Opening arguments in the Juan Ferrer jury trial this morning paint two completely different sides of the man charged with the death of Arcata chef Douglas Anderson-Jordet, which occurred when he was stabbed by Ferrer in November 2013.
The defense does not dispute that Ferrer stabbed the victim but they are claiming a justified killing instead of the charge in this case which is murder with a special allegation of committing the crime "with a deadly, dangerous weapon".
DDA Roger Rees gave a very powerful opening statement in which he played an audio recording where Ferrer's own words contradict a self-defense claim and his own texts incriminate him. Showing pictures of "Doug", Mr. Rees made a far more effective opening to the jury. The above quote is from a text between Juan Ferrer and his friend Nicholas Stiober, who was originally charged as a co-defendant and plead out to simple assault.
Mr. Reavis' opening was basically a rehash of claims made previously and a character assassination of the victim in his opening. "However, Mr. Jordet was to his family and friends," said Mr. Reavis in his opening, "what Mr. Ferrer knew was a drunk, homophobic, angry individual." Mr. Reavis's reiterated the claim he has made previously that Douglas Anderson-Jordet "fell on the knife."
Both sides presented additional information which was not brought out in the preliminary hearing, such as the prosecution's recordings of two interviews after Ferrer was arrested and Mr. Reavis' claim that the victim lunged at Ferrer. Which opening argument will be supported by evidence and testimony of approximately 46 witnesses remains to be seen. Mr. Rees' opening includes previous testimony and consistency with what was presented at the preliminary hearing. A lot of claims made by Mr. Reavis are not supported by previous information available at preliminary and so far, are theories.
A lot of information presented in other media coverage in these last two weeks is information the jury will not hear because it is part of rulings prior to jury selection. Some of it is from evidence hearings before the jury was selected and some leans more towards the defense because the defense has provided information to media and tried the case in the court of public opinion before the jury trial. Mr. Rees remarks have only been in court where the evidence presented will be held to judicial standards and rules. And both sides will get a fair chance to present their arguments and evidence.
Ferrer's family was in the courtroom but asked to leave as they are witnesses in the hearing and will testify later. The victim's family lives out of town. Both families have been deeply affected by this tragedy.
Court ended today with the first witness taking the stand. It was APD's Officer Eric Losey who arrived at the scene and found the victim showing no signs of life and not breathing. His testimony will continue tomorrow.
Previous links to this case from this blog on watchpaul:
http://watchpaul.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-evolving-story.html?m=1
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