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JJ Trial

There was a case a few years ago when a male was arrest and sentenced to two or three years in prison for having sex with a minor. Now on the surface you would think why the hell did he not get more years than that or why is he even out. He served his time but will be listed as a child molester for the rest of his life. Now the truth is the minor went into a bar got drunk hooked up with this guy and they got busy. She was 16 but looked 20+ and of course was in a bar being served so you would assume as he believed she was an adult, turn out that was not the case but his life is pretty much over being labeled a child sex offender. What does this have to do with this case?, it takes two to tango and not everyone is telling the truth, but on the surface everyone is quick to blame the guy. I thought it use to be "innocent until proven guilty", not guilty until proven innocent. Her statements and actions just don't add up. Is JJ totally innocent, probably not but a rapist, no.
 
grizare#1 said:
There was a case a few years ago when a male was arrest and sentenced to two or three years in prison for having sex with a minor. Now on the surface you would think why the hell did he not get more years than that or why is he even out. He served his time but will be listed as a child molester for the rest of his life. Now the truth is the minor went into a bar got drunk hooked up with this guy and they got busy. She was 16 but looked 20+ and of course was in a bar being served so you would assume as he believed she was an adult, turn out that was not the case but his life is pretty much over being labeled a child sex offender. What does this have to do with this case?, it takes two to tango and not everyone is telling the truth, but on the surface everyone is quick to blame the guy. I thought it use to be "innocent until proven guilty", not guilty until proven innocent. Her statements and actions just don't add up. Is JJ totally innocent, probably not but a rapist, no.

The last sentence was perfectly stated. :thumb:
 
A full day of testimony by people that didn't seem to know much. I can't guess the effect on the Jury, although the Defense set some traps, to be sprung later.

The original source of most of this testimony is ... Doe.

There has to be some sympathy for Doe, although a fully public humiliation at the Forester's Ball in front of 1500 people certainly would affect most normal social people adversely. She had been made to look like a fool, in as public a setting as possible, by JJ. She really had gone off the deep end that evening, and I don't know of a girl/woman/Coed who would not have been thoroughly humiliated by that action which was entirely self-inflicted.

The Defense is already threading the testimony, "one way or the other, UM is not going to have a quarterback."

However, today, the Defense lit the fuse: Doe claimed she hadn't consumed any alcohol on her intake questionnaire. She's not going to look good when that is explored later: she lied to the Counselor about that. She didn't disclose the previous PTSD diagnosis on the intake questionnaire. The puzzler will be, when then offered the diagnosis, why she didn't tell the Counselor she had already been diagnosed with PTSD. That's the third "lack of candor" in this witnesses testimony on the part of Doe. As though "getting the diagnosis" would allow medical affirmation to others of the "rape." This witness opened up three problematic misinterpretations that the Defense will fully exploit in its case in chief, because they are all significant, go the issues of basic honesty, and support a trial theory of manipulation of people and records to obtain support for a given "narrative" that Doe was aggressively working to create.

This witness will be shown, ultimately, to have practically speaking bought Doe's version of the Brooklyn Bridge, and was manipulated up one side and down the other, and this testimony, these admissions, will come out in Doe's own words. And that will be devastating if the Jury is beginning to view Doe as manipulative, because that will be clear and indisputable evidence that she was.

The PTSD diagnosis itself will be argued on closing as "odd" in the second place because at the time it was made, the Counselor's technical qualifications were limited to a degree in Asian Studies. It wasn't clear without seeing some of the records placed in evidence, but the Counselor may have missed the prior diagnosis in the school records by the sloppy procedure of not reviewing them.

Directly, however once again the Jury completed the day with another odd take on Doe left ringing in its ears, one that may have undone the whole day for the State:

"Paoli: You would expect her to avoid clothes she wore that night?

"DC: Yeah.

"Paoli: She wore them for months."
 
I find it interesting that almost none, and perhaps none, of these support people and witnesses, actually know what occurred that night (even as told by the accuser at trial). Some know virtually nothing about what happened. I believe Dean Morin knew only of some kissing, but nothing about taking off clothes, fondling the crotch, grinding, what was said, etc. They weren't aware of the various texts (until long after they had been supporting the accuser as a victim). They weren't aware until more recently of various lies and omissions of the accuser, some of which are quite significant (the fist in the vagina told to the examining nurse). These people have taken at face value what the accuser told them, i.e. that she was raped, and now they are testifying at trial.

