"When someone is killed, it has nothing to do with me getting out early"

Quentin Williams, who Bodhi Tree allegedly confessed to about shooting Rhett August, Christina Schwarz and Alan Marcet finished his testimony today. He was cross examined Friday, Ms. Holmquist continued her cross today and Ms. Firpo questioned him on redirect.

The defense did it's usual startegy, bringing up superflous information, trying to viscerate the character of prosecution witnesses, just because they have a past criminal history. When they fail, they keep bringing up the past, where the charges have been dismissed.

Who is winning so far? Definitely not the August, Schwarz and Marcet families or the inmates and prosecution witnesses who risk their safety by testifying against Tree.

There were few highlights today that did out the intent and desperation of the defense.

Even after Williams had explained over and over again, that his case had a plea deal being considered, which happens so often in court daily, it is not out of the ordinary, Ms. Holmquist persisted and harped on the fact that he was getting out earlier than intended.

"When someone is killed, it has nothing to do with me getting out early," said Williams.

Just as they have with other prosecution witnesses, the defense brought up testimony and dates of conversations and cases that have nothing to do with Tree's case. Despite the fact that it has been testified over and over, that the maximum security housing unit and no natural light, that sense of time is hard to determine; Ms. Holmquist kept going back and forth about cases, conversations with vague questions. At one point Ms. Firpo objected to the vagueness and Judge Reinholtsen sustained the objection.

Ms. Holmquist did not trip Williams and he stayed polite despite badgering by Ms. Holmquist. At one point he said, "You have records, I don't.' That psychological strategy of holding up conversations and firing questions trying to intimidate the witness is standard by defense in this case.

To me, it smacks of desperation because the defense has not been able to put create reasonable doubt or refute the prosecution evidence, which despite no firearm, the motive and opportunity points to one person: Bodhi Tree.

Williams explained why people in and out of custody come to him with information. Ms. Holmquist tried to paint him as a snitch wanting personal benefit. Both on cross and redirect, Williams came across as someone whose tips to the Sheriff's office and DA's office have led to discovery of a body and arrest of three suspects in one case; another case in which Williams wore a wire and was supposed to catch an inmate who raped his wife confessing he was planning to plot to have someone kill her.

Williams said he was going to testify whether he had an immunity agreement or any plea deal in his case because "what he (Tree) did was hideous." Williams said Tree killed a 'child", referring to Christina.

He got Ms. Holmquist to admit she was reading "bits and parts" of his testimony from a transcript. Her excuse: she was trying to "wrap things up."

Ms. Firpo showed the jury the actual agreement which was not as Ms. Holmquist represented. Ms. Firpo also brought up that Williams had previously provided information for the DA, he did not have to testify, he did not get a deal.

Williams said the fact that Tree showed "no remorse" was a factor in him testifying and changing his opinion about Tree. "I wanted to help the family." Williams said having the families hear that Tree admitted to the shootings "would help give them closure."

Williams had wanted to get out early so he could get his son and son's mother to safety. He wanted protection for them from the DA's office for them but did not get it.