State's last witness takes the stand
Good Thursday morning; although, it almost seems like Monday since we were off yesterday. Well, the prosecution says it has called its last witness. Pat Thorpe, one of Emily's best friends, was on the stand this morning. She testified without the jurors present for about an hour. Judge Cayer needed to hear her testimony to determine what portions the jurors could hear. Thorpe testified to four phone calls she shared with Emily in the last months of her life. Thorpe talked to Emily in August 2005. Emily said she wanted out of her marriage. She said Jerry called her old, stupid, fat and ugly, and that he said it so often, she was beginning to believe it. She said she was afraid of Jerry and he had a bad temper and belittled her in front of the employees on the dairy. In October, the ladies spoke again about Emily's marriage and how unhappy she was. Emily wanted out. She had a lawyer's number and planned to call her. However, neither of those phone conversations will be testified to in front of the jurors, Judge Cayer ruled.
What Pat could testify to - and has in the last 30 minutes - was about conversations in November and December 2005. In November, Emily said she spoke to an attorney and was getting out of her marriage. She said Emily said Jerry had a bad temper, that he was mean to her in front of the employees and a t home, and Emily said to Pat she felt she could leave now because Matt (Jerry's son) could protect himself - those were Emily's words, Pat testified. In December, the friends talked about Emily moving to Kentucky to be near her family. Emily was excited about the move. She said she wanted to move before the new year, but not before Christmas. Pat testified she found out Emily was missing the evening of Dec. 29. Jerry called to tell her. He asked if Emily was there, but Emily never showed up. Jerry again called Pat on Jan. 3. The judge allowed her to testify what Jerry said. The majority of their approximately 72 minute conversation was about other men. Jerry asked about a Bill - Pat said she never heard of him. Then he asked about Steve Pierce, a former husband of Emily's. He also mentioned credit cards, divorce and financial papers. Jerry reportedly said no one was going to take half of what he worked for all his life. Jerry then told Pat he would kill Emily if she came back to North Carolina or Sawmills, and that he'd break her neck if she came back to his home. He said no policeman could draw his gun fast enough to stop him. Pat testified she took notes during this conversation. Those were sent to authorities.
Pat is nervous, bless her heart. She even said so. She is the nicest lady. Always has helped me out for stories about Emily. I can't imagine being on the stand. It must be kind of scary, everyone watching you. She testifying about her best friend's death. She'll face the defense when we get back started. I better go. I don't want to miss anything.
What Pat could testify to - and has in the last 30 minutes - was about conversations in November and December 2005. In November, Emily said she spoke to an attorney and was getting out of her marriage. She said Emily said Jerry had a bad temper, that he was mean to her in front of the employees and a t home, and Emily said to Pat she felt she could leave now because Matt (Jerry's son) could protect himself - those were Emily's words, Pat testified. In December, the friends talked about Emily moving to Kentucky to be near her family. Emily was excited about the move. She said she wanted to move before the new year, but not before Christmas. Pat testified she found out Emily was missing the evening of Dec. 29. Jerry called to tell her. He asked if Emily was there, but Emily never showed up. Jerry again called Pat on Jan. 3. The judge allowed her to testify what Jerry said. The majority of their approximately 72 minute conversation was about other men. Jerry asked about a Bill - Pat said she never heard of him. Then he asked about Steve Pierce, a former husband of Emily's. He also mentioned credit cards, divorce and financial papers. Jerry reportedly said no one was going to take half of what he worked for all his life. Jerry then told Pat he would kill Emily if she came back to North Carolina or Sawmills, and that he'd break her neck if she came back to his home. He said no policeman could draw his gun fast enough to stop him. Pat testified she took notes during this conversation. Those were sent to authorities.
Pat is nervous, bless her heart. She even said so. She is the nicest lady. Always has helped me out for stories about Emily. I can't imagine being on the stand. It must be kind of scary, everyone watching you. She testifying about her best friend's death. She'll face the defense when we get back started. I better go. I don't want to miss anything.
posted by THE HICKORY DAILY RECORD at at
11:08 AM
3 Comments:
Ok.. now we know why law enforcement believed that Emily left. I would be nice if they could say we checked to see if any suitcases, clothes, or financial arrangements had been made by Emily to substantiate their belief that she left of her own accord.
From JM's blog though.. I'm not sure Jerry made any comments that many other people don't make when they are having domestic problems. I don't see how a jury could convict a man to die.. based on this one witnesses testimony. If this was the states "ace in the hole".. they should have called the game a long time ago.
What I'm wondering though is.. is it possible that these charges be dropped before the jury instructions? From what I understand he can't be charged again no matter what at this point. I guess the advantage would be to Jerry that he was actually never charged with the murder. I don't see any advantage to the state other than to save face.. they've already cost the taxpayers plenty.
Again. this isn’t evidence. More tugging at the heart strings fluff. If anything, for me it works against the prosecution’s case. If you just killed your wife, would you tell her friend how you’d like to kill her?
No. He made those statements because he was mad she ran off. I’ve told my husband I wanted to break his neck. We have all done something like that out of anger. Wouldn’t believing your spouse ran off with another person make you angry too?
And you know what I glean most from this testimony? Emily said she wanted to leave sometime after Christmas and before New Years. Low and behold, that’s exactly what happened. Doesn’t this fit exactly into the defense’s theory of the crime?
You know what is also interesting, Pat said she never heard of paramour Bill. There is however a love note from this man - meaning Emily was keeping secrets from her best friend. With that revelation, why couldn’t she have kept her plan to run off with a man a secret too?
Who cares who was cheating on who. It is so sad to think that a human being has been killed and the guilty party will most likely never be found or punished (depending on who really murdered Emily). Hey! Maybe we need to call in Bill Curtis from A&E and let them do a Cold Case Files show on this murder.
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