GUILTY TX - Irene Garza, 25, found murdered, McAllen, 16 April 1960

[Niner]

Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
1m1 minute ago

John Feit just moments ago responding to whether he will testify in his own defense. “It’s a real inbetweener because there’s a lot of things I feel that need to be corrected.” #FeitTrial


Feit: “I’m kind of between a rock and a hard place.” #FeitTrial

 

[Niner]

Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
1m1 minute ago

Court reporter had to move up right next to John Feit to hear him better, making the moment all the more dramatic. #FeitTrial


Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
4m4 minutes ago

Feit asked if he wants to testify. Feit says, “It’s a real in between,” because there are “several things I feel need to be corrected...”

Judge says Feit can consult with his attorneys on this matter after defense’s witnesses are called

Judge reminds Feit that ultimately the decision whether to testify is his own (despite whatever his attorneys recommend)

 

[Niner]

Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
3m3 minutes ago

Defense first witness, Faustino Rodriguez, requires a Spanish/English interpreter. #FeitTrial


Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
6m6 minutes ago

Molly Smith Retweeted Erik De La Garza

Rodriguez went to high school with #IreneGarza. Said he was questioned by police about her disappearance.

 

[Niner]

Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
2m
Testifies saw Irene about 3 ft in front of him in line for confessional

Testifies that Father Joseph O’Brien was giving confessional in that line, which was around 8:30 pm

 

[Niner]

Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
10m10 minutes ago
Replying to @smithmollyk

Prosecution, during cross examination, brings up fact that Rodriguez didn’t mention O’Brien in the 2002 statement he gave to law enforcement

In signed statement, as per prosecution, Rodriguez told investigators he couldn’t remember anything from that night

 

[Niner]

Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
2m2 minutes ago

Molly Smith Retweeted Amy Martinez

Defense questions him about Father O’Brien’s mental state — defense says priest suffered from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

had to look that up:
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a neurological disorder. Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis are the acute and chronic phases, respectively, of the same disease. WKS is caused by a deficiency in the B vitamin thiamine. Thiamine plays a role in metabolizing glucose to produce energy for the brain.

 

[Niner]

Molly Smith Retweeted
Amy Martinez‏ @KVEOAMartinez
8m8 minutes ago

Jaramillo is asked if he knows when #IreneGarza arrived at the church and when she was last seen. He says she arrived around 7:00pm and left around 8:15pm. #JohnFeitMurderTrial


Molly Smith Retweeted
Amy Martinez‏ @KVEOAMartinez
7m7 minutes ago

Jaramillo's response contradicts Faustino Rodriguez's testimony of seeing #IreneGarza around 8:30 or 9:00pm.

Defense objects to prosecution’s repeated use of phrase “opened the door” — And w/ that we’re on short recess so defense can consult w/ Feit

 

[Niner]

Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
7m7 minutes ago

John Feit will not testify in his own defense. “It was a wrestling match between my vanity and my common sense.” #FeitTrial

ohn Feit’s defense expected to rest as soon as jury is ushered back in. #FeitTrial #RGV



Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
6m6 minutes ago

Feit waives his right to testify: “It was a wrestling match between my vanity and common sense. Common sense prevailed.” Defense rests.

Jury excused for day. Tomorrow morning jurors will be read charge and hear closing arguments before beginning deliberations on the verdict.

Jury excused for day. Tomorrow morning jurors will be read charge and hear closing arguments before beginning deliberations on the verdict.


See you all tomorrow! :seeya:

 

[Niner]

Photos: Day 5 of the John Feit murder trial

http://valleycentral.com/news/local/photos-day-5-of-the-john-feit-murder-trial

 

[YESorNO]

The Latest from Day 5: Defense, prosecution expected to make closing arguments Thursday

http://www.themonitor.com/irenegarza/article_4f06cb22-da99-11e7-9a92-cb635cb0eca5.html
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[video=youtube;wOndMx97qhE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOndMx97qhE[/video]
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[Niner]

Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
11h11 hours ago

Molly Smith Retweeted The Monitor

Here's my recap of day 5. Before the defense rested, Feit likened his decision over whether to testify in his own defense as a wrestling match between his vanity and common sense. "Common sense prevailed," he said, declining to take the stand.


Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
18m18 minutes ago

Day 5 story: Both sides rest their cases and John Feit speaks out in court: "It was a real inbetweener." He ultimately opted against testifying in his own defense. Closing arguments expected during the 9 o'clock hour.


Hmmm.... :thinking: Erik above says 9am, thought it started at 9:30am. Guess it is lucky I came over here early!

 

[Niner]

Erik De La Garza Retweeted
Elizabeth Zavala‏Verified account @elizabeth2863
8m8 minutes ago

Genene Jones is about to enter court to enter a plea in the five new murder charges against her @mySA


Guessing another case before Feit's.

 

[Niner]

Thanks to YESorNO on another thread posted this - re case I just posted about:

Former Texas nurse to be arraigned in deaths of 5 children

"SAN ANTONIO
An imprisoned former nurse who prosecutors believe could be responsible for the deaths of up to 60 Texas children is set to be arraigned on murder charges in the deaths of five children in the early 1980s.

Genene Jones, who is 67, will be arraigned Thursday in San Antonio. The Bexar County district attorney's office has announced the five indictments over the last year.

Jones is serving concurrent 99-year and 60-year sentences in state prison for the killing of a 15-month-old and the sickening of 4-week-old. She was scheduled to be freed from prison in March under a mandatory release law in place when she was convicted..."

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/st...188392184.html

Ws thread: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sho...t=Genene+Jones

 

[Niner]

I knew it started at 9:30am....

Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
4m4 minutes ago

Courtroom filling up ahead of closing arguments in John Feit’s murder trial. #FeitTrial #IreneGarza #RGV

 

[Niner]

 

[Niner]

Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
6m6 minutes ago

.@EPerezTrevino has been investigating the #IreneGarza cold case for years. She interviewed John Feit in 2002 and he told her, "I had nothing to do with her death. I can honestly say that." http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/co...-88ba-6c39bd377543.html#.WijIwHrJ1ss.facebook …

 

[Niner]

This tweet should go with the above picture!

Erik De La Garza Retweeted
Courthouse News‏ @CourthouseNews
33m33 minutes ago

.@eidelagarza is providing live coverage of the John #FeitTrial.

Feit, a former Catholic priest, is charged with the 1960 murder of Irene Garza, his former parishioner.

 

[Niner]

This is all that's been tweeted - nothing from the court room.... :waiting:

Erik De La Garza Retweeted
Emma Perez-Trevino‏ @EPerezTrevino
10h10 hours ago
Replying to @EPerezTrevino @BrownsvilleNews

Ex-DA Rene Guerra in 2002: "Her killer got away. . . I reviewed the file some years back; there was nothing there. Can it be solved? Well, I guess if you believe that pigs can fly, anything is possible. Why would anyone be haunted by her death? She died, her killer got away."

 

[Niner]

This was 6 minutes ago - so they are starting late....

Erik De La Garza Retweeted
Chris Ardis‏ @CHRISTINEARDIS
6m6 minutes ago

#JohnFeit has entered the courtroom. Should begin soon. #IreneGarzamurdercase #formerCatholicpriest

 

[Niner]

Molly Smith‏ @smithmollyk
18m18 minutes ago

Jurors are being read the charge — they are instructed that “intent to kill is an essential element of murder" — if jurors have "reasonable doubt" regarding this element, they are to consider aggravated assault

"One that that will be so glaring in this case, that will offend your common sense, was man, in the short time he was here, John Feit sure did cause a lot of trouble," prosecutor Michael Garza says of Feit's time in the #RGV before he was "moved out."


Erik De La Garza‏ @eidelagarza
7m7 minutes ago

Prosecutor Michael Garza during closing arguments: John Feit is a “wolf in priest clothing.” Says Catholic Church colluded and conspired with local authorities to cover-up Irene Garza’s murder. #FeitTrial