Trial Transcript 07 29 2014

7/21/2019 Trial Transcript 07 29 2014

1/195

D TE :

To:

In

re :

Date

M RY ELLEN KUSIBAB

O f f i c i a l

Court R e p o r t e r

2650 South C a l i f o r n i a

Room 4C02

Chicago ,

I l l i n o i s

60608

773

- 674 - 6065

Octobe r 10 ,

2014

Ms Annabel

Melongo

P O . Bo x 5658

Chicago

,

I l l i n o i s

60680

Phone : 312 -

415

-

6632

People v .

Annabel

Melongo

Cas e No

08 CR

10502 -

01

Judge

Timothy

Joyce

Taken:

7 -

29

-

2014

Pages :

194

Rate: 1 00

-

Copy

,

Regula r

Sub t o t a l : 194 . 00

Less Depos i t :

- 0 -

Amount

Due

and

Owing

. 194 . 00

RECEIVE

D BY:

DATE:


2/195

IN

THE

CIRCUIT

COURT OF

COOK

COUNTY

ILLINOIS

COUNTY DEPARTMENT -

CRIMINAL

DIVISION

2

THE

PEOPLE

OF THE

3 STATE OF ILLINOIS

4

Plaintiff

5

V S .

No.

08

CR

10502-01

6 ANNABEL

ME

LONGO

7

Defendan t .

8 REPORT OF

PROCEEDINGS

a t

t he j u r y

9 trial o f t he a b o v e - e n t i t l e d cause b e f o r e

t h e

10 HONORABLE TIMOTHY JOYCE

Judge

o f s a i d Cour t , on

11

t h e

2 9 t h day o f

J u l y ,

2014.

12

APPEARANCES:

13

HON. ANITA

M ALVAREZ

S t a t e s

A t t o r n e y

o f Cook County ,

14 By: MS. NANCY ZARKOS and

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

MS. DEBJANI DASGUPTA

A s s i s t a n t S t a t e s A t t o r n e y s ,

on

b e h a l f

o f t h e Peop le ;

MS. JENNIFER BONJEAN

on

b e h a l f

o f t h e

Defendan t .

23

Mary E l l e n

Kusibab ,

O f f i c i a l

Cour t R e p o r t e r

CSR L i c e n s e No. 084-004348

24

1


3/195

1

2

3

5

6

7

8

9

Case :

Case

No.

:

Date:

Pages :

S t a t u s :

R e p o r t e r :

I N D E X

People vs.

Annabel Melongo

08 CR

10502 01

7 29 2014

1 194

Ju ry

T r i a l

Mary El l e n

Kusibab

CSR

License No. :

084 004348

OPENING STATEMENTS

By Ms.

Dasgupta

. .

By

Ms. Bonj ean

.

10 WITNESSES

11 For t he S t a t e :

12 Shahna Voi ta

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

D ire c t Examina t ion by Ms. Dasgupta

.

Cross Examina t ion by Ms .

Bonjean

.

Re di r e c t Examina t ion

by

Ms. Dasgupta

. .

Recross Examina t ion by Ms. Bonjean

D e te c t ive

Wil l iam Mar t in

D ire c t

Examina t ion

by Ms. Zarkos .

Cross Examina t ion

by Ms.

Bonj ean .

Re di r e c t Examina t ion

by Ms.

Zarkos

.

Caro l

S p i z z i r r i

D ire c t Examina t ion

by Ms. Zarkos

Cross Examina t ion

by Ms. Bonjean

Re di r e c t

Examina t ion

by

Ms

. Zarkos

2

P GE

24

27

6

80

87

89

94

118

133

135

142

170


4/195

1

2

Case:

Case

No.

:

3

Date :

Pages :

4

S t a t u s :

5

Repo r t e r :

6

I N D E X con t inued)

People

vs .

Annabel Melongo

08 CR 10502-01

7-29-2014

1

194

Ju ry

Trial

Mary

El l en Kusibab

CSR

License

No. :

084

004348

7 MOTION

FOR

DIRECTED VERDICT

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

By

Ms. Bonj

ean

.

