GUILTY TX - Haruka Weiser, 18, found murdered, UT-Austin campus, 3 April 2016 *Arrest*

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Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 49m49 minutes ago
Kendall Crowns, employed at the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, has now taken the stand.

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 39m39 minutes ago
We're now looking at graphic autopsy photos. These first few photos are similar to the photos shown to the jury on the first day of testimony. Multiple members of the jury seem to be upset by these photos, which is not surprising.

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 21m21 minutes ago
We're done, I hope, with viewing the autopsy photos. The medical examiner just explained that the sexual assault mentioned in the indictment likely occurred before death.
 
Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
We are now moving on to witnesses the prosecution is calling who will speak to mitochondrial DNA testing of a hair. Calling APD employees who processed evidence briefly back to the stand to introduce evidence including a DNA swab from Criner


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 3h3 hours ago
First up: we'll hear about the mitochondrial testing of the piece of hair found on a tshirt with Criner's belongings. This testing should show the DNA. Remember: this piece of evidence was almost thrown out last week.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 3h3 hours ago
Witnesses are explaining/introducing evidence. Two quickly in and out the door.
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Lindsey Bynum, a forensic scientist with DPS is called to testify. She will be talking about trace analysis on hairs


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 3h3 hours ago
Next up: Lindsey Bynum, with the Texas Dept. of Public Safety. She collects and preserves evidence. Bynum is explaining the process of what she does when she's presented a hair. Can determine what area of body the hair is from, if a root is present, and if it's human or animal.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3h3 hours ago
Bynum discussing the process of analyzing hair. She can determine race but not sex and whether hair is public or from somewhere else on the body.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Bynum tells prosecution she identified the hair in question to be a head hair and then forwarded it on to other labs for testing


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
Bynum did a quick analysis of the hair found at the scene. She said her tests indicated the hair was from a head and then forwarded the hair to other laboratories to be tested. I imagine we'll be hearing from people in those laboratories later this morning.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 3h3 hours ago
Bynum says a person's mitochondrial profile is inherited from his or her mother. Bynum says they not only tested the hair found, but also processed samples for Criner and Weiser. Basically, these served as a way to perform a comparison.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Bynum said she began this testing in August of 2017 but the most recent test of the evidence she did was July 13 2018. Lawyers confer quietly with the judge after this point is brought up. Then defense continues questioning Bynum


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3h3 hours ago
Bynum says some fibers found on ligature around Weiser's neck are dissimilar to fibers found in backpack but others were visually similar. She's off the stand.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Bynum also tested a fiber found on the nylon strap Weiser was strangled with and found those fibers to be visually similar to the fiber from a backpack also taken into evidence. However she could not offer an opinion on whether that fiber actually came from backpack


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
Bynum said there were fibers on the ligature around Weiser's neck that were "similar" to those found on the backpack in Criner's possession. There were no similar fibers found on the green eagle t-shirt, which prosecutors say Criner was wearing the night of Weiser's death.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 3h3 hours ago
Bynum says some fibers found on ligature around Weiser's neck were dissimilar to those of the backpack but said some found on ligature were visually similar. Next: Sarah Copeland, a forensic DNA analyst--she joins us via skype.
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
The prosecution is calling Sarah Copeland via Skype, she is a forensic DNA analyst who did mitochondrial DNA testing of hair. Someone else from her lab will also testify in person later today


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3h3 hours ago
We now hear from Sarah Copeland, DNA analyst in State College, Pa. Her testimony is being streamed into the courtroom through Skype.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
Haruka's father just walked back into the courtroom. Copeland discusses the role a root plays on a piece of hair. Basically, if there isn't a root, then they are limited to a mitochondrial analysis. She says if samples are old/degraded, it's more likely to find mitochondrial DNA.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
****NOTE: Tweets discussing mitochondrial DNA should say Copeland, not Bynum. Coming back to the courtroom after a three-day weekend is proving tougher than expected.****


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
Copeland said she tested the mitochondrial DNA of the hair at the scene against Weiser and Criner. She hasn't said yet if they matched. P.S. Mitochondrial DNA testing only looks at the mother's side of DNA. This means that brothers and sisters will have the same test results.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Brief moment of laughter in courtroom as Copeland who is testifying via Skype has to stand up and wave her arms to keep automatic lights on in the room in PA she is testifying from


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Copeland tested hair evidence from scene as well as reference samples from Criner and Weiser. Interesting, the hair evidence is extensively washed and crushed with a teeny tiny mortar and pestle to release DNA


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 3h3 hours ago
I did not drink enough coffee this morning - two cups - to sit through testimony on Science stuff.

