A tragic case made worse by the Jerry Springer theatrics of grown adults inside and outside the courtroom

The innocent victims in the Jon Goldberg-Tim Smith catastrophe are the children. Already suffering from bad choices made by four adults; their trauma maybe worsened by the Jerry Springer shit show in Courtroom 2 by more adults.

The preliminary hearing in the Jon Goldberg case did not attract as many courtroom spectators. 

That was a good thing. It was possible to cover the testimony of key witnesses such as Officer Ryan Richardson, Frieda Smith, Jessica Springer and Tim Smith Jr in a civilized and peaceful atmosphere.

There are 5 to 7 people that started attending the trial and this was a couple of days after jury selection had begun. All connected to Tim Smith.

And in the last two days, a total 12 to 15 courtroom spectators come and go with five of them always there in the morning and afternoon. An older lady and an older man, very respectful attend the hearing. I don't think they are a part of the Tim Smith contingent. They look pained but they adhere to courtroom rules and quietly observe.

The drama, the theatrics , the repeated ignoring of basic courtroom rules, basic civility and Jerry Springer antics from at least 4 of Tim Smith's family and friends are getting worse day by day. I put off writing and publishing this post for a few days.

If Tim Smith's family, friends and supporters do not want a mistrial or to further bolster a strong defense case and possibly alienate the jury; they need to get out of their tunnel vision and start listening. 

Yeah, this post is going to piss off these four people and the usual shit stirrer anons and non anons whose beef with me is my bluntness, my political views, my exposing them or their family or business; anything but a relevant reason. The typical insecure, uneducated, drama queens that revel in bullying and silencing truth. Other reporters and folks dont want the drama; doesn't mean they don't agree with me. I just get to be the bad guy.

Truth hurts.  

You want respect; you give respect.

The constant texting, snickering and faces made by Tim Smith's family and friends through jury selection was so hicksville.

The texting in the courtroom was noticed by others, including me, on February 26. A bailiff finally cautioned one lady  who gave him a look of attitude. Learn to read the rules lady. And you were not the only one texting. I did report and document the texting to the bailiffs, court administration and attorneys.

You are in court and a  part of the alleged victim's family and extended family.  Two key prosecution witnesses are Tim Smith's wife/significant other and son. And you all sit there texting in the middle of a jury trial like it is no big deal. 

The constant glaring and misdirected anger, especially at the few media, who are doing you a favor covering this case when we have plenty of other important
cases to cover is childish. Having heard most of this testimony before, be grateful that some of us are putting in an entire day for weeks to get the public, coverage (not presented before the jury trial due to the way the legal process works). I realize that facts are not convenient to your version of what happened but they are to the rest of us.


Mr. " J and G " who feels that he and his wife can be rude just because they are family. The blonde lady who got called out by the bailiff for texting, ditto. The other blonde lady, the mother of Tim Smith Jr's girlfriend, who kept glaring and then followed me three times this afternoon during break while I was working. Had I not taken quick action to avoid you; you were ready to create a scene before the jury. It is a public place but you dont get to stalk people. Glare all you want but do not interfere when I am working.  I am under no obligation to talk or engage with you. You do not have unfettered access to the courtroom or anyone you want. Why arent you with Tim Smith Jr, comforting him and supporting him?

Thee Judge addressed the audience yesterday about respect in the courtroom. Did that just go over your heads?

The bailiff said no making faces, other basic respect rules and reminded everyone about cell phone rules. Yet, your behavior continues. Who do you all think you are?

Until  yesterday afternoon, you all walked out before the jurors. And the whispering  when you have to wait did not go unnoticed. 

Tim Smiths family and supporters need to realize this is not their living room. It is a courthouse . Courtroom 2 is a small courtroom. You all take up almost two and a half rows of the three remaining rows. Thinking you are entitled to seats is hubris. In other cases, I and other media are respectful and sensitive to the family. And they were to us and the jurors. You want that respect; adjust your attitude.