By Ms. Zarkos

.

RULING

E

x H

I B I T

s

174

180

187

PEOPLE S EXHIBIT

M RKED

ADMITTED

No.

1

No. 2

Nos.

2A

D

No.

3

No.

5

DEFENDANT S

EXHIBIT

No. 2

Nos. 2A, 2B

No.

3

No. 4

3

137

44

46

97

103

130

131

152

169

173

45

173

173


5/195

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Whereupon, t h e

f o l lo w i n g p r o c e e d i n g s

were

h e l d

in

open

c o u r t

o u t s i d e

t h e

p r e s e n c e o f t h e j u r y . )

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

THE

COURT:

Annabe l

Melongo.

C ou ld

t h e

a t t o r n e y s

i d e n t i f y

t h e m s e l v e s ,

p l e a s e .

MS. ZARKOS:

A s s i s t a n t State s

A t t o r n e y

Nancy

Z a r kos -- Z- a - r - k - o - s .

MS. DASGUPTA: A s s i s t a n t

State s

A t t o r n e y

D e b j a n i Da sgup t a --

D - e - b - j - a - n - i

D - a - s - g - u - p - t - a - -

on

b e h a l f

o f

t h e P e o p l e .

S

.

BONJEAN:

Good

mo rn in g ,

Your

Honor .

J e n n i f e r Bon j e a n -- B - o - n - j - e - a - n

t h e d e f e n d a n t , Annabe l

Melongo .

on b e h a l f

o f

THE

COURT:

And Ms. Melongo

is

h e r e .

Good mo rn in g , ev e ry b o d y .

We had s p e n t

a

17 c o n s i d e r a b l e amount o f t i m e

y e s t e r d a y

after t h e

18 j u r y

had

be e n s e l e c t e d ,

a r g u i n g

- - d i s c u s s i n g

t h e

19

p a r a m e t e r s

o f

t h e d e f e n d a n t s mo t io n

in

l i m i n e .

20 i n d i c a t e d t h a t

I wa n t e d to

t h i n k some

more ab o u t

21

t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e .

I

h av e , and I m

p r e p a r e d t o

22 make

a

r u l i n g and

s e t

what I

su p p o se

I

can c a l l

23 p a r a m e t e r s

r e g a r d i n g what I w i l l

p e r m i t and

what I

24

w o n t p e r m i t

.

Does

anybody

wi sh to say

a n y t h i n g

4


6/195

1 b e f o r e I

do?

MS. ZARKOS: Your Honor b e f o r e you

make

t h a t

3 r u l i n g , you a s k e d me y e s t e r d a y r e g a r d i n g t h e

4

e - m a i l

and

t h e

word

f i x

our

p ro b l em

- - what

t h a t

5 p ro b l em r e f e r r e d

t o .

And I had a ch an ce to s p e a k

6 to

t he

a u t h o r

o f t he

e - m a i l ,

and

she t o l d

us

t h a t

7

it

r e f e r s to

what it

s a y s i n t h e

s u b j e c t m a t te r :

8 Downed sys tem ; t h e

sys tem was

down and

t h a t t he

9

prob lem

was a downed s y

s tem.

And it i s r e f l e c t e d

10

in t h e e - m a i l t h a t she i s

s e n d i n g

to

h e r

11

c o n s u l t a n t s -- i n t h e s u b j e c t

l i n e ,

downed

sys t em.

12

The p ro b l em t h a t t h e y

w an t ed to

f i x was t he downed

13

14

s y s t e m . You had asked me

t h a t y e s t e r d a y .

THE COURT:

And a f t e r t h i n k i n g

a b o u t this I

15 d o n t

know t h a t t h a t s

go ing

to

im pac t

t h e

r u l i n g

16 I m

g o i n g

to make

b u t

I a p p r e c i a t e you t r a c k i n g

17

18

19

20

21

t h a t down.

MS. ZARKOS:

THE COURT:

Ms.

Zark o s ?

MS. ZARKOS:

No prob lem .

Do you want to

say

a n y t h i n g f u r t h e r ,

No.