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Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 3h3 hours ago
Copeland explains that mitochondrial DNA testing is the only DNA testing that can be done to hair samples. The DNA testing that was previously excluded by the judge was a completely separate processes, which was all done to DNA samples that contained a nucleus

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3h3 hours ago
Copeland explains that if hair is taken in as evidence and does not have a root, analysts are limited to doing a mitochondrial analysis on that hair. One of the hairs that was taken as evidence in this case came from a Post-It note but the root was not attached

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Copeland’s lab was sent underwear, a t-shirt, tank top, socks as evidence in this case but did not open the evidence or test them because they were not asked to. Her lab did test hairs from face and head of a hammer in this case. Next witness should speak to those


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 2h2 hours ago
Copeland said she wasn't asked to analyze any of the clothes from the crime scene. Copeland says the clothes were sent to her by places that analyzed with STRmix testing (which analyzes nuclear DNA and was excluded by the judge), while she only analyzes mitochondrial DNA.
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Next witness is Gloria Dimick, who also works with Mitotyping Technologies. She is testifying in person. She has brought a a power point to help jury understand mitochondrial DNA. It’s starting to feel like science class


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
Next up: Gloria Dimick, shes a forensic DNA analyst who works for the same company as Copeland.

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
She's showing the courtroom a powerpoint on mitochondrial DNA in hopes to help clear up some confusion for the jury (and this reporter).


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 2h2 hours ago
Now the court is getting a pretty dry biology lesson about the basics of DNA. I'm definitely getting flashbacks to the DNA pre-trial hearings earlier this month.

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Dimick’s lab tested a hair piece of evidence from a shirt. They found the DNA profiles were the same as Haruka Weiser’s. Therefore Dimick said Weiser and her maternal relatives could have contributed this sample, but says that Criner could not have contributed this hair


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
In hair analyzed as part of investigation, Forensic DA analyst Gloria Dimick says Haruka Weiser and her maternal relatives could not be excluded and Meechaiel Criner and his maternal relatives could be excluded.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
@KVUE In the hair analyzed, she said Haruka Wesier and relatives could NOT be excluded and Meechaiel Criner and relatives could be excluded. Dimick testifies that they can exclude 99.89% of the North American population as having this particular mitochondrial DNA type.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 2h2 hours ago
Dimick said she CAN EXCLUDE Criner's mitochondrial DNA as belonging to a hair found on a t-shirt (which prosecutors say belonged to him) but CAN'T EXCLUDE Weiser. Dimick also said she could also EXCLUDE 99.98% of the general North American population.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Mitochondrial profile of 99.89 percent of the North American population could be excluded from that hair, Dimick testifies.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
The testimony we are hearing is related to mitochondrial DNA, which we get from our mother. Mitochondrial testing is not as desirable as nuclear DNA testing because it cannot de-convolute samples from two sources.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Haruka Weiser’s father is back in the courtroom listening to this. He is seated two people down from Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore who is also listening in

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Dimick explains mitochondrial DNA testing is “your last opportunity to get DNA information from a sample” in cases where there isn’t enough info for a nuclear DNA profile or where evidence has been degraded. She keeps emphasizing she’s not an expert in nuclear DNA analysis


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Defense is bringing back up images of bloodied bra found near Weiser’s body and plaid boxer shorts, seems to be questioning why those weren’t tested for DNA as well. Dimick says those are not items they’d typically test with mitochondrial DNA testing
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2h2 hours ago
Jury is excused for recess. Judge hopes to get to medical examiner’s testimony next. Tells jury he & attorneys have lots to talk about, seems to be referencing to objections defense brought up earlier & the need to decide whether to admit the *advertiser censored* videos found on the tablet


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
We're taking a brief morning recess and will return with testimony from the medical examiner who performed Weiser's autopsy. Judge tells jury to be prepared for a longer lunch break than usual as lawyers work through complex issue.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
Judge says we should here from the medical examiner next. But first, a mid-morning recess.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 2h2 hours ago
After the current break, we’re going to hear next from the medical examiner before breaking for an extended lunch.

