DDA Zachary Curtis started his cross examination of Jason Arreaga this morning. The defense rested today with Ms. Heidi Holmquist's brief redirect of Arreaga.
Family members and friends of both victims have been attending the court hearings but today there were twice as many people, including Angel Tully's mother and her only daughter who sat with her aunt. Tully's sister has attended every court hearing except one pre-trial hearing.
While there were some more details during Mr. Curtis' cross examination, he failed in any way to impeach Arreaga's direct testimony. If anything, he bolstered the answers Arreaga gave Ms. Holmquist on direct. The only time he was able to raise doubts about Arreaga's credibility was pointing out what Arreaga said to law enforcement in the interrogation and on the stand. Pointing out the inconsistencies between his testimony and what he told law enforcement, Mr. Curtis said to Arreaga that he had been "lying for ages."
In her re-direct, Ms. Holmquist asked Arreaga, "Do you wish you had made different decisions last September?"
"Yes," said Arreaga.
When asked what he would have done differently, Arreaga responded, "I wish I had never let Shavonne near us. My life as I know it is completely over."
Referring to Mr. Curtis' bringing up his lying to law enforcement, Ms. Holmquist asked, "Why were you telling the police things that weren't true?"
"I was scared," said Arrega. "I knew I was being recorded. Two people had been killed. I did not want my family and loved ones hurt." He said testifying today would put his "family in jeopardy."
Ms. Holmquist asked Arreaga why he took the risk to testify today.
"I was hoping the truth would come out without me having to be up here. No one else was going to do it."
Will Mr. Curtis' cross sway the jury towards guilt ? Will Arreaga's calm and sympathetic demeanor on the stand and in the courtroom make the jury lean in his favor?
It all comes down to whose credibility was damaged more, Shavone Hammers, Rodney Coombes and Jerry Bachus or Jason Arreaga?
Some more details from Mr. Curtis' later today...another full court day with multiple cases simultaneously.
This has been a tragedy for everyone involved and especially the family of Ryan Robinson. My hope is that Jud can use this second chance he's been given to maintain sobriety after serving his sentence and perhaps even educate others about the consequences of a life centered around drugs. This has cost Jud much more than his freedom and the effects will last forever. My heart goes out to the family of Ryan, especially his son and girlfriend, parents and siblings. Hopefully everyone affected by this can move forward in peace.
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