I a l s o want

t o ,

j u s t fo r t he

22

r e c o r d , t h i s e - m a i l was

Monday May

1 s t ;

t he

3 i n v e s t i g a t i o n

on

t h e

o t h e r

m a t t e r s

began

on

May

24

5 t h .

And t h e r e

w il

l

be

t e s t i m o n y

r e g a r d i n g

t h a t

5


7/195

2

3

4

5

6

7

m a t t e r f rom t h e o f f i c e r s . So

on

May 1 s t , t h e

p ro b l em was

a

downed sys tem .

THE COURT:

And what

was

May 5 t h ?

MS.

ZARKOS: May

5 th

i s

when

t h e

i n v e s t i g a t i o n

b eg an by

t h e S c h i l l e r Park

P o l i c e

Dep ar tm en t .

THE COURT:

Any last words , Ms.

B o n jean ?

MS. BONJEAN:

Yes Your Honor .

And

a g a i n ,

in

8

wo rk in g

last

n i g h t

and

l o o k i n g

t h r o u g h all

t h e

9

d i s c o v e r y t h a t had

b een

t e n d e r e d

to

me

and t r y i n g

10 to f i g u r e o u t e x a c t l y

what it

was

t h a t

was

11

t r o u b l i n g me

I

r e a l i z e d t h a t it s i m p o r t a n t to

12

13

4

15

16

u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e

e - m a i l

-- which

may o r

may

n o t be r e l e v a n t , q u i t e

h o n e s t l y .

I m

n o t s u r e it is, b a s e d on

t h e

a l l e g a t i o n s o f

t h e

S t a t e .

But

t h e c o n t e n t

o f t h e e - m a i l which

17 r e f e r s t o t h e downed p ro b l em , it s i m p o r t a n t to

18 u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h a t p ro b l em , Ms. S p i z z i r r i

b e l i e v e d

Ms. Melongo

was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r .

Th a t

9

20

was - - in f a c t , t h e e - m a i l

itself

b e c a u s e

I

21

t h i n k

we

found o u r culprit.

22

e a l s o

know Your

Honor ,

t h a t

23

Ms. S p i z z i r r i made p r i o r s t a t e m e n t s to d i f f e r e n t

24

i n d i v i d u a l s

a b o u t

t h e e - m a i l s .

And

it

was all in

6


8/195

1

t h e

c o n t e x t o f

Ms. Melongo

b e i n g r e s p o n s i b l e fo r

2 t h e downed s y s t em.

T h e y r e

ve ry

i n t e r c o n n e c t e d .

3 And to p a r s e o u t j u s t t h e Count III a l l e g a t i o n and

4

not t a k e

i n t o accoun t

t h a t Ms. S p i z z i r r i ,

f rom

h e r

5 p o i n t

o f view

- - s ee , t h i s

i s t h e

b ig di l emma.

I f

6 I m c o m p l e te l y d i s a b l e d

b e f o r e t h e

j u r y ,

t h e

j u r y

7 c o u l d sit

t h e r e and

go

huh , that s r e a l l y c r a z y ;

8

why

would anybody - -

why

would

t h i s woman

e v e r

9

j u s t

fo rw ard

an

e mai l? Why would

t h i s woman j u s t

10

f a l s e l y

accuse he r

o f

fo rw a rd i n g

an e - m a i l ?

11

T h a t s

i m p l a u s i b l e . On its f ace , it makes

no

12 s e n s e wh a t s o e v e r .

13

But

t h e r e

i s

an e x p l a n a t i o n f rom

our

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

p e r s p e c t i v e . e have t h e r i g h t to p r o v id e

t h a t

e x p l a n a t i o n so it

d o e s n t

seem

so

s t r a n g e .

And it

i s

t h e

whole

c o n t e x t

o f t h e c a se .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y ,

it s

j u s t so d ifficu l t t o

p a r s e

out

t h a t one

a l l e g a t i o n w i t h o u t t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t

t h e

a l l e g a t i o n s

t h a t were b e i n g

made

s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

ab o u t t h e

d e l e t i o n

o f

file and so f o r t h .