During lunch, the judge will decide whether or not to admit the violent pornographic video from the tablet, found where Criner was living, into the trial.

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
As @meganmenchaca13 tells me, the complex issue is related to violent *advertiser censored* found on a tablet discovered in Criner's room at LifeWorks. The state wants to show it to the jury. The defense obviously does not.
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Now on the witness stand is Kendall Crowns, the Deputy Medical Examiner with the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office. He worked on Haruka Weiser’s autopsy 4/6/2016


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Next up: Kendall Crowns of the Travis County Medical Examiner's office. He's gonna tell us he performed the autopsy on UT student Haruka Weiser.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
We're back. As expected, Kendall Crowns is up next. He's a deputy medical examiner with the Travis County Medical examiner's Office. He says he's done roughly around 10,000 autopsies.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
We will be looking at some of the photographs from Weiser’s autopsy. Defense objected to some of them but that objection was overruled


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 2h2 hours ago
Autopsy photos are coming. Jury not looking too excited about this.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2h2 hours ago
Haruka's father is not in the courtroom. It sounds like they are about to show the photos from the autopsy. State says photos depict how the body looked when it was brought into the office and after it had been cleaned.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 1h1 hour ago
We're now looking at graphic autopsy photos. These first few photos are similar to the photos shown to the jury on the first day of testimony. Multiple members of the jury seem to be upset by these photos, which is not surprising.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Courtroom is being shown some graphic, upsetting images of Weiser as the medical examiner’s office received her. She has extensive bruising on her body, lacerations to her head, and the ligature she was strangled with still wrapped tightly around her neck


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
The nylon strap is pulled into a slip knot or lasso, Crowns says. More photos of the knot on Weiser’s neck show it was VERY tight


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
There's no real value in tweeting details of what's shown on the autopsy photos. It's terrible stuff. Weiser was beaten badly in the head, eyes, lips. And then of course the ligature wrapped tightly around her neck.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
The images are extremely graphic and upsetting. Crowns is pointing out different injuries. I will NOT be tweeting details of the photos--I don't see any value to that. She was beaten badly, especially in the head, eyes, and lips. The ligature is wrapped tightly around her neck.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Observers in courtroom are crying watching these photos of Weiser’s body


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
People have started crying in the courtroom viewing the images. Crowns shows images that he says are evidence of sexual assault.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 1h1 hour ago
We're done, I hope, with viewing the autopsy photos. The medical examiner just explained that the sexual assault mentioned in the indictment likely occurred before death.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 1h1 hour ago
Crowns found Weiser’s cause of death to be strangulation with blunt force injuries to the head. There’s a lot to take in here, taking notes and will Tweet more soon


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Laceration on ring finger showed no bleeding, meaning it came after Weiser was already dead. Theory from investigators is assailant tried to steal her ring.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Crowns says Weiser was probably unconscious in 10 to 15 seconds upon the application of the ligature and dead within three to five minutes. Sexual assault occurred while she was still alive.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
Crowns says the injuries show that Weiser was still alive when she was sexually assaulted. He says she died from strangulation with blunt force injuries to the head.


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 1h1 hour ago
Crowns says there was no real scratching or tearing around the neck. This lines up w/what Det. Tyne said when he said there was no evidence that she could fight for her life. Tyne said he guessed the ligature either rendered her in her attacker's control or made her unconscious.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 1h1 hour ago
Haruka Weiser was 5 feet, 125 pounds, Crowns said.. Criner, accused of her violent death, is 6 feet and - I'm guessing here - 170 to 180 pounds.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 58m58 minutes ago
Weiser's cause of death: Strangulation with blunt force injuries to the head.

