GUILTY VA - Nicole Lovell, 13, Blacksburg, 27 January 2016 #7 Accused Pleads "No Contest"

[cujenn81]

Dominick Mastrangelo
Dominick Mastrangelo
@DomMastrangelo1
·
3m
Lichtenstein saying Keepers was "excited" about the idea of killing and had a fascination with knives, cutting herself. Said she "called her sexual conquests her "body count."

Oh dear God!
(it sounds like his attorneys did their homework....)


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[Wyle_E_Coyote]

The prosecution's case is much weaker than i thought. Keepers is looking really bad too. At this point, i would say Eisenhauer slips right out.

Even if keepers did kill her, I would think Eisenhauer would still be guilty of felony murder due to the kidnapping. But ianal...

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[cujenn81]

My thoughts after day one -
I have no doubt that Nicole died at the hands of DE. I'm not so certain that NK was only present 17 hours after the fact. It definitely isn't looking good for her if they have her bloody handprint on the shovel and a bloody stick with hair from both NK and NL (in addition to the statement she made about planning it, her excited and cavalier attitude about it, and the fact that she kept all of NL's belongings). Did they mention anything about recovering DE'S DNA or handprints on the shovel?

As much as I hate it, his lawyers definitely appear to be good at their job. All they have to do is create enough reasonable doubt for one member of the jury. I'm not surprised they haven't made claims that he's innocent because competent attorneys rarely do. It's not their job to prove DE is innocent; it's their job to prove his guilt cannot be determined based solely on the evidence presented. They've done a good job of that so far, IMO... but the trial is just getting started.

I think he's guilty as can be but I also think NK was more involved than she claims... and the whole thing could easily blow up in her face.


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[Elainera]

Someone please remind me, are they both facing the same charges?

 

[cujenn81]

Someone please remind me, are they both facing the same charges?

She has only been charged with concealment of the body and accessory to murder before the fact (which the prosecution has said carries the same maximum punishment as murder).


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[ElizabethAnne]

I don't think NK was there when the girl was murdered. I did remember that they excluded some of her statements to police because they were made without the police reading the Miranda rights. I never understood why Eisenhauer got Keepers involved in the first place with trying to hide the body of the little girl other than that he was a complete sociopath. I do think that if he had not been caught he would have probably have murdered Keepers eventually as well.

 

[cujenn81]

I'm curious to find out more about NK saying DE just wanted to wipe her phone clean but she thought he should take things further. I will be highly upset if this is true--if she somehow convinced DE they could get away with it if he killed her instead--because Nicole would likely still be here if NK had given up on her dreams of being the next Bonnie and Clyde and had kept those thoughts to herself.

 

[Elainera]

She has only been charged with concealment of the body and accessory to murder before the fact (which the prosecution has said carries the same maximum punishment as murder).


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Thank you!

So the state is saying she did not murder NL but DE's defense tries to imply she did to get him off the hook.

If he's acquitted of the murder charge could her charges be changed to murder?

 

[cujenn81]

Thank you!

So the state is saying she did not murder NL but DE's defense tries to imply she did to get him off the hook.

If he's acquitted of the murder charge could her charges be changed to murder?

I imagine they COULD change them, legally... IF they have enough evidence to show probable cause, but I don't think they would. I also can't imagine a jury would find someone guilty of accessory if the person charged with the murder was found not guilty.

I think that's probably why her lawyers wanted DE to be tried first. IIRC, NK's trial was originally scheduled to begin sometime last year, but her lawyers requested a continuance. It was granted and the trial was actually rescheduled to start this week, as well. Once they realized that both trials were scheduled to begin on the same week, her trial date was pushed back once again.

 

[Elainera]

I imagine they COULD change them, legally... IF they have enough evidence to show probable cause, but I don't think they would. I also can't imagine a jury would find someone guilty of accessory if the person charged with the murder was found not guilty.

I think that's probably why her lawyers wanted DE to be tried first. IIRC, NK's trial was originally scheduled to begin sometime last year, but her lawyers requested a continuance. It was granted and the trial was actually rescheduled to start this week, as well. Once they realized that both trials were scheduled to begin on the same week, her trial date was pushed back once again.

bbm I hadn't even thought about that but it sounds logical. So she could have a lot to gain if he gets acquitted - unless she then faces the same murder charge!

This is one convoluted mess!

