Different strokes for different folks, but I always know whether or not I am going to put my client on the stand before trial, and that decision does not change. When I do, I put them on first, then I have all the witnesses back up what they are going to say. Generally, I catch the Prosecutors off guard because nobody puts their client on the stand, so Prosecutors typically scramble furiously for their notepad to start writing their cross examination.
In this case, I may put him on the stand last because all these witnesses were great for the Defense. He can tie up all their loose ends.
I would have liked to see them go after the Stokes brothers a little more, although I don’t know how William’s lumber and scrap aluminum hauling trips fit into the timeline. I think Joan was given some privilege by the fact that she was dating the brother of the Sheriff on the case and she is a woman. What did the cops do to exclude her and her son? And it’s not like Kit hasn’t been telling everyone to investigate her. As if this is the first time they are hearing his defense.....