Unlike you, the media needs to hear and accurately report. As it is sitting where we do, the constant sighing, commentary, cracking of knuckles constantly, editorializing while legal proceedings are going on is rude and distracting.  All that would be fine if you all didnt turn around and expect other to sit in complete silence.

Are you there to listen or put on a show for the jury?

This maybe the Smith family's first trial. It isn't mine. While genuine grieving is understandable, the courtroom theatrics in and outside the courtroom does not impress juries.

I know Tim Smith's family is grieving; so are many other families.

In cases where there is drama in real life , it always plays out in the courtroom where certain alleged victim's family members and friends think grief is a license to act like petulant jackasses.

There are other people interested in this case who cant miss work or sit all day in court like the 8 or 12 people supporting Tim Smith. They deserve to hear information not dictated by you; but presented under standards of law.

Get over yourselves. There have been many other horrific cases where the victims were completely innocent and just at the wrong place. Just three examples: Kitchen, Warren and Bullock's victims. The families in these cases and many others waited longer than you and the victims did not do anything to invite the rage of the person who killed them. The deaths were painful and horrific.

They did not behave the way you are acting. Jon Goldberg is not denying he shot Tim Smith. He is currently in custody and on trial. There is a legal process not dictated by what you think happened.

What is a fact is that everything leading up to February 26 would never have happened if Tim Smith kept his pants zipped; did not fuck another woman's wife and lie to his wife/significant other and to Jon Goldberg for months. No one deserves to die or be shot but none of you saw the shooting and this is not a slam dunk murder case because you think it is and should be.

You are pissed because I am not painting the picture of Tim Smith you want. I will not disgrace heroic firefighters by ever referring to an adulterer and liar as one.

Some family, some others with vested interest and bias have tried to pressure coverage of this case, attacked me and others online because they prefer the dirty laundry and certain facts of this case are never brought up.

I have kept a member of the family/family friend informed about the case and status of jury selection despite your idiotic and disrespectful behavior. I have put in more time than any other media on  this case, which two years later has very little interest other than those affected. 

There are many other cases and families that are and have been grateful unlike some of you.

I know Tim Smith's family would like to have a selective memory but here are the facts.

Rachel Goldberg has refused to testify.

Will she testify? Even if she does, why believe her?

Expert witnesses on both sides are not going to provide any definitive answers. They never do and they only talk in probabilities. It is hours and hours of testimony that does not prove guilt or innocence. The neighbors and the character witnesses will just cancel out each other's testimony.

Jon Goldberg testifying at the jury trial is a wild card.

In case you need to hear it again:

1. No one deserves to die; not even an adulterer

2. Tim Smith lied to his wife/significant other; lied to Jon Goldberg and had an affair with Rachel Goldberg.

3. Testimony in the jury trial is not finished but it is in the preliminary hearing. Unless the prosecution presents some new and significant evidence that can prove murder, this case is not clear cut as Tim Smith's family and friends think it is.

4. Jessica Springer did not tell Jon Goldberg that Tim Smith was back home

5. No one saw Jon Goldberg shoot Tim Smith and what happened

6. The motives/testimony of Jessica Springer, Rachel Goldberg and every witness and when they came forward does deserve scrutiny.

7. Fortuna PD's investigation makes APD's investigation in the Lawson case look "spectacular" (that is sarcasm)

8. Sending a text around 2 a.m. and fueling the immediate revelation of a lie and the affair was done by Jessica Springer. It couldnt have waited until next morning?
9. How do we know that Rachel Goldberg was Tim Smith's only affair?
10. All this abuse of Rachel Goldberg was suddenly discussed with her friend Frieda Smith but never before February 26?

We all know the wink wink nudge nudge attitude among police and firefighters about who's sleeping with who and in some cases multiple times in Humboldt.  And in Humboldt, a small town , we do know how certain loyalties play out by sweeping what is inconvenient under the rug.

There is a reason a case is tried in a courtroom. You want justice, let the legal process work.

I have been there for many families,  including those who lost loved ones in homicide cases, and still keep in touch with them.  The four or more of you that are angry can stay angry or we could just move on tomorrow and let bygones be bygones.

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