 

[ElizabethAnne]

I think that there are equal penalties for being accessory before the face as well as murder. I read in the Collegiate Times today that already the defense attorney is trying to declare mistrials a few times on the first day of testimony. Given all of the video evidence of them buying supplies at various stores and the electronic correspondence between Eisenhauer and the Lovell, I don't see how the jury could possibly find him not guilty.

 

[BUF]

I think that there are equal penalties for being accessory before the face as well as murder. I read in the Collegiate Times today that already the defense attorney is trying to declare mistrials a few times on the first day of testimony. Given all of the video evidence of them buying supplies at various stores and the electronic correspondence between Eisenhauer and the Lovell, I don't see how the jury could possibly find him not guilty.

...don't forget the DNA retrieved under Nicole's fingernails...I have a feeling that it will match DE (gouges on the side of his nose).

I suspect the defense asking for a mistrial will be a re-occurring theme throughout the trial.

Waiting to see what testimony will be revealed today.

 

[Bravo]

Present and caught up. Good Morning all

 

[Inthedetails]

bbm I hadn't even thought about that but it sounds logical. So she could have a lot to gain if he gets acquitted - unless she then faces the same murder charge!

This is one convoluted mess!

It is a mess, I agree!

If he is found not guilty, that still doesn't mean he didn't kill NL, as I know we all know. It would mean that the evidence wasn't enough to convince the jury of his guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The fact remains that the child was killed.

NK is not charged with murder - and I'm assuming it's because the evidence shows prosecutors that she didn't commit murder. I don't think we'll see her charges changed. DE's defense team is planting the idea in the jury that she was the killer, but that doesn't mean she was, ykwim?

He's got a good team at his table.

jmopinion....ready to hear more of this trial

 

[Betty P]

Good Morning Everyone!

I spent most of last evening trying to find and load the videos of the opening statements of defense and prosecution, with no luck. The Daily Mail quoted the prosecutor stating that NL had met with DE previously, before the abduction. Does anyone know if that's accurate? I've always assumed his story of meeting her at a party, getting pregnant, etc. was fake.

ETA: Gil Harrington, mother of Morgan Harrington, is attending the trial to show support for Nicole's family. Very nice of her to do that.

http://wset.com/news/local/the-late...ia-tech-student-accused-of-killing-a-pre-teen

 

[BUF]

Good Morning Everyone!

I spent most of last evening trying to find and load the videos of the opening statements of defense and prosecution, with no luck. The Daily Mail quoted the prosecutor stating that NL had met with DE previously, before the abduction. Does anyone know if that's accurate? I've always assumed his story of meeting her at a party, getting pregnant, etc. was fake.

ETA: Gil Harrington, mother of Morgan Harrington, is attending the trial to show support for Nicole's family. Very nice of her to do that.

http://wset.com/news/local/the-late...ia-tech-student-accused-of-killing-a-pre-teen

Pettit said in her opening that DE met with Nicole 'at least' one time prior. We'll have to see what they back that up with.

 

[Hoosgirl]

Good Morning Everyone!

I spent most of last evening trying to find and load the videos of the opening statements of defense and prosecution, with no luck. The Daily Mail quoted the prosecutor stating that NL had met with DE previously, before the abduction. Does anyone know if that's accurate? I've always assumed his story of meeting her at a party, getting pregnant, etc. was fake.

ETA: Gil Harrington, mother of Morgan Harrington, is attending the trial to show support for Nicole's family. Very nice of her to do that.

http://wset.com/news/local/the-late...ia-tech-student-accused-of-killing-a-pre-teen

Bless Gil Harrington. Jane Vance, who taught Morgan and is very involved with Help Save the Next Girl, also taught Nicole Lovell. So much tragedy.

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[Betty P]

Pettit said in her opening that DE met with Nicole 'at least' one time prior. We'll have to see what they back that up with.

Oh, girl. Poor Nicole, I wish she hadn't done that.

For anyone checking in the first time, here are the twitter feeds of local reporters most of us have been following

https://mobile.twitter.com/Annie_Andersen

https://twitter.com/DomMastrangelo1

If they read this, thanks Dom & Annie for your great work!

 

[Hoosgirl]

Has anyone found full video of DE's police interview? Or any full videos of the proceedings? (I know they aren't live streaming, but I was hoping we could watch all after the fact)

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[Betty P]

Dom's recap of yesterday

https://twitter.com/DomMastrangelo1/status/961232496254955520

Trial will begin today with cross exam of the FBI agent