TX - Moriah Wilson, Cyclist Fatally Shot Before Race, Austin, #4

[Charlot123]

I don't think the biking community is that homogenous in Austin. Gravel racers are such a tiny subset of the many bikers (or most) who never compete in any way except against their own personal goals.

I think there could be recreational bikers on the jury who could be fair and unbiased. JMO, though.

I'm curious about everyone's thoughts are on picking jurors for this case. What biases will both sides be seeking to eliminate?

If i openly say what i think, i shall cross some inevitable line, so let me talk less about the jurors and more, the public. Unlike the case of Suzanne Morphew, where a petite, pretty, churchgoing housewife looked so charismatic to both women and men, in the case of Mo Wilson’s murder, opinions about the three involved persons might differ.

First, the three participants are younger, and one can see how this generational difference skews the general opinion of the situation. On the internet, it is mostly their age group, and younger people who are judgmental.

There will be undoubtedly some prejudice-projection as most have seen both sides of cheating factor. Likewise, how do we reconcile the image of a frail girl living with an alcoholic parent, who evokes a lot of sympathy, with someone who can later, in anger, mindlessly kill another human being, and escape abroad to enjoy life?

I feel one of the biggest issues in this case, jury-wise, would be to avoid projections. Just to reiterate:

- the only victim is Mo, who paid the highest price. We don't know how Mo saw the whole situation, but truth is, Kaitlin is given the chance of a fair trial. Mo didn't get it. Judging by the time, KA gave her no courtesy to be asked what she thought of CS (and it is possible that her answer would be very surprising to KA). No, Mo was just executed.

- I listened to CS, his talk about own eating habits, the tone of his voice. I am prepared to cut him some slack, but not sure that the community feels the same. Just to remind, KA was no Pygmalion in that relationship. By the time they met, CS was 31-32, educated, gifted man, and a champion. He was a self-made man; it is important as KA did not dedicate her whole life to that guy and then someone else took him away.

Last but not least. I understand how Mo's orphaned family wants privacy. For the sake of fairness, every photo of "oh, so gorgeous" Kaitlin should be balanced by a photo of Mo. Childhood, adolescent, student.

I intentionally veer off the issue of the jurors, so sorry, it is halfway answer to your question. I want fairness for Mo.

 

[SMK777]

He wants to humanize her. It’s all for the jury.

That’s what I figured, too.

 

[BUF]

Our justice system provides for the defendant to be given a fair trial, but sometimes I feel as though the victim of the crime is not given their due right of justice for their brutal murder…I see this happen when certain legal professionals try to turn the apparent facts leading up to the arrest of the defendant become so drastically skewed into absurdity…but I guess that is their job to place reasonable doubt.

There is always the collateral damage that occurs when someone takes another’s life. Parents are left without their child forever, brother, sisters, aunt, uncles, grandparents, friends are left with that very empty void in their lives. They cherish the photos they have of memories, but new ones will never replace the old ones.

I hope that this trial and the time leading up to it does not turn into a circus, but as many here feel if yesterday’s hearing and pre written speech that her attorney prepared and read after the hearing is any indication, the handwriting is on the wall.

My thoughts are with Mo and those who loved her and hope they have the strength to endure what is ahead.

 

[Kemug]

Do we know what family Kaitlin has? I may have missed it.

 

[Kemug]

And I agree with a former poster - why did CC come back, and what was said? Looking forward to hearing what she has to say.

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1549871016419139591

 

[BUF]

I found this to be a cocky remark to the judge…

Kennedy, who last year announced that she is retiring at the end of her term on Dec. 31, told defense attorneys that asking for a speedy trial is a de facto way of saying they are waiving the need for any pretrial hearings — such as motions to challenge the evidence — but defense attorneys said that is not the case.

"We can walk and chew gum, your honor," Cofer said.

Kaitlin Armstrong's trial set for October in death of pro cyclist Moriah Wilson

Defense attorneys asked for a speedy trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, who is charged with killing professional cyclist Moriah Wilson at a home in Austin.

www.statesman.com

 

[Megnut]

Our justice system provides for the defendant to be given a fair trial, but sometimes I feel as though the victim of the crime is not given their due right of justice for their brutal murder…I see this happen when certain legal professionals try to turn the apparent facts leading up to the arrest of the defendant become so drastically skewed into absurdity…but I guess that is their job to place reasonable doubt.

