Truthful Politics

The state and defense attorneys rested their case today after 100 plus pieces of evidence was admitted and numerous witnesses and experts gave testimonies for the past 6 days. If I was on the jury I would have a very hard time deciding this case and Indo not envy them for the task ahead.

When the scene was first discovered by people on their way down I-540, until evidence was gathered, there were numerous cars and people on the scene. I was really not able to discern from testimony whether the scene was really kept pure from beginning to end. Tammy Malinowski, of the City County Bureau of Investigation (CCBI) sketched the scene and evidence, she also video-taped the path of the evidence leading to Latrese Curtis' body. However, there was a discrepancy in the sketch as it showed the cell phone was located differently than what the video showed.

In regards to Robert Reaves' (the accused) car it was not shown that Robert Reaves was actually behind the wheel. His boarder Steven Randolph also had access to the car and keys anytime he wanted to use it. Even though the car was reported on the scene other witnesses also said it was a white cargo van, one even stating that it had no windows on the side.

Shawn Lilyquist, also of the CCBI processed three vehicles; Latrese Curtis, Steven Randolph, and Robert Reaves. She collected evidence from Mr. Reaves vehicle but did not bag and tag all things in his car. She stated there was a screwdriver that she did not collect. All prints in Latrese and Robert's vehicles were there own. Here is where it gets sticky... over nine months later Robert Reaves' vehicle is again processed, but this time by Alfred Sternberg of the Wake County Sheriff's Office of Criminal Investigation. This time he found a knife in the rail under the back seat, he also found a fingernail, numerous papers, and another screwdriver among other things. Which made me wonder why didn't Ms. Lilyquist of the CCBI see and gather these things also. The defense asked Mr. Sternberg if he could tell if there was blood on any of the items and he stated that he could not tell. He was asked again by Mr. Kelly, Robert Reaves' attorney, and he said that he 'did not see anything overtly like a blood drop.' Defense then asked 'you collect not on your observation but on what SBI can find? Whereas, Mr. Sternberg replied that it is 'certainly an objective and his is to collect and preserve...' At no time did the defense ask if the vehicle was at all times in a secure area, at least not that I heard, I had made a notation ...if vehicle was secured from February '08 until October '08?

There were quite a few other things that made flags go up for me but I will not state them all here until after the jury has submitted a verdict. Tomorrow is closing arguments so we should hear from the jury sometime tomorrow.