Helicopter crash damages trial starts
In U.S. District Court in Camden, Trump’s lawyers argue that Agusta, the manufacturer of a helicopter that crashed Oct. 10, 1989, killing three executives of his New Jersey hotel casino business, are responsible for damages to the business. The suit alleges that the manufacturer knew that the rotors were defective, failed to take even minimal steps to correct the problem and thus defrauded Trump through wanton and outrageous misconduct. Trump says the crash caused his casinos to lose revenue, increased operating costs, including the price of hiring new executives. The heirs of the victims received about $1.6 million from their employment contracts with Trump. While Judge Berry expresses skepticism about the case, Trump’s lawyers cite a 1950 New Jersey Supreme Court decision that reads:
of course an employer…is free to maintain any (lawsuit) against the seller of an article for breach of a warranty of its fitness
Augusta’s attorney:
[L]ook past Trump’s claim of economic damages at what this really is . . . a wrongful-death action
Berry gives the lawyers a week to prepare further arguments.
Defiant testimony at trial
At the trial, Sterling, challenges the sale of the Clippers, says he’s mentally sound. He claims the doctors that are declaring he has Alzheimer’s disease are “hired guns.” He claims a bad memory about some of the controversial remarks that he is accused of, and he also says he can top the $2 billion dollar offer for the team by $10 billion by selling the TV rights to Fox and winning the antitrust suit filed against the NBA. As Sterling’s outbursts and comments continued, the judge tries to regain control of the situation:
Go back to answering questions rather than making somewhat entertaining comments.
His lawyers challenge the authority of Shelly Sterling, under a family trust, to cut a deal for the team with former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Bombing suspect’s friend guilty
Azamat Tazhayakov is found guilty of conspiracy and faces up to 25 years in prison for removing a backpack from bombing suspect Tsarnaev’s room at a college dorm. Tazhayakov’s mother sobs loudly in the courtroom as the jury’s decision is read. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Capin said Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev, another friend of Tsarnev, removed the backpack after the FBI released images of Tsarnaev and his brother as suspects in the 2013 marathon attack. Tazhayakov’s attorney Matthew Myers:
We understand that the judge is under a certain amount of pressure in the case to put it to this defendant because of the backdrop of the case.
Judgement date set
After the prosecution and defense end their final arguments Judge Thokozile Masipa announces she will give a verdict on 11 September 2014.
Pleads not guilty
Williams enters a not guilty plea to robbery charges filed by a photographer who accused Williams of stealing her camera.
Hires private investigators
Cosby pays six-figure fees to a team of private investigators, in an effort to find information to discredit his alleged accusers. Source:
The strategy isn’t new and it’s quite simple: You say I’m a bad guy, well, let’s see what gives you the right to throw a stone at my house when your home is also made of glass.
Juror sues prosecuter
A member of the grand jury that doesn’t indict Ferguson police officer Wilson sues county prosecutor, McCulloch about the public’s impression of the grand jury’s inaccurate work. Grand juror:
I am seeking to speak out because the public’s impression of the grand jury’s work is not entirely accurate.
Granted immunity
Jenkins is granted immunity in the murder trial of fiance Hernandez. CNN legal analyst Paul Callan:
It allows the prosecutor to force her to testify in front of the jury without taking the Fifth. If she lies, she can still be prosecuted for perjury because a grant of immunity never (immunizes) someone against committing perjury on the witness stand.
Jury seated
A panel of twelve jurors and six alternates are chosen for Tsarnaev’s federal death penalty trial. Eight men and ten women make up the panel of jurors and alternates. Many potential jurors are dismissed after they stated they had already formed an opinion on Tsarnaev’s guilt or that they are morally opposed to the death penalty. Many others are excused because of their personal connections to the bombings: they have friends or family who were near the finish line when the bombs went off or they knew first responders who treated the victims.
Pleads guilty
Petraeus pleads guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, a misdemeanor, for showing his mistress Broadwell eight “black book” binders of classified material that included identities of covert operatives overseas and notes on his discussions with President Obama. He is eligible for up to one year in prison, but prosecutors will recommend a sentence of probation for two years and a $40,000 fine.
Boat note
Jurors are shown photographs of a blood-stained, hand-scrawled note written in pencil and speckled with bullet holes inside the boat Tsarnaev was captured in. Tsarnaev appears to decry U.S. actions in Muslim countries and says he is jealous of his brother because he is dead and now in paradise. Prosecutors consider the note a confession and say it refers to the motive for the attack.