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Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 55m55 minutes ago
Breaking for lunch until 1:30 p.m. While jury is eating, judge will decide whether to admit into evidence violent *advertiser censored* found on computer or tablet discovered in Criner's LifeWorks room.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 55m55 minutes ago
The jury has been dismissed for lunch break, but attorneys are still in the courtroom to discuss the admittance of violent pornographic video. This video was found on a tablet which was in the homeless shelter that Criner was staying in when he was arrested by police.



Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 52m52 minutes ago
Jury is dismissed for lunch recess. Judge says he hopes to be ready to go again at 1:30. Says there are some things he needs to work through--this is likely the "violent *advertiser censored*" found on a tablet or computer in Criner's LifeWorks room.



Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 50m50 minutes ago
Prosecutors say items they will provide are all from the tablet; says it's roughly 30 minutes. The judge will look over this during lunch before making his decision.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 46m46 minutes ago
Judge is back to evaluating whether to admit violent pornographic videos found on a tablet in the place Criner was arrested from. Roughly 30 mins of video. Judge says he will view the videos over lunch and get back to the attorneys


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 44m44 minutes ago
Violent *advertiser censored* was extracted from Nextbook tablet found in Criner's room. So was, according to prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez, a writing authored by Criner, who apparently posted online and asked for feedback. Topic of writing unknown to media. Judge will review over lunch break.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 35m35 minutes ago
We’ve broken for lunch until 1:30. Not sure what will be discussed in the courtroom if the judge rules NOT to admit the videos. If he rules to admit the videos, I imagine that will be a significant portion of the rest of today’s trial.
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 11m11 minutes ago
While we’re on a break here’s more details from the Deputy Medical Examiner’s testimony: he talked about serious bruising to Weiser’s head. He believes these would have to have been made with separate blows to her face, at least 3 to 4.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 11m11 minutes ago
Crowns said the blunt force injured Weiser sustained could have come from the rocky area she was found but they also could have come from being hit with an object. Bruises on her body were consistent with falling to the ground and being hit forcefully


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 10m10 minutes ago
Crowns said bruising on Weiser appears to be from non consensual sexual assault. He added it appears Weiser was alive at the time of the assault


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 8m8 minutes ago
Crowns said that when someone is strangled they lose consciousness after 10-15 seconds and die after 3-5 minutes.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 6m6 minutes ago
After defense questioning, Crowns adds that there was no evidence that Weiser tried to pull nylon strap off her next. That aligns with testimony from APD detective earlier who said he didn’t believe Weiser had any chance to fight back against the person who strangled her
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Hair testing, cause of death surface in Day 5 of Criner's murder trial
Medical examiner expected to testify

"AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Day five of Meechaiel Criner's capital murder trial started with testimony from a forensic scientist who analyzed the hairs and fibers taken as evidence in the case...."

Hair testing, cause of death surface in Day 5 of Criner's murder trial
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 7m7 minutes ago
A reminder Judge Wahlberg said he’d review over lunch the violent *advertiser censored* videos from a tablet found at the Life Works shelter during lunch. State wants to introduce as evidence to show motive. Defense does not want them admitted
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Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 23m23 minutes ago
Lunch break is over but before we begin again, attorneys for both sides are meeting with the judge in his chambers, presumably to discuss the *advertiser censored* video the state wants to admit into evidence.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 10m10 minutes ago
We're back and Judge Wahlberg might be ready to make a decision on whether to admit as evidence four discs containing cartoon images of *advertiser censored*. One involves woman attacking monster and monster sexually assaults her. "There's no realism involved here," judge says


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 7m7 minutes ago
The *advertiser censored* has been excluded. Wahlberg says videos are graphic and would be more prejudicial to Criner than valuable to prosecution.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 3m3 minutes ago
Judge viewed the pornogroahic videos on the laptop. Said they were animated and of a fantasy nature “there is no realism involved here”


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 8m8 minutes ago
The judge just said that, after viewing the contents, the violent pornographic videos WILL NOT be included in the trial. He said they did not prove identity or intent, basically because the videos did not have any relevance to the crime. He said the need was "pretty minimal."


