This is the portion of the WCNC blog that covers CP's testimony. Take a look at 4:50 p.m. I don't like the sound of it. I hope it's not a set-up as an explanation for what might come out later.
Jurors Tuesday saw a 2022 police interrogation video of Palmiter, who is charged with not reporting the disappearance of his stepdaughter.
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4:15 p.m.
Palmiter said around 2008 he met Diana Cojocari through a website called Global Ladies. He said they talked for two years before meeting in Moldova, Cojocari's home country in Europe. During that trip, Palmiter said he did not propose marriage but did gift Cojocari a promise ring.
Palmiter told the court Cojocari there was a communication gap after their visit. He said he thought Cojocari was no longer interested in him. During that time, Palmiter said Madalina was born after Diana Cojocari had a relationship with another man in Moldova.
Around the time Madalina was one year old, Palmiter said Diana Cojocari reached back out to him.
Palmiter testified Diana and Madalina Cojocari came to the United States in Dec. 2015 after a lengthy immigration process. Diana Cojocari and Palmiter were married the following month, he testified.
4:25 p.m.
Diana Cojocari lied to Palmiter about her age, Palmiter testified Tuesday. He said her dating profile said she was born in 1979. According to questioning from his attorney, Palmiter learned Cojocari was born in 1985 when they filed for a United States marriage license.
Palmiter said Diana Cojocari was very religious and actively participated in a prayer group. Cojocari would frequently include Madalina and Palmiter in her prayers, he said.
4:30 p.m.
Palmiter described Diana Cojocari as a "very protective mother." He recalled the mother frequently holding her daughter at night as the young girl adjusted to life in the new country.
4:40 p.m.
Palmiter described their relationship as spiritual and said they never had a physical relationship.
Diana Cojocari and Palmiter only shared a bedroom for a year, he said. The mother would frequently sleep in her daughter's room.
In questioning from his attorney, Palmiter described the relationship as "companionship." He denied there ever being any domestic violence in the household.
Palmiter said mother and daughter would frequently worship together. Palmiter said he tried to learn their faith-based practices but Diana Cojocari would frequently defer him to self-teachings.
4:45 p.m.
Diana Cojocari was a stay-at-home mother and wife, according to Palmiter.
“I go to work. Diana would make sure that Madalina got up and ready for school. She was trying to get Madalina to learn how to pack her own lunch," Palmiter testified. "She was 100% in charge of Madalina’s education and everything."
Madalina would ask Palmiter to go for bike rides or trips to the park because her mother was busy with prayers, Palmiter testified.
At night, Cojocari would loudly pray inside the house, Palmiter said.
"With my door closed, it sounded like almost screaming at the top of her lungs," he said.
Palmiter said the behavior "escalated" over the years since Diana Cojocari first came to the United States.
4:50 p.m.
"Burning things make you raise your eyebrow," Palmiter said while testifying about Diana Cojocari's backyard rituals, where she would burn objects.
Palmiter also said Diana Cojocari would conduct a particular faith-based ritual where she would use a knife to cut the invisible strings from demons around Madalina and Palmiter.
5:00 p.m.
The trial adjourns for the day with the questioning of Palmiter expected to continue Wednesday.
Palmiter's defense attorney Brandon Roseman calls for a mistrial. The motion was denied. Roseman took issue with a witness sitting in the courtroom during the testimony of another witness.
Superior Court Judge Matt Osman explained the issue is not likely to be a conflict because he was not exposed to any new information. Both witnesses were law enforcement experts testifying about data and not witnesses with conflicting stories, Osman explained.