I do not mourn because his soul is very much alive. God has a plan for each person. Mine was to hide in this boat and shed some light on our actions…The U.S. Government is killing our innocent civilians but most of you already know that. As a M (bullet hole) I can’t stand to see such evil go unpunished, we Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all…Now I don’t like killing innocent people it is forbidden in Islam but due to said (bullet hole) it is allowed.
During cross-examination of a bomb technician who investigated the scene, Tsarnaev’s lawyers established that all the bullet holes were from shots coming into the boat when police fired. The officer said no bombs, guns or weapons of any kind were found inside the boat.
Judge disallows some testimony
Hernandez’s trial judge disallows some testimony from a Glock employee who claimed that surveillance video showed Hernandez was carrying a gun after the murder. The judge says the jurors may still consider the portion of the Glock employee’s testimony where he identifies the black object in Hernandez’s hand as a gun based on the back strap, but the jurors may not consider testimony about other characteristics, including a trigger guard and front strap. The defense says the object could have been a TV remote.
$25 million bail set
Judge Ronald S. Coen sets the rapper’s bail at $25 million. Prosecutors had argued that the bail should be set at $25 million because of Knight’s past criminal record, citing police reports showing past links to robberies, assaults and battery. After hearing this, Knight collapses and is taken to the hospital.
Removed evidence from home
Jenkins testifies that, at Hernandez’s request, she removed a box from their basement the day after the killings. Prosecutors believe the box may have contained evidence or even the murder weapon. Jenkins said she didn’t look inside the box, nor did she ask Hernandez about its contents. Jenkins drove around the area, looking for a place to dump the box. She said she doesn’t remember which trash bin she threw the box into, explaining that she was nervous at the time. Her testimony contradicted what she had told a grand jury.
Fires lawyer
Knight complains to judge about being confined to a wheelchair before firing his lawyer, David Kenner. Knight doesn’t give a reason for wanting to replace Kenner. Judge Ronald Coen asks Knight if he wants to fire his lawyer. Knight replies:
Kenner is fired.
Witness balks
Cle “Boan” Sloan, who describes himself as a “non-active gang member,” balks at giving testimony that would incriminate Knight, repeatedly saying he did not recall events. Prosecutors say Knight traded punches with Sloan through the window of his vehicle before putting the truck into reverse, knocking Sloan and Terry Carter, to the ground. They say he then pulled forward to run over both men. Carter, 55, later died. Sloan, 51, suffered a badly mangled left foot and head injuries.
I’m no snitch and I will not be made to be a snitch. I will not be used to send Suge Knight to prison.
Asked by Deputy DA if he could identify Knight as she pointed to him in the courtroom:
That doesn’t look like Mr. Knight.
With no testimony, attorneys read from a transcript of a statement he gave police detectives that night.
Won’t face death penalty
Slager won’t face death penalty for shooting Scott. Charleston County’s chief prosecutor Scarlett Wilson:
Based on the facts revealed thus far, it does not appear South Carolina’s death penalty provision applies in this case because there are no statutory aggravating circumstances present.
Judge assigned
South Carolina’s Supreme Court assigns Judge Newman to have exclusive jurisdiction over the case against former officer Slager. A release on the Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson’s Facebook page reads:
Judge Newman shall decide all matters pertaining to this case, including motions to appoint or relieve counsel, and shall retain jurisdiction over this case regardless of where he may be assigned to hold court and may schedule such hearings as may be necessary at any time without regard as to whether there is a term of court schedule.
Penalty phase begins
The penalty phase in the Tsarnaev trial begins with jurors deliberating life without parole or death by lethal injection. Victims of the 2013 bombing are divided over the sentencing options. Harvard Law School professor, Nancy Gertner predicts:
He’s going to be on death row for decades. There will be multiple appeals. Looking at it realistically, he’s going to die in prison one way or the other.
Pleads guilty
Rudd pleads guilty to charges of threat to kill, as well as possession of cannabis and methamphetamine. A second threat to kill charge is dropped. The court summary states,
As a result of threats made by the defendant, the victim was genuinely very fearful for his safety.
Rudd’s lawyer states the primary charge
. . . essentially revolved around an angry phone call – that was it.