GUILTY TX - Christina Morris, 23, Plano, 30 Aug 2014 - Enrique Arochi kidnapping trial #6

[arkansasmimi]

@vlwigg can the jury hear about December case in sentencing phase?

Valerie Wigglesworth ‏@vlwigg Sep 22
.@XXXXXThey will likely hold a hearing so the judge can decide whether to allow it. State will want it, defense won't. #arochitrial

Valerie Wigglesworth ‏@vlwigg Sep 22
.@XXXXXX That is exactly the kind of evidence that comes in during punishment phase - previous arrests, pending charges #arochitrial
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@vlwigg does prosecution still have the floor?
Valerie Wigglesworth ‏@vlwigg Sep 22
.@XXXXX It works just like the first phase. Prosecution, defense, prosecution. Openings, evidence, closings. Deliberation #arochitrial

Valerie Wigglesworth ‏@vlwigg Sep 23
.@XXXXX 2nd phase of trial has more evidence presented, opening & closing statements, then jury deliberates #arochitrial

 

[arkansasmimi]

Valerie Wigglesworth ‏@vlwigg 20s20 seconds ago
Foster testifies Morris occasionally used drugs, mostly Xanax and adderall - she had Rx for adderall #arochitrial http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...cused-of-kidnapping-2&p=12802117#post12802117

Curious how much the PPD knew about CM drug use? *they had her and HF tweets so they did know and also that HF a drug dealer.

IIRC Benzink testified that CM got an Adderal from PP. I wonder if they knew that CM had a RX for it too, prior to HF testimony? Jury didn't hear HF PPD interview and he had an attorney with him. He would not have known 9/3 & 9/4/2014 that he sold to a Fed UC on 4/29/14.

 

[CuriousinNY]

My 22 year old son went hiking this weekend with some friends from high school. They were going to a remote area that was unfamiliar to them. They said they would be home around diner time. 7:00 came and went, 8, by 9 I started to think about Christina and Jonni. I contacted other friends, the girlfriends of the hikers. No one had heard from them after 12 noon. After 3 days in the woods, all their phones were dead. I had a knot in my stomach wondering at what point to you call the authorities? Was someone hurt? Were they lost? Surely they couldn't be missing...right?! All I could imagine is how horrific that day was for the Morris family and friends. Thankfully we heard from them around 10 pm. They still have a 5 hour drive but as long as I knew they were safe. I am sure they will have some story of what delayed them. Hopefully tomorrow something happens to bring Christina home to her family, they deserve that.

 

[arkansasmimi]

My 22 year old son went hiking this weekend with some friends from high school. They were going to a remote area that was unfamiliar to them. They said they would be home around diner time. 7:00 came and went, 8, by 9 I started to think about Christina and Jonni. I contacted other friends, the girlfriends of the hikers. No one had heard from them after 12 noon. After 3 days in the woods, all their phones were dead. I had a knot in my stomach wondering at what point to you call the authorities? Was someone hurt? Were they lost? Surely they couldn't be missing...right?! All I could imagine is how horrific that day was for the Morris family and friends. Thankfully we heard from them around 10 pm. They still have a 5 hour drive but as long as I knew they were safe. I am sure they will have some story of what delayed them. Hopefully tomorrow something happens to bring Christina home to her family, they deserve that.

Bless your heart! Thankful that you heard from them finally and all safe and on way home.
The not knowing is what rips you to pieces and makes your mind go places you don't want to go.

I pray same as you something happens to bring her home. I know what statistics say. But in back of my mind I think about Jaycee Duggard and those 3 young ladies who were found alive after all those years (Amanda Berry, Gina deJesus, and Michelle Knight) praying for many of the Missing to be found.

 

[SteveS]

The trial from here will be all about what to do with EA the Predator now. He is going under the spotlight.

We should see the state arguing that EA is a bad guy, this is an evil act of a predator, and EA deserves a longer sentence that will punish him properly and also protect our women by keeping him off the streets for many years.

In that quest, we're almost certainly going to hear testimony about EA's sexual assault of a minor, his use of deviant , his history of and preference for strangulation sex, perhaps a reminder of EA's own words that he got his arm injuries while he had someone in a chokehold, maybe about his theft charges with Sprint and his prior time in jail for stealing. We may even get expert testimony about the olive jar and witchcraft, who knows. We will also be reminded of EA's lies on top of lies, evidence that he didn't try to mitigate the damage caused by the abduction, and that the abduction is ongoing because CM was never returned and has never been seen or heard from again.

The defense will argue that EA is a choirboy who went just a bit over the line, he made a mistake that's bad but not THAT bad, these are some sort of youthful indiscretions, and he shouldn't be punished that much for this minor slip-up. They might also attempt to argue that because EA is eligible for probation, that is some sort of indicator that what he did isn't really needing to be punished heavily, as the law allows leniency. I have no feel for whether they will try to argue that this was just an abduction and that CM "might be" alive somewhere, because that's really a two-edged sword that raises the uncomfortable question of if they say she's alive, why hasn't EA released her and let her come home safely.

Then again, there is much wider latitude in this phase. Who knows, maybe one side or the other will spring some surprises on us.

