Previous post can be found HERE.
GUEST ENTRY by DAVID IN TENNESSEE!
This is a guest entry by our long-time contributor David in TN. Sprocket
February 28, 2019
Oh Thursday, February 28, 2019, Judge Walter Kurtz denied Lemaricus Davidson’s bid for a new trial in the Christian-Newsom torture murder case.
Because of the heavy publicity the case received locally, it would have been expected the defense would request a change of venue. In most states, this means moving a trial to another city. In Tennessee, an outside jury is brought in. For the other trials for this case, juries were bused into Knoxville from Nashville, Chattanooga, and Jackson.
Since the defense asked for a Knox County jury, and rebuffed the presiding judge when he tried to talk them into an outside Knoxville jury pool, the defense was not supposed to be able to appeal on this issue.
At the January hearing, Davidson's new legal team, who specialize in capital cases, tried to do exactly that.
"The judge shot them down."
Judge Kurtz ruled Davidson "is not entitled to the benefit of hindsight. The fact that a strategy does not work does not make the lawyer ineffective."
The judge found Davidson and his lawyers made the wrong decision on their own. Davidson's attorneys testified at the hearing they hoped jury selection would drag on and a plea bargain would result.
The jury was seated on the first attempt.
The best opinion based on legal precedent was this appeal would fail and it did.
T&T's complete coverage of the Christian-Newsom Torture Murder Case
Monday, March 4, 2019
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Stephanie Lazarus In Her Own Words (Part IV, 03/03/1985)
T&T EXCLUSIVE
Stephanie Lazarus In Her Own Words (Part IV, 3/3/1985)
In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was murdered in her Van Nuys home.
23 years later, in 2009, LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus was arrested for the crime. Lazarus was convicted of first degree murder in 2012, a trial I covered from gavel to gavel.
Early in her LAPD career, Stephanie kept a diary of her daily patrol rounds.
This diary entry is from March 3, 1985, 34 years ago today. At the time, Stephanie was a patrol officer assigned to the LAPD’s Hollywood Division.
2100 – 0430
HWD
VICE TRICK TASK FORCE
3-3-85
Well this will be my first time working the trick task force. First thing Ofcr H--- who was in charge did was take all the girls pictures, myself, Patti C---, Linda P---, Michelle Ba---.
Then we had roll call. The PED unit was also there. They gave everyone their assignments. Then everyone put in $2.00 for pizza. Then we went and had Code 7 until 2230.
Tonight they used the Directors Guild, Sunset and Hayworth.
We didn’t actually start working until 2300. P--- went first, then Ba---, C--- and me.
The first guy I got was a man walking down the street. He asked me if I was working. Then he wanted a blow job for $25.00. I said OK let’s got to my place and Security arrested him. He was an Engineer.
NOTE Security is about 5’ from where the girl stands. One of the ofcrs was playing like a bum sweeping the sidewalks with a palm tree, it was funny.
After you arrest a guy you go in the back, get his ID, and write up a face sheet, arrest report and booking slip. Then when PED gets a few guys they take them to the Station to book them.
Just about every guy who stopped me asked if I was a cop. On my next turn 3 guys drove off and the 1 I got wanted a straight fuck for $40.00. This guy was mad at me because he asked if I was a cop and I said no. He was a butcher.
Well my next 2 times out were pathetic. I must [have] got turned down by 8 guys, all who thought I was a cop. One approach I tried that one of the guys suggested was to cuss at them. Well that didn’t work and Sgt. H--- didn’t like it.
All the other girls had gotten 5 arrests. I had only 2, but I went out once more. I had this Oriental stop for me, they're supposed to be the easiest. He wanted a fuck for $20.00. I got him pretty quick.
At least I didn’t feel too bad. We finished up about 0330 and went back to the Station.
NOTE At 0200 we had our pizza break. I got a ride back with 5 of the guys, Bo---, W--- and 3 other ofcrs. Well it was one of the guys last night so he wanted to chase a drag queen. We went to Highland and Franklin and chased one. It was kinda funny, we’re tearing down the streets and this thing is running for its life.
The work was easy and fun. Time went by quick. I was disappointed in how I did, not so much how much the susp offered but the time I was cussing at them. It’s not like me and the guys running the task force seemed mad at me. I don’t think they’ll ask me to do it again. I’m sure I’ll have to ask them.
This was the first day of my day watch. I am off on 3-4-85 and I’m having my nose surgery on 3-5-85. I’ll be out for a few weeks.
My friend Matthew McGough's book, The Lazarus Files: A Cold Case Investigation, will be released on April 30, 2019. You can pre-order his book on Amazon HERE.
The previous diary entry can be found HERE.
The next diary entry can be found HERE.
Stephanie Lazarus In Her Own Words (Part IV, 3/3/1985)
In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was murdered in her Van Nuys home.