Most of their testimony is about how upset the accuser was and has been and how her behavior has changed. Other than confirming that the accuser says she was raped and has been very emotional at times, none of this is really relevant to what occurred in the bedroom, what was said when, and what message the accused was given. I don't think anyone is disputing that the accuser has said she was raped, and was and is upset. Perhaps this testimony will have a big influence on the jury, and win the day for the prosecution. I have some concerns in that regard. However, the most important issues, in my view, are what occurred in the bedroom (as well as the forensic evidence) and what message was communicated to the accused (did the accuser encourage the accused, go along with and even cooperate with the sex, fail to effectively communicate anything to the contrary, and allow her actions to trump any verbal communication that she really didn't want to have sex; I wonder if this is a "no, slight no, yes (by action), yes (by action)" situation, followed by regret. Most of the other testimony is background and context, although perhaps powerful at times. However, again, maybe the parade of counselors, nurses, deans and friends--often describing volumes of tears--will be what the jury focuses on. I suppose the jury may look at the simple case, i.e. she says she was raped, she told alot of people, she has cried alot and her behavior has changed, why would she lie about all this, guilty. To do this, the jury would have to overlook or ignore scores of holes in the case and multiple lies, omissions and odd behavior by the accuser, as well as what I assume will be the accused's exculpatory testimony. God help "man"kind, if every odd behavior, lie and omission of an accuser is to be excused by an expert saying victims do odd things. If the accused or the defense provides a reason for the accuser to have turned on the accused right away, in addition to what is already known (e.g., what happened at the ball), I would think this would have an influence on the jury.

I agree with most of the views regarding the many holes and problems in the case. The prosecution's case has a huge number of holes and problems. Paoli/Pabst are doing a very good job on cross examination to undercut the witnesses and their testimony on direct. However, I wonder if the jury is seeing or focusing on those things. By the way, my concerns about the jury are general, and are not the result of looking at them or trying to read any of their reactions. It will be interesting to learn what the defense has to say.
 
PlayerRep said:
uofmman1122 said:
I find it a little funny how so many people immediately jump to defend the quick hiring of the PI (legitimate or not), without admitting that it does actually look a little bad for JJ.

I mean, we've got people waxing poetic about how the accuser looks to the jury, but couldn't you at least also say this makes JJ look bad to the jury, too??

I'm certainly not saying JJ did hire the PI because he did it and was scared, but if we can concoct stories as for why Jane Doe did or didn't do a bunch of things, wouldn't it be fair to do so here, as well?? :|

Just sayin'...

It doesn't look bad. It's completely explainable. Why do you think it does? What's wrong with defending oneself against a university proceeding that may result in getting kicked out of school or off the team? Talking to her roommates and looking at the configuration of the house seems like a good idea to me. Plus, talking to the roommates has probably kept them from coming up with new testimony at trial.

Actually the PI looks to me like a nice bit of intimidation and harassment, just another way for JJ to say to the girl, "if you are going to press this I have the money to investigate everything about you, we will talk to all of your friends and family and run your name through the mud"
 
Cats2506 said:
PlayerRep said:
uofmman1122 said:
I find it a little funny how so many people immediately jump to defend the quick hiring of the PI (legitimate or not), without admitting that it does actually look a little bad for JJ.

I mean, we've got people waxing poetic about how the accuser looks to the jury, but couldn't you at least also say this makes JJ look bad to the jury, too??

I'm certainly not saying JJ did hire the PI because he did it and was scared, but if we can concoct stories as for why Jane Doe did or didn't do a bunch of things, wouldn't it be fair to do so here, as well?? :|

Just sayin'...

It doesn't look bad. It's completely explainable. Why do you think it does? What's wrong with defending oneself against a university proceeding that may result in getting kicked out of school or off the team? Talking to her roommates and looking at the configuration of the house seems like a good idea to me. Plus, talking to the roommates has probably kept them from coming up with new testimony at trial.