This

was

all

p a r t

21

and p a r c e l o f t h e same a l l e g a t i o n s t h a t

22 Ms. S p i z z i r r i was making a g a i n s t my

c l i e n t .

23

So w h i l e I r e s p e c t

t h e

C o u r t s e f f o r t a t

24 c i r c u m s c r i b i n g t h e c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n , s u r e l y we

7


9/195

1 shou ld be p e r m i t t e d t o c r o s s - ex amin e

her

abou t t h e

2

e - m a i l s

themse lves and

whether

o r no t she made

3 p r i o r i n c o n s i s t e n t s t a t e m e n t s

about

t he e - m a i l s ,

4

you

know

t o o the r

i n d i v i d u a l s

abou t

what

my

c l i e n t

5 d id o r d id no t do.

I mean you know

s

. S p i z z i r r i

6 hasn t been e x a c t l y c o n s i s t e n t abou t t h a t .

7

THE COURT:

I m n o t - - w e r e not t a l k i n g abou t

8 what

you can

c r o s s - ex amin e

her on on

p r i o r w i t n e s s

9

s t a t e m e n t s , whether by e -m a i l

o r

o the rw i s e ,

p r i o r

10 s t a t e m e n t s

to

anybody t h a t

she

migh t be

s u b j e c t to

11

impeachment

fo r .

W e re

t a l k i n g

abou t

t h e

i s s u e

o f

12 your t h e o r y t h a t

s h e s m o t i v a t e d

to

lie

a g a i n s t

13 your c l i e n t because

o f

Ms. M el o n g o s

c l a im

t h a t

14 Ms. S p i z z i r r i

has

d e s t ro y e d

re c o rd s to

h id e

her

15

f i n a n c i a l purpose .

I

mean

that s

t he i s s u e w e r e

16

d i s c u s s i n g , c o r r e c t ?

17

S

. BONJEAN: Yes Your

Honor . T h a t s

r i g h t ,

18 c o r r e c t .

THE COURT: I m ready to make my r u l i n g .

9

20

We s p en t a

l o t o f

t ime

ye s t e rda y

on

t h i s ,

21

and

I very

much

- - I a p p r e c i a t e d

it

t h e n , I

t h i n k

22

I

commented

on it.

And

I still do

- -

t h e

i npu t

23

f rom t h e a t t o r n e y s . And I m g r a t e f u l fo r it.

24 Thank you.

8


10/195

1

2

I

went

on a t

l e n g t h because it s

cha l l eng i ng .

And it s c h a l l e n g i n g i n t h i s i s s u e .

3 Obvious ly , as I d i s c us s e d ye s t e rda y t he a l l e g a t i o n s

4

in

Count I I I

a re t he s o l e

i s s u e

be fo re t he

Cour t ,

5 t he

s o l e i s s u e

upon which t he j

ury

w i l l have

to

6

make

its d e c i s i o n .

7

The

defense

has

p r e s e n t e d

numerous

8 s uppor t i ng documents in suppor t

o f

its mot ion in

9

l im ine ,

i n c l u d i n g l e t t e r s from

an I l l i n o i s S t a t e

10

s e n a t o r

d a t e d

A pr i l

2012;

documenta t ion f rom t he

11

Vi l l age

o f C a r p e n t e r s v i l l e ;

documenta t ion from t he

12

Off i c e

o f t he At to rney

Genera l r e ga rd ing

t h e i r

13 I

d o n t

want to say s u s p i c i o n

o r

b e l i e f ;

I guess

14

I ll say

concerns

- - r e ga rd ing moneys t h a t

were

15 g iven to e i t h e r by t hose o rg a n i z a ti ons o r by

o t h e r

16 i n d i v i d u a l s

o r

o r g a n i z a t i o n s fo r c h a r i t a b l e

17

p u r p o s e s

to S a fe -A -L i fe

Founda t ion . And

t hey

were

18

r e q u e s t i n g

a fo l low-up wi th

r e s p e c t

to how t hose

19

c o n t r i b u t i o n s

were s pe n t . C e r t a i n l y , an i s s u e

20 t h a t

t he

A t t o rn e y

Genera l has

a

s t a t u t o r y

o b l i g a t i o n

21

to

moni to r and r e g u l a t e , not to ment ion , I suppose ,

22 t he f e d e r a l government does as wel l ,

presuming

fo r

23 t he

moment

t h a t t h i s was a s o

- c a l l e d

501 c) 3)

24

o r g a n i z a t i o n .

