Heated questioning from the defense
What a morning! Maj. Stafford is still on the stand. The first half of our morning, Eric Bellas continued to question Stafford. He talked about conversations he had with Jerry within a week of Jerry's arrest. Stafford met with Jerry the afternoon of Jan. 18, 2006. They prayed together, Stafford said, and then began talking. Stafford the press and community think whoever killed Emily is a monster. Jerry said, he is a monster (I'm not sure if he meant, he, Jerry, is a monster, or he, whoever killed Emily, is a monster). Stafford said he told Jerry the evidence pointed to him. Stafford said he told Jerry he believed Emily died in those woods behind the farm. Stafford said he told Jerry he knew who killed Emily. During this conversation, Stafford said Jerry held his head down and kept shaking his head, yes. Stafford did say Jerry said during this conversation he did not kill Emily.
While Stafford was testifying to this, Jerry stared forward. Sometimes he would read something off Robert Campbell's computer. Sometime he would look down. Never did he shake his head yes or no agreeing or disagreeing with anything Stafford was saying. He doesn't really smile. He doesn't really frown. I believe the testimony when people say Jerry didn't show his emotions. He doesn't a lot here either.
Then, Lisa Dubs began her questioning. Boy does she get excited. Her voice will get louder and louder. She will lean out of her seat, like she's about to pounce on her prey. But Stafford is holding his ground. He agrees with some things and is polite, yes ma'am and no ma'am, just like this Iredell County girl was raised.
Dubs questioned the investigation. She asked why investigators didn't try harder to get Antonio Reyes' cell phone records. Stafford said Reyes had been eliminated as a suspect. He listed several other names of folks who had been eliminated as suspects, but he could not eliminate Jerry's name, he said. But Stafford said he did not check certain places and people Jerry listed in his first statement to police. That's because Jerry hand wrote the second statement, so Stafford said he focused on it more. Dubs asked about several phone calls made from and to the dairy the morning of Dec. 29. Stafford did not check those records. Dubs asked about the interview Jerry had with an SBI agent on Jan. 6. Would his answers not eliminate him? Did you ignore those answers? Stafford said those answers might would have eliminated him if other evidence had not come up. Stafford said he never interviewed Mary Reyes, Antonio's wife. No reason, he told Dubs. He didn't confirm the interview with Kim Tellas, Martin Tellas' wife, another dairy employee, even though Kim Tellas' interview was not consistent with other employees at the farm.
And that's about where we ended at lunch. I know I've written a lot. A lot has gone on. I bet Stafford will be on the stand until lunch. We'll find out then. I'll be back by 1, hopefully.
While Stafford was testifying to this, Jerry stared forward. Sometimes he would read something off Robert Campbell's computer. Sometime he would look down. Never did he shake his head yes or no agreeing or disagreeing with anything Stafford was saying. He doesn't really smile. He doesn't really frown. I believe the testimony when people say Jerry didn't show his emotions. He doesn't a lot here either.
Then, Lisa Dubs began her questioning. Boy does she get excited. Her voice will get louder and louder. She will lean out of her seat, like she's about to pounce on her prey. But Stafford is holding his ground. He agrees with some things and is polite, yes ma'am and no ma'am, just like this Iredell County girl was raised.
Dubs questioned the investigation. She asked why investigators didn't try harder to get Antonio Reyes' cell phone records. Stafford said Reyes had been eliminated as a suspect. He listed several other names of folks who had been eliminated as suspects, but he could not eliminate Jerry's name, he said. But Stafford said he did not check certain places and people Jerry listed in his first statement to police. That's because Jerry hand wrote the second statement, so Stafford said he focused on it more. Dubs asked about several phone calls made from and to the dairy the morning of Dec. 29. Stafford did not check those records. Dubs asked about the interview Jerry had with an SBI agent on Jan. 6. Would his answers not eliminate him? Did you ignore those answers? Stafford said those answers might would have eliminated him if other evidence had not come up. Stafford said he never interviewed Mary Reyes, Antonio's wife. No reason, he told Dubs. He didn't confirm the interview with Kim Tellas, Martin Tellas' wife, another dairy employee, even though Kim Tellas' interview was not consistent with other employees at the farm.
And that's about where we ended at lunch. I know I've written a lot. A lot has gone on. I bet Stafford will be on the stand until lunch. We'll find out then. I'll be back by 1, hopefully.
posted by THE HICKORY DAILY RECORD at at
11:05 AM
3 Comments:
Well when in doubt and fishing for help you can always try and pull on the heart strings and bring in divine intervention. Sounds like it did not work. Head nodding does not a signed confession make. Thorough investigation and complete follow up on all leads is generally the common practice but it starts at the beginning not at the end.
If I were on trial for my life for a crime I didn't commit.. I'd want Lisa Dubs on my side. Eyes bulging, gum chomping, tiger on her prey, jumping out of her seat to speak for me. Yes mam, No mam, no difference to me.. as long as I don't die for a crime someone else committed. Does she practice any other kind of law.. other than capital murder?
Stunning incompetence on the part of Bennett; he should be fired immediately after this case is dismissed. Voters, remember Jay Gaither at election time - he's responsible for this prosecutorial fiasco. Damn right justwatchin', Lisa Dubs is THE criminal defense lawyer in the region.
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