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2m2 minutes ago
Judge decides NOT to admit these videos as evidence because they do not show a signature offense w/distinctive characteristics and because. Judge also says there is no need to use this to prove intent or motive

Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 2m2 minutes ago
“The only really contested issue in the case as I see it at this point is identity,” Judge says as he denies the admission of this evidence


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 8m8 minutes ago
The prosecution also planned to introduce writing by the accused (it's unclear about what). The defense objected because there was no search warrant for those writings. The judge overruled those objections.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 8m8 minutes ago
Wahlberg admits into evidence piece of writing taken from tablet found in Criner's room at LifeWorks youth shelter. We'll see what that's about once the jury is seated.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 4m4 minutes ago
BUT judge does admit one piece of evidence Defense objected to: writings of Criner’s, though they were private writings they are admitted on the grounds he intended to publish them
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Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 4m4 minutes ago
We start the afternoon with more testimony from medical examiner Kendall Crowns, who is on and off the stand in about 60 seconds. State needed to clarify the device used to kill Weiser by strangulation. It was the ligature.

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 2m2 minutes ago
Two quick testimonies: one from Crowns to clarify that strangulation was the cause of death. Then Dr. Thomas Weiser took the stand to identify the glasses his daughter Haruka wore. Points them out in a few different photos.

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 5m5 minutes ago
Haruka Weiser's father, Dr. Thomas Weiser, takes the stand for the second time this trial. We heard from him last Wednesday.

Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 59m59 minutes ago
Weiser's father, Dr. Thomas Weiser, is back on the stand. We're viewing multiple photos of Haruka in her glasses, which Thomas Weiser is identifiying for the jury.

Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 4m4 minutes ago
With Dr. Weiser on stand, jury shown several pictures of Haruka Weiser in glasses. Her dad said she owned only one pair of prescription lenses. Prosecutors trying to eliminate any questions about ownership of the glasses found at scene of crime. They say they belonged to Criner.
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Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 55m55 minutes ago
Thomas Weiser simply identified Weiser's glasses. Now we're hearing from Manuel Fuentes, a current investigator with the Travis County District Attorney's Office and former police officer. During Weiser's death, he worked with major crimes and forensics of mobile phones


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 51m51 minutes ago
Next up: Manuel Fuentest, investigator with Travis County district attorney's office. He's a cell phone extraction specialist. Curious to see where this goes.

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 49m49 minutes ago
Next up: Manuel Fuentes, an investigator w/the Travis County District Attorney's Office. He examines & extracts data from cell phones. Since witnesses said they didn't recover Haruka's cell phone (& assume someone tried to destroy it), we'll have to wait & see where this goes.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 41m41 minutes ago
Fuentes pulls out Nextbook tablet found in Criner's room. Word document was found on external thumb drive, but apparently not on tablet itself. Judge Wahlberg says - I think - "that's a problem," and calls attorneys to the bench. Jury sent home and told to return at 9:45 a.m.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 43m43 minutes ago
Today's trial has ENDED early, in the middle of Fuentes' testimony. As soon as Fuentes started talking about the flash drive he found near the tablet, the defense attorney shot up from his chair. He has some clear objections to this, so the jury was excused and told to go home.


Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 38m38 minutes ago
Judge grants defense motion for continuance until tomorrow morning. We are done for the day.


Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 35m35 minutes ago
... in a turn of events the judge has dismissed the jury for the day. I’ve stepped out of the courtroom to write but will tweet more updates soon


Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 39m39 minutes ago
"This is going to take us the rest of the day." Judge releases the jury for the day. He says they've "hit another bump in the road." The jury will return tomorrow morning at 9:30. As for the rest, the judge says to be here at 9 to try and iron things out.

