"I don't know", no follow up, no testing for slough contamination, cross examination of CHP Warden Wells by defense provides a different perspective

Mr. Jon Cogorno started his cross examination of CHP Warden Matthew Wells right after Deputy District Attorney Adrian Kamada had questioned Warden Wells about a telephone conversation between him and Ray Christie.

"During that conversation, Mr. Christie told you he would remove the carcasses?"

Wells replied, "Yes, when the property dried out."

"Were the carcasses removed," asked Mr. Cogorno.

"I don't know," responded Warden Wells.


"You didn't follow up?" asked Mr. Cogorno.

A trainee  with Warden Wells spoke to a Ray Lindstrom who rented the property (the one of Myrtle Avenue). There was a question about Lindstrom growing marijuana in a shed on the property.

There was some back and forth between the attorneys about that question,with Judge Kaleb Cockrum saying "I don't see the relevance of the marijuana."

Laughter erupted in the courtroom when Mr. Cognorno quipped, "You don't have as much marijuana in the south."

Mr.Cogorno went on to explain that Lindstrom may have wanted to get the Warden's "attention off the marijuana in the shop" by directing it towards the cow carcasses.

Warden Wells answered that he did not test if the slough was contaminated, and he did not test the dead fish. In response to Mr.Cognorno's question, " Do you know whose cows these are?"

Warden Wells responded, " No, I don't."

Earlier posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/08/some-carcasses-were-so-decomposed-that.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/08/right-before-ray-christies-preliminary.html?m=1