Jury selection started on November 7 and was completed this morning in Anthony Domenico's jury trial.
Domenico, "I burnt that motherfucker's place down" is charged with alleged arson and assault of Tommy Uber and Uber's home in a Manila encampment.
Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm is prosecuting the case. Deputy Conflict Counsel Marek Reavis is representing Domenico.
Dressed in a suit, with glasses, his hair grown, Domenico looks nothing like his booking photo. He is quite the vocal defendant asking Mr. Reavis questions, scribbling and whispering stuff constantly.
Opening statements started mid morning with HCSO Deputy Travis Rogers being the first witness to take the stand. Second witness was Arcata Battalion Chief Sean Campbell. His testimony took most of the day. Thomas Uber, the alleged victim testified after the mid afternoon court recess.
The case was going well until Uber took the stand. During direct, he was just rambling at times and Deputy DA Timm did an excellent job in calming Uber, presenting his case and showing sensitivity in questioning a man, who lost the only home he had in this fire and has lived at this location for 10-15 years.
According to Uber, Domenico has only lived at this Manila encampment for "3-4 months."
During cross examination, he had a complete meltdown on the stand, yelling at Mr. Reavis, being defensive and had to be admonished several times by Judge John Feeney about his behavior, languafe and refusal to follow rules on the stand.
Uber will be taking the stand, again on Tuesday, when trial resumes. Uber played right into the hands of Mr. Reavis' strategy today. Can he undo the damage next week?
Will the jury relate to a man weary of being on the street, wary of the system, feeling cornered, harassed, targeted as Uber claims by Domenico and other encampment dwellers. Uber
Witness list includes HCSO Deputies Travis Rogers, HCSO Deputy Chanler Bronson, Physician's assistant Kimberly Hanks, alleged victim Thomas Uber, and Arcata Fire Department's Sean Campbell and Anthony Benelisha, HCSO Dispatcher Christine Werner and KIEM's Monica Petruzelli.
Not all witnesses may testify.
I covered the preliminary in detail and HCSO Deputies Rogers, Bronson and Ms. Petruzelli testified at that hearing.
For the jury trial, I will be covering new witnesses testimony in detail and any new information. Full coverage of today's testimony will be posted tomorrow.
Except for the initial arrest, no other media has followed the case; no other media covered the preliminary. No other media was present in court today.
Previous posts:
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/11/jury-selection-to-start-tomorrow-for.html
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/10/anthony-domenico-jury-trial-confirmed.html
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/10/trial-confirmation-was-scheduled-for.html?m=1
(with links to all previous coverage)
Preliminary hearing posts:
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/08/court-testimony-in-preliminary-uber.html?m=1
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/08/uber-claimed-domenico-struck-him-three.html?m=1
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/08/hcso-deputy-bronson-testified-domenico.html?m=1
http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/08/camera-off-off-record-i-burnt.html?m=1
I wonder if Uber's loss was so traumatic that having no personal safe place, no sanctuary, he feels threatened in public settings. I would hope that DDA Trent Timm has looked into his witness' emotional stability and perhaps even had him interviewed by a psych.
ReplyDeleteThe defendant may show up looking like a proper citizen but the police photo and the anger shown there should be part of the case against him. He wanted to hurt Uber and he has done so, in ways I don't think many of us could understand.
I hope Domenico is convicted of every possible charge and receives the strongest punishment for his actions. He had no pity for Uber? I have no pity for him, only disgust.
Thanks John, good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI would be pissed off too
ReplyDeleteDomenico has the advantage of being clean and sober since the event, and being housed, fed, and clothed at tax payer expense. Being well rested and no longer looking like a methed out freak makes him appear less dangerous than he probably really is. I sure hope justice is served here...
ReplyDelete