I have always thought that whole giant hooplah about "police check your ex's new partner" was pretty obviously squared at Rebecca in a way to make her look as evil as possible, and thus more culpable in Max's death. That's my opinion of why that happened, no matter how positive the outcome of it may end up (because, really, it's a good idea after all). There's a lot of hatred and bitterness on both sides, which is pretty much understandable in light of events. But Dina did put the blame for Max's death on Rebecca, I think blind Freddy could see that. So that's a pretty large motive, and one that can perhaps be supported enough by evidence, in Dina's behaviour and words, to convince a jury that it was *the* motive. The evidence will be in the recordings of Dina talking about Rebecca, and maybe witnesses who heard her talking, in the days after Max was hurt and then died.
Adam Shacknai.. I am pretty sure he'd do whatever Jonah told him to do. I'm not sure about his motive, actually -- if he was SO upset by Max's accident and thus enraged with Rebecca that he'd want her dead, for example, why wasn't he leaping out of bed to rush to the hospital, or to go do useful things that a family in crisis might need done, as a family member ought.. rather than you know, spending his first waking moments watching *advertiser censored* and rubbing one off. eta: If indeed that happened at all.. but I might say more about that later.
So I can't see the same level of rage in those actions, because I don't see the same level of concern for Max.. but I do think he had a hand in Rebecca's death and most certainly in the staging of that death to resemble suicide.
BBM. I agree with all of this. I think motive will be a key area of focus during depositions to establish what Dina's "feelings" toward Rebecca were, both during Jonah and Rebecca's relationship, and after Rebecca's death. Motive doesn't equal guilt, of course, but in a circumstantial case, it's part of the total picture of evidence that can't be ignored. In this particular lawsuit, I think it's critically important.
IMO, Dina's behaviors during both time periods are very indicative of the depths of her negative feelings toward Rebecca. The behaviors AFTER Rebecca's death are the most telling, IMO-- and point to "justifying" Dina's ongoing very negative feelings toward Rebecca, even in the face of no evidence of wrong doing.
Such as the "bitter ex-wives stalking bill" she tried to rally support for-- based only on a single shoplifting charge. (That appears to be a completely dead issue, made even more unlikely, IMO, with Dina being named and involved in the WDS just as the legislature is set to reconvene after the new year.) There are certainly cases of child abuse and murder that might prompt such legislation, but IMO, there just isn't anything documented-- nothing at all-- in Rebecca's care of Max that would justify legislation being based on his accidental death. Max's death just has not been substantiated at the level of child abuse or murder, despite what Dina may think. So it appears very disturbing and unbalanced that she would try to frame it in a way to rally support for a new law, IMO.
And the very disturbing (IMO) premise upon which she created her non-profit-- that her son was "unsafe"--that uses profile examples of children horrifically abducted and murdered (and not by the partners of their ex) as "comparables". The insinuations toward Rebecca made by exploiting these horrifically murdered children on that website as "comparables" to her son are very clear to anyone with a small amount of knowledge of the case. Very, very disturbing, IMO-- and I think a jury would see it that way, as well.
All of this behavior, IMO, will be thoroughly explored in her deposition, along with presenting discovery evidence. None of it paints Dina in a good light, or even a neutral light, toward Rebecca, IMO. We also have to remember that there is almost certainly more discovery that we won't even hear about-- interviews with hospital personnel and others, etc. It will not be hard to establish what Dina's feelings toward Rebecca were, both before and after Rebecca's death
IMO, Dina has to overcome a long history of her behavior toward Rebecca. Behavior that, IMO, is far beyond that of most bitter ex-wives. It is not direct evidence of murder, of course, but also cannot be easily dismissed or ignored. I think it's going to be explored pretty thoroughly in her deposition.
IMO, I think Dina's deposition will end up going beyond the "one day of 8 hours" guideline in the federal rules of civil procedure. I think attorneys will be able to justify asking the court for more time. I think Adam's depo could probably be done in one day-- he has very little history with Rebecca to explore that we know of. Nina's could probably be done in one day, too, IMO. Nina's only connection to Rebecca that we know of is thru Dina. Dina's deposition will be quite lengthy detailed, IMO.