Actually the PI looks to me like a nice bit of intimidation and harassment, just another way for JJ to say to the girl, "if you are going to press this I have the money to investigate everything about you, we will talk to all of your friends and family and run your name through the mud"

I definitely did not understand why Jane Doe filed the TRO before that bit of information came out. Now it makes a lot of sense.
 
Cats2506 said:
PlayerRep said:
uofmman1122 said:
I find it a little funny how so many people immediately jump to defend the quick hiring of the PI (legitimate or not), without admitting that it does actually look a little bad for JJ.

I mean, we've got people waxing poetic about how the accuser looks to the jury, but couldn't you at least also say this makes JJ look bad to the jury, too??

I'm certainly not saying JJ did hire the PI because he did it and was scared, but if we can concoct stories as for why Jane Doe did or didn't do a bunch of things, wouldn't it be fair to do so here, as well?? :|

Just sayin'...

It doesn't look bad. It's completely explainable. Why do you think it does? What's wrong with defending oneself against a university proceeding that may result in getting kicked out of school or off the team? Talking to her roommates and looking at the configuration of the house seems like a good idea to me. Plus, talking to the roommates has probably kept them from coming up with new testimony at trial.

Actually the PI looks to me like a nice bit of intimidation and harassment, just another way for JJ to say to the girl, "if you are going to press this I have the money to investigate everything about you, we will talk to all of your friends and family and run your name through the mud"

Except 99% of people don't know her name even after this has gone to trial. Stop trolling.
 
Cats2506 said:
Actually the PI looks to me like a nice bit of intimidation and harassment, just another way for JJ to say to the girl, "if you are going to press this I have the money to investigate everything about you, we will talk to all of your friends and family and run your name through the mud"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
PlayerRep said:
I find it interesting that almost none, and perhaps none, of these support people and witnesses, actually know what occurred that night (even as told by the accuser at trial). Some know virtually nothing about what happened.

Most of their testimony is about how upset the accuser was and has been and how her behavior has changed. Other than confirming that the accuser says she was raped and has been very emotional at times, none of this is really relevant to what occurred in the bedroom, what was said when, and what message the accused was given. I don't think anyone is disputing that the accuser has said she was raped, and was and is upset. Perhaps this testimony will have a big influence on the jury, and win the day for the prosecution. I have some concerns in that regard. However, the most important issues, in my view, are what occurred in the bedroom (as well as the forensic evidence) and what message was communicated to the accused (did the accuser encourage the accused, go along with and even cooperate with the sex, fail to effectively communicate anything to the contrary, and allow her actions to trump any verbal communication that she really didn't want to have sex; I wonder if this is a "no, slight no, yes (by action), yes (by action)" situation, followed by regret. Most of the other testimony is background and context, although perhaps powerful at times. However, again, maybe the parade of counselors, nurses, deans and friends--often describing volumes of tears--will be what the jury focuses on. I suppose the jury may look at the simple case, i.e. she says she was raped, she told alot of people, she has cried alot and her behavior has changed, why would she lie about all this, guilty.

UMGriz75 said:
A full day of testimony by people that didn't seem to know much. I can't guess the effect on the Jury, although the Defense set some traps, to be sprung later.

The original source of most of this testimony is ... Doe.

My take on the parade of witnesses that all say virtually the same thing is they also say is that Doe either never mentioned Johnson's name, or only rarely, trying to establish that she wasn't obsessed with JJ, and this isn't revenge. I imagine that might have the most impact on the jury, although it cuts both ways because they also say she wasn't attention seeking, but the more people you bring to the stand the more it looks like she was attention seeking.

One thing I don't understand is why the defense is so fixated on whether she is responsible for getting O'Day and Pflugrad fired, or happy they were fired, and why the prosecution fights so hard to refute this. Assuming she was raped by Johnson, and Pflugrad and O'day put him back on the team, combined with Pflugrad's statement about Johnson's character, wouldn't it strengthen her case to admit she wanted these guys who supported a rapist over a rape victim fired? And how does it help the defense to keep bringing it up with every witness? Obviously a legal strategy that is over my head.
 
