Kyle Zoellner's preliminary starts same day as Lawson's funeral; both sides respectful in court except for 4 Lawson supporters

Kyle Zoellner, the suspect charged with the death of HSU student David Josiah Lawson has his preliminary scheduled this morning.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees and DDA Jessica Watson.

Zoellner is being represented by Deputy Public Defender Luke Brownfield and Deputy Public Defender Kelly Neel.

Today is also the funeral for Lawson scheduled in Riverside.

The courtroom was packed with family and supporters for Zoellner and supporters for Lawson.

Zoellner's mother, had her head down, while his girlfriend described Zoellner being beat up and being unconcious. His father putting his arm around his wife.

Both sides very respectful except for four of Lawson's supporters, speaking loudly, sighing and making rude comnents during Zoellner's girlfriend's testimony, this by some white guy such as "Were you drunk?" They eventually shut up towards the last half an hour. They were better in the courtroom as far as talking in the afternoon after this post but not outside the courtroom.

This white dude, lurks aggressively, standing next to me while I was having a private conversation with a HSU student about another court case, got confrontational with me during the break after seeing this post and when I told him to leave me alone, started whining this was public space, then Verbena, his wife and two African American women got involved trying to intimidate me, making a scene, and trying to make it about my pointing my pen to them. I did not start the interaction, that guy did and he couldn't even hold his own while the other four drama queens surrounded me as I was trying to listen to the bailiff to walk away.

One of these women is the same African American woman who attacked Zoellner's mother without provocation outside the courtroom, last time, before arraignment. I did not write about it letting it go as emotions before arraignment. Despite warning from the bailiff today, they kept staring at me and Zoellner's family in tge courtroom with the same African American woman mouthing off to me, at the end of the day, itching to create another scene.

Then one of these women, the same one who verbally attacked Zoellner's mother deliberately walked out and walked near me when I was standing far away on the other side of the hallway, letting them exit first.

It is a shame that due to the PC environment in Humboldt, no one is challenging the obnoxious behavior of these troublemakers. The only race and drama card is being played by people not related to the victim, seeking to get their 15 minutes of fame in a tragedy where one young man lost his life and another whose life is in jeopardy because of these drama quuens being disruptive and trying to sway the judicial process.

Verbena is not related to Lawson; her interest in this case is evident to those in Humboldt County familiar with her anti police agenda. What other reason would she have to take notes? I highly doubt the white couple are related to Lawson or the two African American women. If they were related or close to Lawson they would be at his funeral today; not creating drama in the courtroom/courthouse. So what is their agenda?

When you are trying to write down details and report, especially in such an emotional case with tensions in the community, drama does not help the person you allege to be supporting. If these four people, include Verbena, had any couth or class, they would respect Josiah and his family by keeping their behavior respectful and not trying to get attention for themselves.

Maybe these four are pissed that today's testimony by the People's own witnesses, under oath, shows a whole different story than what certain people are spinning in most of the media. Looks so far from the first punch was thrown at Zoellner and that Zoellner and friends tried to defend themselves and even try and leave at one This isnt as black and white as certain party goers want it to be.