Eddie Koch who absconded from testifying in Warren trial, arrested, cuffed and beligerently resumes testimony

Eddie Koch, a subpoenaed material witness in the Jason Warren jury trial  testified briefly on November 9 and  then failed to return to court after a brief recess.

After several attempts to locate Koch proved unsuccessful, Judge Timothy Cissna issued a no bail warrant for Koch’s arrest. Koch was in custody and testified as a hostile witness for the prosecution this morning.

Flashbacks of the Jason Arreaga trial came to mind as Koch sat in Courtroom 4 this morning, cuffed.

Like Jerry Bachus in the Arreaga trial, Koch left in the middle of his testimony and to be arrested to testify. Like Shavonne Hammers, his responses were "Yeah" , "I don't recall" and " I don't remember."

He kept glancing at Warren during his testimony.

Today, for the first time, someone who knows Jason Warren attended the trial. Two women walked in the courtroom and said "hi J". He turned around and looked and waved hi to them. The two women are his cousin and aunt.

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit with a fresh haircut, Koch looked different but his demeanor was just as hostile as the last time he was in court.

Mr. Paul Sequeira briefly recapped where testimony was interrupted last time Koch was in court.

Mr. Sequeira: "You saw the defendant tapping on the window?"

Koch: "Yeah."

Koch's response to verifying his grandparents' phone number, that he was staying with his grandparents at their house on EW. Sonoma Avenue, was just "Yeah."

Mr. Sequeira asked what Warren was wearing and Koch was evasive. "I don't recall, probably a sweatshirt."

Mr. Sequeira: "Did you see any clothes at all?"

Koch: "Yeah."

Mr. Sequeira showed Koch a photo and then asked, "Do you recognize that as Jason Warren?"

Koch: "Sure."

Mr. Sequeira: "You recognize any of those clothes?"

Koch: "No."

Mr. Sequeira: "Did he have any property?"

Koch: No."

Mr. Sequeira: "How long did he hang out?"

Koch: "A couple of hours."

In response to a question by Mr. Sequeira, Koch said, "I think I left." Koch could not remember where he went. he left Warren at the house, he thinks in his bedroom.

Mr. Sequeira: "Did you see him use the phone?"

Koch: "I think so, he could have used it."

Using Koch's own description of Warren and him being best friends, Mr. Sequeira posed a question that Warren did not need permission ton use the phone or eat food, Koch acknowledged in the affirmative.

Mr. Sequeira: "Did you come back that afternoon?"

Koch: "I don't think so. I don't remember. It's been three years."

Mr. Sequeira: "Did he tell you he got a ride back to Hoopa?"

Koch: "No, I don't remember."

Mr. Sequeira: "Do you remember giving a statement to Detective Harpham?"

Koch: "no."

When Mr, Sequeira asked, "Do you remember talking to someone from the EPD and the DA's office?", Koch responded with the usual, "Yeah."

Mr. Sequeira gave him Detective Harpham's report and asked him to read a select portion to himself. Then he asked Koch, "Do you remember telling Detective Harpham that Mr. Warren came back in the afternoon?"

Koch: "I think so."

Mr. Sequeira: "Do you remember telling Detective Harpham he was going to get a ride back to Hoopa with his wife?"

Koch: "no."

Mr. Sequeira: "Do you remember him having a coat?"

Koch: "I think he had a coat. It was three years ago."

Koch said he does not remember Warren taking a shower or changing his clothes.