9


11/195

1

But in many r e s p e c t s ,

t he

q u e s t i o n of

2 whe the r Ms. S p i z z i r r i d id , in f a c t ,

engage

in

any

3 f i n a n c i a l

c h ic a ne ry

in connec t ion with t h a t

4

c h a r i t a b l e

o r g a n i z a t i o n

i s

comple te ly

c o l l a t e r a l .

5 But a t t he same t ime ,

whether t h e r e e x i s t s

a

6

motive on her

p a r t to

l i e abou t

Ms.

Melongo

in

7

orde r

to p r o t e c t h e r s e l f , p r o t e c t Ms. S p i z z i r r i

8 from a

c l a im

o f

f i n a n c i a l

p e r f i d y

in

c o n n e c t i o n

9

with t h i s c h a r i t a b l e o r g a n i z a t i o n i s p o t e n t i a l l y

10 r e l e v a n t fo r Ms. Melongo s sake

and

fo r her

11

oppor t un i t y

in

d i sp l ay i ng

any

motive

t h a t

12 Ms. S p i z z i r r i may

have

to t e s t i f y f a l s e l y a g a i n s t

13

Ms.

Melongo.

14

Now

when I

s t a t e

t h a t someone

has

a

15

motive

to t e s t i f y f a l s e l y , I c e r t a i n l y am not

16 conc lud ing t h a t

anybody

i s

o r

i s not t e s t i f y i n g

17

f a l s e l y .

T h a t s no t

what

a

motive i s .

A

motive

18

i s

a r ea s o n t h a t

might

m o t i v a t e someone to proceed

19

in some p a r t i c u l a r manner .

And whe the r t hey do

o r

2 do no t p roceed in t h a t p a r t i c u l a r manner t h i s i s

21

fo r the

f a c t

f i n d e r to f i g u r e ou t .

But

t he

22 d e fe n se

has

a r i g h t to i n v e s t i g a t e t h a t mot ive ,

23

r evea l

t h a t mot ive ; a t t he same t ime , whi le no t

24 i n t e r f e r i n g with t he S t a t e s r i g h t to a f a i r

tri l

10


12/195

1

and

wi thou t

engender ing

c o l l a t e r a l damage to such

2 a degree t h a t it becomes a d i s t r a c t i o n to t he

3

pr imary ,

I suppose

so l e

i s s u e , which i s whe the r o r

4

not

the

S t a t e

can prove

Ms

Melongo s

g u i l t

beyond

5 a

r e a s ona b le doubt

with

r e s p e c t to

Count

I I I - -

6

t he

on ly

count remaining be fo re

t he

Court

now

7 To t h a t end

- -

and

p a r t

of y d i f f i c u l t y

8 ye s t e rda y

was

not

be ing

a b l e

to

fo rmula te my

9 r u l i n g in a

d e c i s i v e

manner

and

fo rmula te it in a

10 manner t h a t would g ive t he

p a r t i e s

d i r e c t i o n with

11

r e s p e c t to how

to proceed and how no t

to proceed .

12

So

t he on ly way I was a b l e to

come

up with a

13 s o l u t i o n to t h a t i s s u e t h a t f aced t he Cour t i s to

14 e s s e n t i a l l y

wri t e

out a s e r i e s of q u e s t i o n s

on

15 c ros s

examina t ion

t h a t I b e l i e v e would be

16

a p p r o p r i a t e .

And

I d o n t mean to impugn t h a t

I m

17

say ing t h a t t he s e que s t ions

have

to be asked in

18

t h i s

manner

But

t he

s u b j e c t

m a t t e r o f

t he

19 c ros s - e xa m ina t ion would

have

to

be

l i m i t e d t o t he

20 s u b j e c t i s s u e s evoked by t he q u e s t i o n s t hemse lves .

