"I saw Bodhi and another inmate bickering"

Expecting the unexpected is par for the course in the Bodhi Tree trial. Today was the day that the last witness in People's case and the last witness in defense's case were called in the Bodhi Tree jury trial.

The morning started with the People calling their last witness in the Bodhi Tree trial. Well, not exactly. Hans Vedborg, the Humboldt County jail nurse was not available, so his testimony that was given previously was read to the jurors by DDA Jessica Watson. Both parties agreed to this; Ms. Firpo read her questions and Mr. Russo read the questions he asked in cross.

The transcript ended up confirming Jason Losey, Tyrel Brannon and Quention Williams' testimony. Times when meds are passed out and if insulin is given, there are additional times explains Losey remembering 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In his testimony Vedborg stated, "I saw Bodhi and another inmate bickering." Vedborg said that inmate was Panther aka Tyrel Brannon and what he over heard sounded like "putdowns" by Tree directed at Brannon.

Since Vedborg was near Brannon's cell, he could see Tree standing by Williams' cell but could not overhear that conversation. He said the TV volume is controlled so one can hear inmates more and sound does echo.

The defense called Katherine Truitt, a defense investigator, who works for the Public Defender. Ms. Holmquist questioned her about her interviews with Shane Goodrich, Ian Henry and Quentin Williams.

None of her interviews were recorded, there was no verification and her reports were based on her recollection and notes, something Ms. Firpo raised on cross. Ms. Firpo also asked questions about Ms. Truitt's background before working for the Public Defender was as a substance abuse counselor at Probation. Ms. Firpo got Ms. Truitt to admit that she had minimal training in interrogation and that her interview technique was not related to law enforcement training. Ms. Firpo also pointed out that Ms. Truitt's reports are paragraph long narratives yet she does not use shorthand.  Ms. Firpo brought up that William's attorney was not present and that Williams when he testified in court disagreed with Ms. Truitt that he was willing to talk to her and his interpretation of why Truitt was talking to him was different than Ms. Truitt.

Ms. Firpo brought up that Goodrich and Henry wanted to recant their testimony once they saw Ms. Truitt's report which is Ms. Truitt's own testimony and Ms. Truitt said it was because they were afraid of being "snitches" and their safety on the streets.

A point that Ms. Firpo and the prosecution witnesses said over and over again, yet they testified in court and defense's cross of their motives was more aggressive and lengthy. Ms. Firpo asked Ms. Truitt, that these witnesses were not forthcoming to law enforcement when interviewed the same day or couple days after the crime occurred yet they were willing to testify paragraphs to her.

Ms. Firpo got Ms. Truitt to admit that she selects what she includes in her reports and the total conversation is not included. She also brought up civilian witnesses who did not review her reports and that when they testified, they did not recall saying what was included in Truitt's reports.

"There is no penalty if they give you a false statement," said Ms. Firpo. Ms. Truitt responded with, "That is right."