Molly Oak‏Verified account @MollyAndAMic 36m36 minutes ago
Court will continue tomorrow morning. We are wrapped for the day. This "bump in the road" is referring to a word document that Fuentes said was found on an external thumb drive plugged into the tablet and not on the tablet itself.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 42m42 minutes ago
The discussions of issues (including issues concerning Fuentes' testimony) will begin tomorrow at 9AM, and the jury will be brought in at 10AM.
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How can this defense attorney seriously believe Criner didn't do this? He had her stuff, he's on video, his DNA was on her body
 
Vail said:
How can this defense attorney seriously believe Criner didn't do this? He had her stuff, he's on video, his DNA was on her body
Click to expand...
Oh I would imagine he does. But he got that DNA thrown out so the jury will never know about it before deliberations, which sucks. I still think there is enough admissible evidence to get a guilty plea but dna on her body would’ve made it a lot easier IMO.
 
Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 12h12 hours ago
Before the prosecution rests tomorrow, witnesses spent today discussing all of the remaining DNA evidence. My story explains what exactly this means in the trial for Meechaiel Criner, charged with capital murder in connection to Haruka Weiser's death.

Witnesses discuss remaining DNA evidence in Criner trial

Published on July 17, 2018

"Although most of the DNA evidence in the case against Meechaiel Criner was previously thrown out by the judge, the prosecution spent Tuesday discussing the remaining physical evidence....

During a pre-trial hearing in June, Judge David Wahlberg ruled to exclude the majority of DNA evidence from the trial because of flawed analysis techniques. Much of the hearing Tuesday was focused on testing done to the DNA that was not excluded by the judge, including fibers from the scene and a lock of hair....

After five days of presenting evidence in their case against Criner, the prosecution is expected to rest their case tomorrow, Wahlberg said. The defense will then begin to present evidence they believe proves Criner’s innocence until the trial concludes on July 20."

Witnesses discuss remaining DNA evidence in Criner trial - The Daily Texan
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Ryan Autullo‏ @AutulloAAS 44m44 minutes ago
Day 8 of Meechaiel Criner’s capital murder trial in the death of UT student Haruka Weiser will begin at some point this morning. Jury was told to be here at 9:30. Meantime, lawyers will meet with judge - maybe in chambers, maybe in open court - about digital text file dispute.


Megan Menchaca‏ @meganmenchaca13 49m49 minutes ago
The lawyers in this case are expected to meet privately at the courthouse by 9AM. They’ll be discussing many issues, including whether a document found on a flashdrive connected to a tablet in Criner’s room in the homeless shelter should be admitted.
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Alyssa Goard‏ @AlyssaMGoard 10m10 minutes ago
Yesterday the jury and attorneys were sent home early after some confusion about where some writings Criner made were located. The judge agreed to bring them into evidence. Here's a recap of what happened yesterday:

Hair testing, cause of death surface in Day 5 of Criner's murder trial (with clip)

Posted: Jul 17, 2018 12:04 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 18, 2018 05:18 AM CDT

"AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Day five of Meechaiel Criner's capital murder trial started with testimony from a forensic scientist who analyzed the hairs and fibers taken as evidence in the case....

Prior to the trial starting, Judge David Wahlberg decided to throw out major DNA evidence in this trial because of procedural errors in analyzing it at the Department of Public Safety Lab. Instead, most of the evidence the court has heard for the case against Criner has been circumstantial, trying to tie Criner to Weiser's murder and to the scene. ...

Pornographic videos

Throughout the trial so far, the attorneys have had differences of opinion over what evidence should be admitted. Those discussions came to a head Tuesday as the state wanted to admit the contents of a tablet found in the locker of the LifeWorks Shelter room that Criner was arrested from. The defense objected. ...

Later the state called an investigator with the Travis County District Attorney's Office to the stand who explained the writings are in fact contained on a flash drive that was attached to the tablet, not the tablet itself. The defense attorneys were surprised by this piece of information. With that, the judge adjourned court early in the afternoon Tuesday so the attorneys could straighten out the details.

Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore explained that the state planned to rest their case Tuesday but will likely rest on Wednesday instead because of this timing change. Judge Wahlberg has expressed multiple times he wants the attorneys to have this trial wrapped up by the end of the week. ..."

Hair testing, cause of death surface in Day 5 of Criner's murder trial
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