21

So I f i g u r e d more

o r

l e s s t h a t if t he

22 defense wished

to - -

and

I ll

t a l k abou t

t h a t

in a

23

moment

t he de fense cou ld p roceed as

fo l lows .

24 They

cou ld

ask Ms S p i z z i r r i whether Save A-Li fe

11


13/195

Fo u n d a t i o n i s a c h a r i t a b l e o r g a n i z a t i o n .

They

2 c o u l d as k h e r

w h e t h e r

it s funded by c h a r i t a b l e

c o n t r i b u t i o n s .

They

c o u l d

as k h e r -- and I

4

b e l i e v e t h i s i s a r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h e law

tell

5 me

if I m

wrong - - t h a t t h e

c h a r i t a b l e

6 o r g a n i z a t i o n ,

t h e

p e r s o n o r p e r s o n s who ru n it

7

have t o keep t a b s o r keep

r e c o r d s r e g a r d i n g t h o s e

8

c o n t r i b u t i o n s and

e x p e n d i t u r e s

in

o r d e r

t o m a i n t a i n

9

p r o p e r c h a r i t a b l e

s t a t u s ,

v i s

a - v i s , any

10

gove r nm e n t a g e n c i e s .

The

d e fe n s e

can as k

Ms.

S p i z z i r r i , i s

it

c o r r e c t t h a t

Ms.

S p i z z i r r i

12 a l l e g e s

t h a t c e r t a i n r e c o r d s r e l a t i n g to t h o s e

13 c o n t r i b u t i o n s and

e x p e n d i t u r e s

were on S a v e - A - L i f e

14

Fo u n d a t i o n computer o r co mp u t e r s .

They can

go on

15 to as k

he r

if it s c o r r e c t -- t h a t some

gove r nm e n t

16

ag en cy

has

p r e v i o u s l y

r e q u e s t e d

t h o s e

r e c o r d s

f rom

17

h e r .

You can go on to as k

t h e

d e f e n s e

c a n t ,

18 b u t w h e t h e r it i s c o r r e c t t h a t

Ms.

S p i z z i r r i

19

a l l e g e s

t h a t

Ms.

Melongo

d e s t r o y e d

th o s e r e c o r d s .

20

Now I a p p r e c i a t e t h a t

t h e

d e s t r u c t i o n o f

21 t h o s e r e c o r d s

i s what i s a l l e g e d

i n Coun t s I

and

22

II,

which has

be e n

n o l l e p r o s d by t h e S t a t e .

But

23

t h e

r e a s o n

I

would p e r m i t

t h i s

i s

b e c a u s e t h e

24 a l l e g a t i o n by

Ms. S p i z z i r r i

t h a t

Ms.

Melongo

12


14/195

d e s t r o y e d

th o s e f i n a n c i a l r e c o r d s h e l d on t h e

co mp u te r c o u l d , in f a c t , be a c l a i m by h e r ,

3

m o t i v a t e d by h e r

d e s i r e

to h o i s t

t h i s

d e s t r u c t i o n

4

o f t h e r e c o r d s

on

Ms.

Melongo.

And

i n p o i n t

o f

5 f a c t , s h e s t h e one who made t h e d e s t r u c t i o n in

6 o r d e r

to h i d e

some

p u rp o s e , w h e t h e r she

d id

o r

7

didn t.

Because I m

not

i n t e r e s t e d in w h e t h e r sh e

8

d id

o r

d i d n t ;

I want t h e j u r y to

be

aware

o f t h e

9 f a c t t h a t b ecau s e

o f

t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t

lie,

10

she h as mo t iv e to

do so .

And t h e d e f e n s e can

as k

Ms.

S p i z z i r r i ,

isn t

it

t r u e

t h a t

Ms.

Melongo in

12 t u r n , has c l a i m e d

t h a t you d e s t r o y e d t h o s e

r e c o r d s .

13 Now t h a t mig h t be

--

some p e o p l e mig h t

14 t h i n k that s

h e a r s a y , t h a t

i s

to

s ay

t h a t

15

16

Ms.

