Missing cell phone, missing meth, drug use and a love triangle is the gist of Jane Doe's testimony at Lorna Leen's preliminary

(Leen)

Jane Doe was the People's first witness to testify today for Lorna Leen's preliminary hearing. She is 15 years old. The victim Brandon Brocious was 16 years old.

Before she testified, Judge Elvine-Kreis addressed the courtroom saying, "No emotional outbursts. This is a courtroom. If anyone does not comply, they will be asked to leave the courtroom."

There have been no outbursts. The only one acting out has been Jane Doe. She was not in the courtroom when the Judge gave the admonishment.

In between snapping at the Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees and coping an attitude with the Judge, Jane Doe identified Leen and testified about the events of August 9, 2017 at the Oceanview cemetery. She changed what she said during her testimony saying something completely different. This was during direct examination.



"I know her," said Jane Doe identifying Leen. "I have known her since 11 or 12. . I am now 15 and a 1/2. I was in a relationship with her son on and off."

Leen's son is Christopher Craft aka Christopher Sterling. He is also charged with the murder of Brocious.

Asked why she was at the cemetery that night, Jane Doe said, "To get my phone back."

"The morning I woke up on August 9, I discovered someone had taken my phone. I was at Christopher's brother's house. His name is Jordan.

Mr. Rees asked, "Who is Christopher?"

Jane Doe was crying. She responded, "The one who killed Brandon."

Jane Doe said Brocious "and she had been in a relationship for three days. She and Brocious had dated before. Jane Doe knew Brocious since 6th grade.

Jane Doe claims she was dating both Brocious and Kraft but at different times. She started dating Brocious 4 hours after she broke up with Craft-Sterling.

Jane Doe couldn't find her phone. She assumed Craft-Sterling took it because "Jordan told me Christopher was over. There were a couple of torch lighters and some sharpies missing. He (Christopher) and his mom got them for me."

"I texted him (Christopher) and he didn't reply. She used Brocious' phone to text. Jane Doe said Brocious and she "saw Christopher at Fort Humboldt. We went to get wifi. Christopher was standing by the trees by the pathway."

Jane Doe did not recall what time she saw  Craft-Sterling. "Maybe around the afternoon." Jane Doe asked Craft-Sterling, "why he took my phone?"

"He said he didn't," testified Jane Doe.

"Later he said Jordan gave him the phone and he left it at the back of the trailer" and then he changed his answer again, according to Jane Doe.

The three spent time together after this conversation.

"At any time did you come to be in possession of items that belonged to the defendant? Mr. Rees asked Jane Doe.

Then Jane Doe backtracked her testimony. From Jordan's house, Brocious and she stopped by the cemetery before they ran into Craft-Sterling at Fort Humboldt. She knew where Leen and Craft-Sterling had a camp. She went through Craft-Sterling's back pack and found a "necklace I bought for Brandon."

At this moment, Jane Doe suddenly remembered, "that morning Brandon noticed his meth was missing." She also mentioned the necklace was missing. This after Mr. Rees' question.

"We took their belongings and hid them," said Jane Doe. They hid Leen and Craft-Sterling's sleeping bag and clothes "because they stole from me."

"Me and Brandon knew Christopher lovedhis mom and we knew he wouldn't let her sleep in the cold and he would give me what I want."

Then in response to a question by Mr. Rees about her texting Craft,-Sterling, Jane Doe snapped at him, "I'm sorry that's not what I said. I texted him at Fort Humboldt when I got wifi." She just testified earlier she texted Craft-Sterling in the morning from Brocious' phone.

At this point on her testimony Jane Doe claimed Craft-Sterling said he was at Fort Humboldt. They didn't run into him as she testified earlier.

From Fort Humboldt, Jane Doe, Brocious and Craft-Sterling went to Hilfiker "to see if Chris' cousin was there. He had possession of my phone." When they arrived at Hilfiker,"Chris' cousin was not there."

They left Hilfiker. It was "approaching darkness. They went to the cemetery to see if Craft-Sterling's "cousin was around and to use drugs." Jane Doe said they "went into the woods behind a house, stayed there for 15-20 minutes."

Preliminary continues tomorrow at 1:30. Deputy DA Jessica Watson who is prosecuting Craft-Sterling was at the counsel table with Mr. Rees.

Craft-Sterling's attorney Ms. Christina Allbright was in the courtroom.

Testimony started late this afternoon since an immunity agreement had to be worked out for Jane Doe. She is represented by Conflict Counsel Supervising Attorney Jane Doe.

At one point, Judge Elvine-Kreis cautioned Jane Doe and Ms. O'Conell saying that Jane Doe cannot use her attorney to "refresh her recollection."

Judge Elvine-Kreis also denied Ms. O'Conells's request that she be allowed to sit next to Jane Doe. He did so "without prejudice." Ms. O' Connell sat in the jury box.

Ms. O'Conell stated on record that Jane Doe had chosen to testify today knowing Ms
 O'Conell had not seen audio or video in the case. It is expected that Ms. O'Conell will view that tomorrow.

I reported last August that there was an eyewitness to the stabbing of Brandon Brocious.

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/08/is-there-eyewitness-to-stabbing-of.html?m=1

Earlier post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2019/03/judge-moorman-has-made-decision-about.html?m=1

Related posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2018/08/arraignment-of-juvenile-charged-in.html?m=1