There is always the collateral damage that occurs when someone takes another’s life. Parents are left without their child forever, brother, sisters, aunt, uncles, grandparents, friends are left with that very empty void in their lives. They cherish the photos they have of memories, but new ones will never replace the old ones.

I hope that this trial and the time leading up to it does not turn into a circus, but as many here feel if yesterday’s hearing and pre written speech that her attorney prepared and read after the hearing is any indication, the handwriting is on the wall.

My thoughts are with Mo and those who loved her and hope they have the strength to endure what is ahead.

I share your sentiments.

It helps me to re-align justice.

There can be no justice for victims because even a solid conviction can never restore what was lost.

Trials IMO aren't about justice for victims and their families; they're about justice for the perpetrators. A fair and just trial, a fair and just sentence.

In that light, my heart goes out to the family and friends of Mo, for the irreparable injustice done to them.

And may KA get the full justice coming to her -- nothing short of LWOP.

JMO

 

[RickshawFan]

I’m thinking KA trashed her own bike after the murder to mirror the trashing of Mo’s, as a way to place blame on someone else. The defense attorney is calling this “vandalism”. I think this was a very hasty idea at the crime scene, and not very well thought through, since IMO most people are going to assume KA was responsible since she was clearly in a rage.

This is my speculation.

 

[WingsOverTX]

Do we know what family Kaitlin has? I may have missed it.

She has a younger sister (who was present for the pretrial hearing yesterday), an older brother we haven't heard much about, & both of her parents (divorced) live in Michigan, where she grew up. Her parents have spoken publicly in her defense.

Use (theft?) of her sister's passport is implicated in her flight from justice to the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica.

 

[steeltowngirl]

If i openly say what i think, i shall cross some inevitable line, so let me talk less about the jurors and more, the public. Unlike the case of Suzanne Morphew, where a petite, pretty, churchgoing housewife looked so charismatic to both women and men, in the case of Mo Wilson’s murder, opinions about the three involved persons might differ.

First, the three participants are younger, and one can see how this generational difference skews the general opinion of the situation. On the internet, it is mostly their age group, and younger people who are judgmental.

There will be undoubtedly some prejudice-projection as most have seen both sides of cheating factor. Likewise, how do we reconcile the image of a frail girl living with an alcoholic parent, who evokes a lot of sympathy, with someone who can later, in anger, mindlessly kill another human being, and escape abroad to enjoy life?

I feel one of the biggest issues in this case, jury-wise, would be to avoid projections. Just to reiterate:

- the only victim is Mo, who paid the highest price. We don't know how Mo saw the whole situation, but truth is, Kaitlin is given the chance of a fair trial. Mo didn't get it. Judging by the time, KA gave her no courtesy to be asked what she thought of CS (and it is possible that her answer would be very surprising to KA). No, Mo was just executed.

- I listened to CS, his talk about own eating habits, the tone of his voice. I am prepared to cut him some slack, but not sure that the community feels the same. Just to remind, KA was no Pygmalion in that relationship. By the time they met, CS was 31-32, educated, gifted man, and a champion. He was a self-made man; it is important as KA did not dedicate her whole life to that guy and then someone else took him away.

Last but not least. I understand how Mo's orphaned family wants privacy. For the sake of fairness, every photo of "oh, so gorgeous" Kaitlin should be balanced by a photo of Mo. Childhood, adolescent, student.

I intentionally veer off the issue of the jurors, so sorry, it is halfway answer to your question. I want fairness for Mo.

Great post @Charlot123

 

[carolmaria]

Poor Kait. Unreal.

I know. “Kait”… ugh.
*Anna Moriah Wilson*

 

[steeltowngirl]

I think the defense will go with either SODDI, crime of passion, or self-defense. The vandalism stuff leads me to think SODDI is most likely.