Grizbeer said:
One thing I don't understand is why the defense is so fixated on whether she is responsible for getting O'Day and Pflugrad fired, or happy they were fired, and why the prosecution fights so hard to refute this. Assuming she was raped by Johnson, and Pflugrad and O'day put him back on the team, combined with Pflugrad's statement about Johnson's character, wouldn't it strengthen her case to admit she wanted these guys who supported a rapist over a rape victim fired? And how does it help the defense to keep bringing it up with every witness? Obviously a legal strategy that is over my head.
I don't particularly follow it either. Given that they are on a trial clock, the Defense doesn't have time to waste. Given the caliber of Counsel, I doubt they are wasting it, and "something" else must be "out there."
 
BDizzle said:
Cats2506 said:
PlayerRep said:
uofmman1122 said:
I find it a little funny how so many people immediately jump to defend the quick hiring of the PI (legitimate or not), without admitting that it does actually look a little bad for JJ.

I mean, we've got people waxing poetic about how the accuser looks to the jury, but couldn't you at least also say this makes JJ look bad to the jury, too??

I'm certainly not saying JJ did hire the PI because he did it and was scared, but if we can concoct stories as for why Jane Doe did or didn't do a bunch of things, wouldn't it be fair to do so here, as well?? :|

Just sayin'...

It doesn't look bad. It's completely explainable. Why do you think it does? What's wrong with defending oneself against a university proceeding that may result in getting kicked out of school or off the team? Talking to her roommates and looking at the configuration of the house seems like a good idea to me. Plus, talking to the roommates has probably kept them from coming up with new testimony at trial.

Actually the PI looks to me like a nice bit of intimidation and harassment, just another way for JJ to say to the girl, "if you are going to press this I have the money to investigate everything about you, we will talk to all of your friends and family and run your name through the mud"

Except 99% of people don't know her name even after this has gone to trial. Stop trolling.

Not exactly true. Allot of people know her name here in Missoula. I do, and have absolutley no connection here.

but, yes bitchboy be trollin and I don't think hiring a PI had anything to do with intimidation or harassment.
 
Hiring a PI is a defensive tactic, and if you sense legal trouble coming, especially a sexually based offense then you are wise to seek legal counsel immediately.

We are living in the age of societal bias in favor of the accuser, where a charge made is a charge recorded and the burden of proof resting with the accused to prove innocence in all things sexual nowadays. Anyone who stands a chance to be convicted of a sexually based offense that will follow them for the rest of their lives and doesn't take any and all defensive action is a fool.
 
Probably will get lost in the shuffle here but Keila Szpaller's Cops and Courts article that they put up last night was pretty interesting to read.

http://missoularedtape.com/2013/02/20/more-observations-from-missoula-county-district-court/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The trial against Jordan Johnson resumed today, and here’s a link to reporter Gwen Florio’s story about new details in the rape case that have emerged.

As the trial marched on last week, moments of tension in the courtroom seemed to come up more frequently. We were able to see the different ways lawyers questioned witnesses and their varied responses.

The Lawyers

Friday, prosecutor Adam Duerk and defense lawyer David Paoli had a couple heated exchanges. Once after leaving a conversation with the judge, Paoli muttered something to Duerk, and Duerk turned to face Paoli and asked him what he’d said. The moment prompted Judge Townsend to tell the lawyers not to quarrel. At the end of the day, the lawyers went literally chest to chest. On the right rail with this latest story, see a photo captured by photo editor Kurt Wilson.

On the Stand

Witnesses have different tolerance levels for being questioned, and lawyers approach them with different strategies. Some tactics seem to be more effective than others.

The prosecution brought in a highly credentialed expert in victim trauma and sexual assault, and just hearing about his lengthy experience in the field took a while. He testified only about victim trauma in general, though; he was not allowed to review the specifics of this case and comment on them.
On cross examination, Kirsten Pabst challenged both the doctor’s credibility as a researcher and the lack of connection between his testimony and this case in particular. She launched in with a question about how the topic was personal for the doctor, wasn’t it? He immediately said, if she was referring to his abuse as a child, many factors led him to the field, and he’s now a 58-year-old man; his forthcoming and direct response seemed to temporarily take the wind out of her sails.