23 years later, in 2009, LAPD Detective Stephanie Lazarus was arrested for the crime. Lazarus was convicted of first degree murder in 2012, a trial I covered from gavel to gavel.
Early in her LAPD career, Stephanie kept a diary of her daily patrol rounds.
This diary entry is from March 3, 1985, 34 years ago today. At the time, Stephanie was a patrol officer assigned to the LAPD’s Hollywood Division.
2100 – 0430
HWD
VICE TRICK TASK FORCE
3-3-85
Well this will be my first time working the trick task force. First thing Ofcr H--- who was in charge did was take all the girls pictures, myself, Patti C---, Linda P---, Michelle Ba---.
Then we had roll call. The PED unit was also there. They gave everyone their assignments. Then everyone put in $2.00 for pizza. Then we went and had Code 7 until 2230.
Tonight they used the Directors Guild, Sunset and Hayworth.
We didn’t actually start working until 2300. P--- went first, then Ba---, C--- and me.
The first guy I got was a man walking down the street. He asked me if I was working. Then he wanted a blow job for $25.00. I said OK let’s got to my place and Security arrested him. He was an Engineer.
NOTE Security is about 5’ from where the girl stands. One of the ofcrs was playing like a bum sweeping the sidewalks with a palm tree, it was funny.
After you arrest a guy you go in the back, get his ID, and write up a face sheet, arrest report and booking slip. Then when PED gets a few guys they take them to the Station to book them.
Just about every guy who stopped me asked if I was a cop. On my next turn 3 guys drove off and the 1 I got wanted a straight fuck for $40.00. This guy was mad at me because he asked if I was a cop and I said no. He was a butcher.
Well my next 2 times out were pathetic. I must [have] got turned down by 8 guys, all who thought I was a cop. One approach I tried that one of the guys suggested was to cuss at them. Well that didn’t work and Sgt. H--- didn’t like it.
All the other girls had gotten 5 arrests. I had only 2, but I went out once more. I had this Oriental stop for me, they're supposed to be the easiest. He wanted a fuck for $20.00. I got him pretty quick.
At least I didn’t feel too bad. We finished up about 0330 and went back to the Station.
NOTE At 0200 we had our pizza break. I got a ride back with 5 of the guys, Bo---, W--- and 3 other ofcrs. Well it was one of the guys last night so he wanted to chase a drag queen. We went to Highland and Franklin and chased one. It was kinda funny, we’re tearing down the streets and this thing is running for its life.
The work was easy and fun. Time went by quick. I was disappointed in how I did, not so much how much the susp offered but the time I was cussing at them. It’s not like me and the guys running the task force seemed mad at me. I don’t think they’ll ask me to do it again. I’m sure I’ll have to ask them.
This was the first day of my day watch. I am off on 3-4-85 and I’m having my nose surgery on 3-5-85. I’ll be out for a few weeks.
My friend Matthew McGough's book, The Lazarus Files: A Cold Case Investigation, will be released on April 30, 2019. You can pre-order his book on Amazon HERE.
The previous diary entry can be found HERE.
The next diary entry can be found HERE.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Michael Thomas Gargiulo, Pretrial Hearing 47
The previous post on this case can be found HERE.
UPDATE 3/12: See below & edited for typos. Sprocket
March 1, 2019
This is a short post to let T&T readers know that I attended the pretrial hearing today. Judge Fidler denied the defense non-standard 995 motion to dismiss the case. Jury selection will start with jurors receiving the jury questionnaire on March 19, 2019.
I hope to have a full update on today's proceedings by next Tuesday. I was not able to obtain documents today and hope to get them by Monday.
There is the possibility that while jury selection in the Gargiulo case commences, I will be covering a civil case in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
March 12, 2019
I'm still trying to get a copy of the defense non-standard 995 motion, supplemental non-standard 995 motion as well as the defense response to the people's 1101(b) motion. As soon as I obtain these documents, I'll update everyone on what happened at this hearing.
More to come....
Michael Thomas Gargiulo
UPDATE 3/12: See below & edited for typos. Sprocket
March 1, 2019
This is a short post to let T&T readers know that I attended the pretrial hearing today. Judge Fidler denied the defense non-standard 995 motion to dismiss the case. Jury selection will start with jurors receiving the jury questionnaire on March 19, 2019.
I hope to have a full update on today's proceedings by next Tuesday. I was not able to obtain documents today and hope to get them by Monday.
There is the possibility that while jury selection in the Gargiulo case commences, I will be covering a civil case in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
March 12, 2019
I'm still trying to get a copy of the defense non-standard 995 motion, supplemental non-standard 995 motion as well as the defense response to the people's 1101(b) motion. As soon as I obtain these documents, I'll update everyone on what happened at this hearing.
More to come....
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