However, self-defense might be a story of KA was out and about, returned to the vandalized house. CS was not home, and fearing for CS, she grabbed her gun, and magically knowing he was with MW, she went to find him and went to CC/MW’s home. Entered, and a confrontation occurred. Gun tussle, MW is shot. KA is subsequently in a disassociative state, goes back home, convinces herself all is ok, until she gets called in to the police station for questioning, then flees.

This case may enter into the mental health realm and also crime of passion.

Buckle up, we are in for a wild ride with this case.

JMO/theory and speculation.

 

[Nikynoo]

Also from the article:

"If you assert your right to a speedy trial, then you are ready to go to trial ... despite having filed all these motions (for evidence)," Kennedy told defense attorneys.”

If you scroll down, you even see Christine Armstrong from earlier today at the courthouse.

Kaitlin Armstrong's trial set for October in death of pro cyclist Moriah Wilson

Defense attorneys asked for a speedy trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, who is charged with killing professional cyclist Moriah Wilson at a home in Austin.

www.statesman.com

BBM - are you sure?

 

[steeltowngirl]

“Kait”


“If Kait is going to be held in jail until trial, or face millions of dollars' bond, then she has the right for trial to be held as quickly as possible," Armstrong's attorney Rick Cofer told the American-Statesman. "In the meantime, questions about both the circumstances and the police investigation itself still need to be answered."

Kaitlin Armstrong's trial set for October in death of pro cyclist Moriah Wilson

Defense attorneys asked for a speedy trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, who is charged with killing professional cyclist Moriah Wilson at a home in Austin.

www.statesman.com

I still find it uncanny that the man she met in Costa Rica referred to her as “Kait”.

jmo

 

[WingsOverTX]

BBM - are you sure?

Yep. That is her sister. (Unless more plastic surgery obfuscation is occurring in this case with unknown motivations.)

Left passport photo from this article.

 

[SMK777]

I still find it uncanny that the man she met in Costa Rica referred to her as “Kait”.

jmo

Same here.

 

[BUF]

And I agree with a former poster - why did CC come back, and what was said? Looking forward to hearing what she has to say.

Oh geez…when I read your post early this morning I couldn’t remember who CC was, then I just saw another post and figured it out. These initial references can sometimes get forgotten especially when some have the same first initial!

Anyways, yeah, I am waiting to hear what she has to say also…no doubt she will be a prosecution witness. Let’s hope that hearsay game that gets played doesn’t interfere with her testimony.

 

[BUF]

I think the defense will go with either SODDI, crime of passion, or self-defense. The vandalism stuff leads me to think SODDI is most likely.

However, self-defense might be a story of KA was out and about, returned to the vandalized house. CS was not home, and fearing for CS, she grabbed her gun, and magically knowing he was with MW, she went to find him and went to CC/MW’s home. Entered, and a confrontation occurred. Gun tussle, MW is shot. KA is subsequently in a disassociative state, goes back home, convinces herself all is ok, until she gets called in to the police station for questioning, then flees.

This case may enter into the mental health realm and also crime of passion.

Buckle up, we are in for a wild ride with this case.

JMO/theory and speculation.

Right now I’m guessing they’ll try to go with SODDI, technicalities. jmo

Let’s not forget, she was also spotted driving her bike by the apartment the day before the murder when MW arrived.

 

[PrairieWind]

I found this to be a cocky remark to the judge…

Kennedy, who last year announced that she is retiring at the end of her term on Dec. 31, told defense attorneys that asking for a speedy trial is a de facto way of saying they are waiving the need for any pretrial hearings — such as motions to challenge the evidence — but defense attorneys said that is not the case.

"We can walk and chew gum, your honor," Cofer said.

Kaitlin Armstrong's trial set for October in death of pro cyclist Moriah Wilson

Defense attorneys asked for a speedy trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, who is charged with killing professional cyclist Moriah Wilson at a home in Austin.

www.statesman.com

I don't know why the prosecutor would say that. From what I am seeing, it must be pretty rare for defendants to make a demand for speedy trial in Austin. Asking for speedy in no way waives the right to file pretrial motions.