After the controversy over allowing Warmus to present his own 3-D presentation of the crime in court, Judge Gaul agreed to let the jury visit the crime scene:
From ABJ Twitter feed:
Judge calls lawyers to side bar. Going over jury trip to parking lot via bus. They will enter E. 9th entrance and just observe scene.
Judge said he prefers no jury view. But allowing visit at behest of defense.
If judge doesn't want the jury to view the crime scene, why did he allow it? Who is running the trial, the judge or the defense?
No court reporter will be there with jury. Judge will tell them nothing once there. Pyle says view is needed because of 3D video dispute.
Pros. Cleary wants jury to be dropped off and just let them "wonder around." Then return to court.
Pros. Brockler announces the state is resting its case. Gaul telling jurors of bus ride to parking lot. They should note distances, entrance
About an hour later or so later
Jury is not in courtroom. They have been sent home after jury view. Prosecutors ticked; tell me Warmus acted out shooting during jury view.
Warmus will run 3D images from laptop while on the witness stand. State objecting at this unusual request. Gaul says he will monitor.
Judge Gaul objected to use of the 3D images during prosecution phase of the trial, but allowed them anyway and he's still going to allow it during defense? He says he's not happy with it but will let them do it anyway?
Seems odd that the prosecution is objecting to Warmus doing his own 3D version of the story and letting jurors go to the crime scene, Gaul agrees, but is letting defense do it anyway. Again, it almost seems as though the defense is controlling the trial.
I'm beginning to think, if this continues, Warmus may get off or at least end up with a mistrial or hung jury.
In the meantime, Plain Dealer is leaking info that the FBI is investigating the county coroner's office over possible hiring irregularities.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/10/fbi_investigating_hiring_of_pa.html
Earlier in the week the PD went to the trouble of bringing this up in an editorial, linking it to the Warmus trial
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/10/suspicions_of_corruption_raise.html
Hiring practices have nothing to do with the coroner's testimony, but it almost seems as though the PD is fanning the flames on behalf of Warmus' defense. Warmus' father really must have friends in high places.
