I realise it's de rigueur for the creator class to rag on the Commonwealth these days, but I don't see what else can be expected in such a difficult case.
First up, it's not the CWs fault that a sophisticated defendant authored such a complex scheme that easily could have gone undetected. As we've seen in other 'self defence' cases, and with a stranger/home invader shooting, this one could have been overlooked extremely easy - yet that did not happen.
Second, it's not the CWs fault they don't have more 'killer evidence' against the accused. While there are some indications from the crime scene, the reality is without the aborted 911, there is actually no way to prove the order of stabbing vs shooting beyond doubt. The advantage of the defendant's scheme is that it didn't particularly create any incriminating evidence. Rather it relies on order of events, and a plausible possibility the victim really sent all the messages to Joe. Everything else is out in the open with little staging.
So this does leave you needing the cooperation of JM to bring this to trial. Otherwise all you have is a theory of a conspiracy that may better fit some facts and provide motive, but no way to prove that any such conspiracy actually existed.
it's all very well for Tragos and co to moan about the deal with JM, but what practical alternative strategy do they offer? They themselves admit the CW could not get a conviction without JM. So yeah it is distasteful but in the end they did a great job taking this guy down in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
IMO
