Hi guys,
This is Sharon, I am visiting CJ at her house right now and am using her computer. We just got back from lunch and so I thought I would post while I am here.
Well I see my sister in law Chrissy broke the bad news about the trial being declared a mis-trial. As Chrissy has told you, we are all extremly upset that this has happened. We were just down to the last 2 witnesses and than all the prosecutor had to do was give the closing arguments yeserday and we were home free. But we never got a chance to, because the judge decided that something said "The day before" by the prosecutor after one of the detectives that took one of the confessions was done testifying for the prosecution and was ready to be cross examined by the defense. It was than said that the witness was ready to be questioned by the defense about the VOLUNTARY confession. Now the key word there was VOLUNTARY, which the jury should NOT had heard. I guess it was not up to anyone to determine if it was voluntary or not. For all we knew maybe the police threatened his family if he didn't confess. I am sure that was not the way it was done, but that word should have never been heard by the jury. So after it was adjourned than the judge brings it up so right away the defender, she jumps on it. So the next day she was ready with her arguments of why there should be a mis-trial. Well our prosecutor argued and argued why there should not be a mis-trial and they even called in the boss and his boss too, but to no avail. I mean I don't know why the judge didn't just say something right after the statment was heard and instruct the jury to disregard that last statement and have the statement strickened from the record. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that would have been too easy, than the trial would have still been going on as we speak.
This judge really doesn't like us too very much. Especially since we went and appealed the right to have the confession heard during this trial. My daughter thinks this was already in his mind and so for the next trial we really have to watch our P's and Q's and make sure nothing gets said that would end in a mistrial.
As far as contacting the paper and letting them know about this farce of a trial. We really have to wait till the trial is all done and over with. We don't want to step on anyones toes and cause further dislike for us. Once this is over with than we will be free to do and say what we like.
So on April 2nd, it begans all over again for us. We will still have the same prosecutor, because we really like him think he did a great job and don't blaim him for what happened. I think the judge was determined from the get-go for this to happen and there was no avoiding it. We have talked to him and have all agreed that he will be on the case. But the good news is that the last prosecutor we had will ALSO be on this case. So we now get 2 prosecutors for the price of one. We like them both and feel they together will do a great job. We have a good repore with both of them and together decided we want them to try this case.
Chrissy will have to testify once again and I tell you guys, it brought each and everyone of us to tears to see her up on that stand crying her eyes out while she told her story of finding the van by the side of the expressway, that my brother drove that night to work. I cried so hard to see her sitting there while the prosecutor cross examined her. My heart went out to her, but you know guys, she did so well. When she was up there, we all were crying while we were listening, because it brought back all the memories of what happened that night to her. She was really quite amazing and I couldn't be more proud of her.
Anyways guys, I just wanted to fill you in a little bit more. Thanks for all your encouraging words through out all of this so far. We will continue to need your support because it is NOT over yet. But it will be soon. We will, like Chrissy said, fight for Rick because he is worth it and we love him.
I will talk to you guys again, thanks for being there my friends.
Love ya, Sassy Sharon
[This message has been edited by CJ (edited 02-15-2001).]