April 29, 2004

Update

Signalness gave media interviews saying that he heard the shots that were fired. But he did not hear the shots that were fired. In fact, he had no first-hand knowledge. The statements he made to the press were based on what he had heard in news accounts.

Schrunk is chastizing him for feeding into rumors and inaccurate information. He asks if the witness has any first-hand knowledge. "Just the facts that I've heard from the public."

And that's it for him. He is therebecause he was subpoenaed to be there.

Update

Next witness, a Mr. Epps, is not present, despite being served. They do have a written statement, but no taped statement, from this witness. They are trying to put his written statement on the screen.

Update

The written report is being read out loud. It's very difficult to hear. The witness in question had turned out to be in custody, which is where he was interviewed. He said that his cousin had been walking down the street and Perez gave him a ride. His cousin told him he last saw Perez going west on Fesseden.

The witness said his cousin said a police car passed them in the other direction and looked at both people in their car but did not turn around to folow them, but tought they might because one of them was not wearing a seatbelt. The witness was reluctant to give his cousins name, but did so. This cousin is the Brown who testified previously.

The witness said there was nothing to add, that he was not at the scene, and that he had simply related to the news media what his cousin had told him.

Update

Schrunk says the last two witnesses represent some of the problems the community and law enforcement face when trying to find out what happened in an incident such as this. He says it was felt that to not subpoena them would have left people wondering why they had been left out.

So ends today's session. Tomorrow's session is set to begin at 8:30 AM. An additional witness will testify, a training officer who was present when the jury went through a simulation. The medical examiner will testify. Sery will testify. And several witnesses feel "intimidated" (Schrunk says "real or perceived") and will testify in front of the jury, but not on television, and not in a public setting. These witnesses will be audio recorded in another room.

Schrunk says in response to someone in the courtroom that he has no evidence of any kind of actual intimidation, but these witnesses "feel they have valid concerns."

Schrunk says he fully intends to finish tomorrow, and wil not be adjorning early. If more time is needed, they will discuss whether to continue Saturday morning or Monday morning.

And with that, the jury has been led out and Day Two comes to a close.