Cathy Russon
@cathyrusson
·
3h
#RobertDurst - Court is set to resume at 9:15 pt/12:15 et. Last week the state played previously recorded testimony from Dr. Peter Wilk, Kathie Durst's surgery professor. That video will continue this morning.
Continuing with the recorded testimony of Dr. Peter Wilk, Kathie Durst's surgery professor
Dr. Wilk testified that in March of 1981, Kathleen Durst has missed rounds during her surgical rotation and was failing the class. He said Kathie told him she was in the middle of a divorce and there was violence involved.
Dr. Leslie Hain is called to the stand. She treated Kathie Durst in the emergency room in Jan. 1982 after Robert Durst had allegedly punched her.
Jan 6, 1982 (25 days before Kathie Durst disappeared), Dr. Hain saw Kathie in the E.R. Note: 29 yo female w/history of blunt trauma to left side of face - hit in lest side of face, complained of pressure. (Patient allegedly slapped with hand)
Dr. Hain is done testifying. Before calling their next witness, the state asked for a sidebar. Parties are back in the room off the courtroom - this is where they are conducting sidebars for this trial.
Some jurors stand up and stretch during this sidebar.
After sidebar judge calls for the morning break.
Courtroom view: The 19 jurors are spread out in the gallery where public would normally sit. this is why cam is pointed at the ceiling when jurors go in and out. Our photog stands on a stool behind his camera that's on a 6plus foot tripod as to not capture jurors
Friend of Kathie Durst now on the stand. Janet Finke-Shaw originally met Bob & Kathie when she was hired to clean the South Salem cottage. She became friends with Katie.
Janet Finke-Shaw testified she had moved to Calif. She had flown back for a visit. She was at the Durst's. There were friends over, some of them went out to a club in Manhattan, building owned by Durst corp.
Janet says when she returned from the club, (this is in 1981) she heard a fight, people gasped, "Peter (Schwartz) had been kicked in the eye." Everyone was shocked.
Janet Finke-Shaw also testifies to Kathie telling her about the time she climbed out her window to get away from Bob and she told her Bob had a gun.
Finke-Shaw testifies under cross-exam that Bob Durst always treated her kindly.
Bob told her even though the marriage was strained he didn't want to divorce Kathie.
12pm PT on the dot means lunch! Only in L.A. courts have I experienced the lunch break is from 12-1:30 without exception. Trial resumes 1:30pm pt/4:30pm et
Court is back in session following the lunch break. Janet Fincke-Shaw is on the stand under cross-examination.
Fadwa Najamy has been on the stand this afternoon. Her sister Gilberte was a good friend of Kathie Durst. She said the night Kathie disappeared she came over to their house, Kathie was upset, "frantic"- her and Bob had a fight.
Fadwa Najamy has been under cross-examine by Dick DeGuerin for awhile now. Her body language shows her frustration.
After jury left Chesnoff renewed their argument to allow testimony in re: NY investigation & 2 witnesses that said they saw Kathie on Feb. 1. Judge has previously ruled it's unreliable (elevator op recanted later) @LawCrimeNetwork
1/6
Chesnoff argued Fadwa Najamy's testimony 'opened the door' by leaving the jury with the impression that the NY investigation into Kathie's disappearance was incomplete and/or poor, when in fact there was an extensive investigation. @LawCrimeNetwork
2/6
DeGuerin got into the argument saying Najamy testified authorities told her "they couldn't prove she was in Manhattan". DeGuerin says "we know that's false. We know they developed 2 witnesses that saw her in Manhattan on Feb. 1" @LawCrimeNetwork
3/6
Lewin to the judge: Do you need to hear from me on this? Judge: No, I've ruled on this multiple times. Chesnoff: The only reason we brought it up again is they put somebody on to talk about it. @LawCrimeNetwork
4/6
Chesnoff: It's like fightin' with one hand behind your back and on one foot.. At some point they cannot go to the precipice & talk about the NY investigation & not expect us to ask you to let us tell the jury there existed exculpatory evidence @LawCrimeNetwork
5/6
Judge: We're beating a dead horse here. It's inadmissible hearsay. It's highly unreliable and the issue of whether or not the police did a good job is no impression me as an opening. @LawCrimeNetwork
6/6
Trial continues tomorrow.
link:
https://twitter.com/cathyrusson
But then how to explain his agreement that the person who wrote the note was the murderer?
