Third day of a rape trial.
Yesterday the 4 victims testified. Today, the jury heard from social workers who had done forensic interviews with them at various times.
The rapes were report in both Hamilton County (2 girls) and Cincinnati (2 boys) police jurisdictions. The detective for the former testified today, but the detective for the latter will take the stand on Friday, when the trial resumes.
Learned some remarkable aspects of the case.
1. When the Cincy detective approached the defendant about the 2018 accusations, the guy sorta got on his high horse and told her (in effect), why are you bothering me again, "I already went thru this before and I was cleared. So, did she only learn of the 2012 case from the flip attitude of the accused!?
2. During his testimony, it also came out that the accused man's ex-girlfriend, who was allegedly a party to some abusive incidents, is now in Dayton Correctional. Want to know why? She was convicted of manslaughter -- though they accused declared that it was murder (this statement was struck from the record, but I heard it) of her boyfriend.
3. Today, the defendant wanted subpoenas for two witnesses. One is an 11 year old victim, who was the weakest of the 4 witnesses, and his mother (who had a relationship with the accused, which was discussed in more detail on the 4th day, Friday).
He's taken an active role in building a case for himself. He also took transcripts of the social worker interviews with him -- after the staples were removed. He carried the transcripts in a yellow envelope, which he carried awkwardly behind him after getting handcuffed. The judge warned him not to share the documents with anyone else, such as a cellmate (!)
Plus, there are videos of the forensive interviews. The judge said the defendant could view them tomorrow (the trial is adjourned until Friday). But he said he didn't want to watch them unless the jury would see them. So he asks the judge. She says she doesn't know. He challenges her, how can you not know, it's your decision. She says that she will not decided because the interview videos have not yet been submitted as evidence.
4. The public defender agreed to issues the subpoenas for him. I gather that the defendant can't do it -- maybe because he's currently in jail (he shows up in black & white striped jumpsuit) or because he a potential danger. Anyway, after the jury had left, the public defender only agreed to process the subpoena if the accused said to the judge that "he is not my lawyer." I'm guessing that the lawyer doesn't want anyone mistaking him for the defense in this case.
Btw, the public defender was happy to see me. He joked that, since I missed the morning session, I would not be getting my full pay.
I hung around at the very end, chatted briefly with the prosecutor and detective. I probably could have chatted with the defendant as well -- now I'm wishing I had. How is he feeling? What's his sense of the trial? He seemed fairly composed again today, though he messed up a chance to cross-examine, it wasn't clear he had a real line of inquiry to pursue.
(Reminds me that yesterday, he tried asking a victim whether she realized what a serious impact her accusations could have on him, but he was ruled out of order by the judge.)
5. I also learned about how social workers conduct forensic interviews with victims of sexual crimes. They explained their training, that disclosure can be a gradual process, and precautions to not lead the child, e.g., by asking open-ended questions. Two social workers spoke with such care, calm, and professionalism that I began to tear up, not sure why. Maybe because they gave the youngsters a chance to tell what happened to them ... and to be treated with kindness....
https://www.facebook.com/hcgray/posts/10161753378555335
Yesterday the 4 victims testified. Today, the jury heard from social workers who had done forensic interviews with them at various times.
The rapes were report in both Hamilton County (2 girls) and Cincinnati (2 boys) police jurisdictions. The detective for the former testified today, but the detective for the latter will take the stand on Friday, when the trial resumes.
Learned some remarkable aspects of the case.
1. When the Cincy detective approached the defendant about the 2018 accusations, the guy sorta got on his high horse and told her (in effect), why are you bothering me again, "I already went thru this before and I was cleared. So, did she only learn of the 2012 case from the flip attitude of the accused!?
- Note: At the end of the 4th day, I asked the Cincinnati detective how she learned about the 2012 case, She said that it showed up in a records search because CPD has referred the case to Colerain (i.e., Hamilton County).
2. During his testimony, it also came out that the accused man's ex-girlfriend, who was allegedly a party to some abusive incidents, is now in Dayton Correctional. Want to know why? She was convicted of manslaughter -- though they accused declared that it was murder (this statement was struck from the record, but I heard it) of her boyfriend.
3. Today, the defendant wanted subpoenas for two witnesses. One is an 11 year old victim, who was the weakest of the 4 witnesses, and his mother (who had a relationship with the accused, which was discussed in more detail on the 4th day, Friday).
He's taken an active role in building a case for himself. He also took transcripts of the social worker interviews with him -- after the staples were removed. He carried the transcripts in a yellow envelope, which he carried awkwardly behind him after getting handcuffed. The judge warned him not to share the documents with anyone else, such as a cellmate (!)
Plus, there are videos of the forensive interviews. The judge said the defendant could view them tomorrow (the trial is adjourned until Friday). But he said he didn't want to watch them unless the jury would see them. So he asks the judge. She says she doesn't know. He challenges her, how can you not know, it's your decision. She says that she will not decided because the interview videos have not yet been submitted as evidence.
4. The public defender agreed to issues the subpoenas for him. I gather that the defendant can't do it -- maybe because he's currently in jail (he shows up in black & white striped jumpsuit) or because he a potential danger. Anyway, after the jury had left, the public defender only agreed to process the subpoena if the accused said to the judge that "he is not my lawyer." I'm guessing that the lawyer doesn't want anyone mistaking him for the defense in this case.
Btw, the public defender was happy to see me. He joked that, since I missed the morning session, I would not be getting my full pay.
I hung around at the very end, chatted briefly with the prosecutor and detective. I probably could have chatted with the defendant as well -- now I'm wishing I had. How is he feeling? What's his sense of the trial? He seemed fairly composed again today, though he messed up a chance to cross-examine, it wasn't clear he had a real line of inquiry to pursue.
(Reminds me that yesterday, he tried asking a victim whether she realized what a serious impact her accusations could have on him, but he was ruled out of order by the judge.)
5. I also learned about how social workers conduct forensic interviews with victims of sexual crimes. They explained their training, that disclosure can be a gradual process, and precautions to not lead the child, e.g., by asking open-ended questions. Two social workers spoke with such care, calm, and professionalism that I began to tear up, not sure why. Maybe because they gave the youngsters a chance to tell what happened to them ... and to be treated with kindness....
https://www.facebook.com/hcgray/posts/10161753378555335
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