As a researcher and trainer, he testifies in many cases around the country, and for both sides, and his demeanor on the stand was 100 percent comfortable. The strategy to attack his experience and knowledge was interesting partly because he is so sure and adept as a witness in court under cross examination. The defense could have chosen to acknowledge his expertise, and then hammer away on his lack of knowledge about this case and any distinctions that set it apart from the norm.

Sometimes, an aggressive approach in cross examination obviously works well, and the witness visibly folds. Other times, a delicate handling of the witness can yield results for a cross examiner. The high school sweetheart and now close friend of the alleged victim took the stand for the prosecution, and he was visibly upset as he gave testimony. His emotional distress grew the more he talked.

Pabst was going to cross examine him, and by the time it was her turn to ask questions, he was in tears on the stand. Pabst greeted him with a question about how hard the situation was for him, and he agreed. She handled this witness with kid gloves, and the approach looked successful from the outside. She spoke to him quietly the entire time, and by the time she was finished, he had calmed, and she had elicited some information helpful to the defense.

The aggressive approach seemed to work on cross when Paoli questioned the nurse who examined the alleged victim. Unlike the expert researcher, the nurse probably doesn’t sit in a witness stand with any frequency. Much of her testimony was closed to the public because of the personal nature of the medical information the prosecution was going to share, and by the time we were allowed back inside, the nurse seemed to have crumbled under Paoli’s scrutiny. She often could not look at him when he asked questions, she looked down a lot, and she couldn’t remember answers or she offered defensive ones. The questioning was uncomfortable to watch on her behalf. She hadn’t botched the exam, according to her supervisor who testified immediately after, but she did not display confidence in her answers to Paoli.
Her supervisor swept into the stand and changed the energy in the courtroom. She was smart and confident, and you could see a tired jury becoming more alert. She even joked on the stand when Paoli in his cross examination handed her several papers, I think a copy of the medical report. She said something like, you put them in the wrong order just to mess with me?

The supervisor completely defended the exam, even a torn glove the defense has touted as evidence of a poorly done examination. When Paoli asked her about the glove, she said certainly an intact glove is recommended, but she has worked “in the real world” a long time, and she knows that if her nurse chose to proceed with the glove she had on, it’s because it wasn’t going to compromise the exam.
The jury has worn a poker face a lot of the time. Duerk for the prosecution is Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome, maybe in his 40s, and the jury includes several women who are in their 50s and older. At one point, he said something humorous, and many of the jurors giggled for a while, so he seems to have an ability to charm.

Paoli has their attention as well, but likely for different reasons. He is fiery in the courtroom and sometimes stormy to the judge. At times, the jurors closely watch Paoli as he asks questions, and sometimes, they pay more attention to him than they do to the witness in the stand.

Just now as the jurors left the courtroom for a break, Paoli beamed at them as they filed past him.

– Keila Szpaller
 
mtgrizrule said:
Jerry Punch said:
argh! said:
what kind of argument would o'day and pflugrad have? "they did not renew my contract because i did a shitty job leading the department, they fired me because they thought i did a shitty job leading the department"?

Engstrom is not a good leader, but he is not as dumb as Peter Fields. He doesn't have to tell anyone why he fired them and if he does, UM is going to lose a ton of money, more than they'll lose because of the JJ debacle.

Legal action or not, hard to believe their dismissals were coincidental with this mess. Just after Pflugrad voices his support for JJ, both are let go. In this trial it is revealed, the parents and accuser went to the school about what their actions are or will be. Shortly thereafter, these 2 great men are dismissed. Come on convince us that is coincidental, and this mess had nothing to do with their dismisses? Even if RE or the BOR don't answer the ?'s do you think Jim and Robin, will not say more after they are paid in full for what is left on their contracts? Why would O'day imply on his FB account a few times, in time things would be out in the open (or something like that)?

I can't imagine that Mr. O'Day or Mr. Pflugrad have any course of action against UM. I'm pretty sure the University lived up to it's obligations under their contracts. The U had no obligation to renew these contracts, thus I can't imagine how Mr. O'Day of Mr. Pflugrad could sue.
 
jagur1 said:
Twitter Link to follow trial? Seemed to have lost it on my computer.

https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=%23JohnsonTrial&src=hash" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
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