 

[Coldpizza]

Sentencing Begins for Enrique Arochi in Kidnapping Christina Morris

Jurors return to the Collin County Courthouse Monday morning to begin the sentencing phase of Enrique Arochi's trial.

New evidence and testimony is expected in the punishment phase and McElroy is expected to testify.

Arochi faces anywhere from probation to 99 years in prison.
The punishment phase begins Monday at 8:30 a.m. and should last about two days.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Se...in-Kidnapping-Christina-Morris-394764061.html

 

[arkansasmimi]

Looks like a nasty morning for a trial.

Vanessa Brown ‏@VanessaBrownTV 3h3 hours ago
Good morning! It's pouring in Collin County - we're here to cover sentencing phase of the #arochitrial. Catch us at 5:30 & 6:30am on @CBSDFW

 

[arkansasmimi]

@vlwigg Are punishment phases typically just one day or is it a completely new several day trial?

Valerie WigglesworthVerified account ‏@vlwigg 2m2 minutes ago
.@XXXXX Just depends on how many witnesses each side calls Estimate is 1 1/2 to 2 days #arochitrial

 

[arkansasmimi]

Valerie Wigglesworth ‏@vlwigg 8m8 minutes ago
.@XXXX Yes, punishment must also be unanimous among jurors. #arochitrial

5m5 minutes ago
@vlwigg if they're not unanimous, does the judge take over sentencing?

Valerie WigglesworthVerified account
‏@vlwigg
.@XXXXX Not sure. I don't think judge can take over. Any attorneys out there who know for sure? #arochitrial
8:32 AM - 26 Sep 2016

 

[arkansasmimi]

@vlwigg heard he was medicated.I wonder if he would've reacted any different tho. @vlwigg know if there's any truth to that?

Valerie WigglesworthVerified account ‏@vlwigg 4m4 minutes ago
.@xxxxx Judge ordered no one react to verdict, regardless of what it was. That's why he didn't show emotion #arochitrial

 

[arkansasmimi]

@vlwigg So this could go on for days? Even though the jury has just finished hearing all of the evidence to convict.

Valerie WigglesworthVerified account ‏@vlwigg 4m4 minutes ago
.@xxxx Yes. Rules for evidence less strict in punishment phase. Jury will hear new info #arochitrial

 

[SteveS]

The presentation of evidence won't last super long*, as the judge has already gotten a working time estimate from both sides, and will hold them to it. Then they will deliberate until they reach a unanimous verdict on punishment. If they cannot, and it becomes a hung jury, then another jury would be empaneled and they would re-try just the punishment phase.

But with all the jurors already having voted guilty on the evidence, and relatively rapidly, that's not a likely outcome, barring some sort of significant surprise in what is presented in this phase of the trial.


*FWIW, my personal guess is that the jury begins to deliberate Tuesday afternoon sometime, and that they'll reach a verdict no later than Wednesday. But maybe even as early as Tuesday eve, with 12 healthy jurors this time from the start, and probably many if not all of them wanting to avoid another night of sequestration.

 

[arkansasmimi]

Valerie WigglesworthVerified account ‏@vlwigg 1m1 minute ago
.@xxxxxStill waiting for court to start. Not sure why the delay. #arochitrial

 

[arkansasmimi]

So JMHO I guess they would have to get a new jury for that phase.

Valerie WigglesworthVerified account ‏@vlwigg 2m2 minutes ago
.@xxxxxx If jury isn't unanimous, judge declares mistrial on sentencing only #arochitrial

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Scott Sidway ‏@ScottyWK 1m1 minute ago McKinney, TX
Running 30 minutes behind at #arochitrial . No judge in courtroom, both sides' attorneys have been in and out.

 

[arkansasmimi]

Alex BoyérVerified account ‏@AlexBoyerFox4 55s55 seconds ago
Sentencing phase in #arochitrial scheduled to start at 8:30am. Still no sign of Arochi, judge or jury. #ChristinaMorris' family all here.

 

[arkansasmimi]

Scott Sidway ‏@ScottyWK 1m1 minute ago McKinney, TX
The defense team is in the courtroom, as is the court reporter. No prosecution, no judge, no jury, no Arochi. #arochitrial

EDIT UPDATE:
Scott Sidway ‏@ScottyWK 56s56 seconds ago McKinney, TX
45 minutes past start time for #arochitrial punishment hearing. Still no sign of starting.

 

[arkansasmimi]

Alice Barr ‏@AliceBarrNBC5 2m2 minutes ago
Waiting for court to start in #ArochiTrial sentencing phase. There are bags of evidence here ready to go. @NBCDFW

 

[arkansasmimi]

Vanessa Brown ‏@VanessaBrownTV 4m4 minutes ago
#arochitrial - so far, sentencing phase delayed 45+ min. Defense says judge may be late.. it's not delayed for a deal (I asked). @CBSDFW

 

[arkansasmimi]

Scott Sidway ‏@ScottyWK 1m1 minute ago McKinney, TX
Fortenberry just called Gore/defense out of courtroom. "Let's go across the hall." #arochitrial

 

[geevee]

How I wish this delay were a sign of a deal being worked out so Christina could be found and properly laid to rest.