I want there to be justice for the suffering. What he had to go through," McRea said.

I heard he was going to testify that they were abused at camp as kids. jmo no link

 

[katydid23]

Yes, I agree that cuts against the defense.

On the other hand we have to consider what is reasonable as far as expectations for protecting against this or any kind of tragedy. For example, every parent knows that that there is a risk to their child every time they drive with their child in the car ... It is a known and foreseeable risk. But do we expect parents to never allow their children to ride in a car because it exposes them to the risk of serious harm or death? No, that would be unreasonable.

No, we don't expect them to not ride in the car. But laws have tightened considerably, and children absolutely have to be restrained safely in moving vehicles, from baby seats to booster seats. When I was at my Aunt's, I remember seeing a polaroid of my grandfather holding me in his lap when I was a tiny baby, in the back seat of my parents car. My older toddler brother, standing up on the seat beside him, no problems, no belt. 62 years ago, lol.

One would not expect the parents not to drive them in a car, but they are expected to stay sober and buckle very one up safely. And if someone has knowledge of babies being left in hot cars, and they actively discuss it, comment about it online, then I'd think they would take some kind of REASONABLE steps to prevent it from happening to them. jmo

 

[TexMex]

No evidence he saw or heard him either.

Correct. Jury will have to figure out if a two year old excited to go to school fell asleep in the 30 seconds it took to get to the light.
And if he did, why wouldn't 6'2 Ross crammed into the drivers seat not see him when he parked at work.

 

[arkansasmimi]

No. He/she was in Ross's wedding.

Depending on who testifies tomorrow, we will have at least three witnesses who were previously scheduled to testify no longer testifying. These four witnesses were scheduled to testify at some point in time - Dr. Diamond, Dr. A, the forensic pathologist, and Ross's friend.

Another article

GORDO, Alabama — A long-time friend of the Georgia father who left his toddler son in a hot car to die says that the man now charged with murder was a popular guy who liked being the center of attention — but noted "I hope he gets what's coming to him" if he did it on purpose.

Ben McRea, 33, has been close friend of Justin Ross Harris, also 33, since they were in high school together, and he was a groomsman at his wedding. The two men met when McRea was about 15 years old, after his parents moved from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

**
"He was just a great and outgoing personality. He always liked being the center of attention. He was the Ferris Bueller of Tuscaloosa."

McRea said he was partly responsible for setting up Harris and his wife Leanna, who just retained a lawyer herself, although she has not been charged in the case and police have not named her as a suspect.

"We would never have dreamed he'd be capable of doing these things. He seemed like a loyal husband. He seemed like a good father," said McRea.

He said that the thing he doesn't understand is, in the context of Harris being obsessed with and knowledgeable about computers, how such evidence of online searches and social media accounts even exists.

"That boy knew how to clear his history — that boy knows how to cover his tracks — did he want all that to come out?"
***
"I got mad," when he first heard the new evidence about his cheating, "Because I wasn't just Ross' friend, I cared about Leanna too it just blows my mind. I didn't see him as the cheating type."
***
Ironically, McRea said, he and and the Harrises fell out of friendship because of cheating. A mutual friend had been cheating on her husband, also a friend of theirs, and McRea knew. Leanna wanted him to tell the friend, but he didn't. They stopped being close around the fall of 2010.

On June 19th, the day after his birthday, McRea was driving to meet up with his parents at a local Olive Garden restaurant. He got a Facebook message from a mutual friend that said "Have you seen this?" It was a link to a story about Ross. "I had to pull over, and I just cried like a baby." At the restaurant, he said he was extremely upset. "I said, 'Momma, Ross killed his baby. Momma, Ross killed his baby. How? How?"

"Please God," he said he begged, "tell me he didn't leave him in the car. Tell me this wasn't on purpose."

He said he's been watching TV all the time to hear of news on the case. "As more stuff comes out I just look over at my roommate and I say, How did he become this monster? What happened?"

“There's so many questions running through my mind that I want answers to, just like everybody else ... If this was on purpose, I hope he gets what's coming to him. And if she (Leanna)" knows anything about it, I hope she's right there with him." http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ho...-dad-he-was-ferris-bueller-tuscaloosa-n153156

^^^^^^^^ So This friend and RH/LH had not been friends or close since 2010. He would not know anything about RH since then. Something the State has tried to point out repeatedly. He would not be a good witness to either side JMHO