Melongo i s c l a i m i n g t h a t .

But

I d o n t b e l i e v e

it

is.

And

I

d o n t b e l i e v e it i s b e c a u s e it s n o t

17

o f f e r e d

f o r t h e t r u t h o f t h e m a t t e r

a s s e r t e d .

18

It s

o f f e r e d to show t h a t by v i r t u e o f

t h e

f a c t

19 t h a t Ms.

S p i z z i r r i

has

be e n -- t h a t

t h a t h as

be e n

20 communica ted

to

h e r t h a t

Ms.

Melongo b lames h e r

21

f o r t h a t

d e s t r u c t i o n

o f t h e r e c o r d s .

A n o t h e r

22

r e a s o n it

g i v e s Ms. S p i z z i r r i p o t e n t i a l m o t i v e

to

23

lie

a g a i n s t

Ms. Melongo as t h e

p e r s o n

who

24 p u r p o r t e d l y d e s t r o y e d r e c o r d s .

13


15/195

1 Does everybody u n d e r s t a n d

th e p a r am e te r s

2 o f what t h e Cour t i s s a y i n g ? Now d e f en s e w i l l

3

a p p r e c i a t e

t h a t by v i r t u e

o f

t h e

f a c t t h a t

t h e

4

S t a t e

n o l l e p r o s

d

Counts

I

and

I I ,

if

t h e

d e f en s e

5

s e e k s

t o

go

in t h a t manner

if

t h e d e f en s e i s

6 o p en i n g t h e d o o r and e s s e n t i a l l y p u t t i n g it o u t

as

7 a n o t h e r

cr ime

to

t h e e f f e c t

t h a t somebody

i s

8 c l a i m i n g t h a t Ms. Melongo d id s omet h i n g beyond

9 w h a t s a l l e g e d in Count III, it s a d o u b l e

edged

10 sword .

11

12

13

14

15

16

MS.

BONJEAN: Yes i n d e e d ,

it

i s .

THE COURT:

I f

you do it, you c a n t

co mp l a i n

abou t its e f f e c t .

MS.

BONJEAN:

Never would .

F u l l y u n d e r s t a n d ,

Judge .

THE COURT:

Does anybody

want t o t a l k me

out

17

o f my

r u l i n g b e fo re

we b r i n g t h e j u r y

o u t

and g e t

18 going an

h o u r and

a h a l f later t h an I hoped , which

19

i s

my f a u l t ,

not anybody else s.

20

21

22

3

MS. BONJEAN:

Your

Honor

I have

one

q u e s t i o n / c o n c e r n .

T h i s mo rn in g , t h e

S t a t e

k i n d l y

p r e s e n t e d

me

wi th f o u r

p i e c e s

o f ev id en ce

t h a t

t h ey

i n t e n d to

i n t r o d u ce i n t o

ev id en ce .

Presumably ,

24

a t

l e a s t

t h r e e

o f them

would be

coming

in

14


16/195

1

2

3

4

5

t h r o u g h ,

I assume , t h e i r e x p e r t .

t h e y i n t e n d

to use it

in o p en i n g .

I

d o n t

know

if

But I

would

ha ve

an o b j e c t i o n

t h a t

would

p r o b a b l y

ne e d

to be

a d d r e s s e d , if t h e y

do

i n t e n d

to

u se

it in o p e n i n g .

MS. ZARKOS:

A l l

o f

t hem

o r

one

o f

t hem, Co u n se l ?

MS. BONJEAN:

These -- P e o p l e s

E x h i b i t 2A

and B.

7 Your Honor I

r a i s e t h i s

q u e s t i o n

a s t h e r

e

8

is a

s n a p s h o t t h a t

was

a p p a r e n t l y t a k e n o f

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Ms. M e l o n g o s Yaho

o

m a i l i n b o x

I

s u s p e c t .

And

I

presume t h a t was done by t h e

e x p e r t

t h a t t h e y

i n t e n d to o f f e r .

Now

t h e

e x p e r t c e r t a i n l y c a n

testify

to what she d i d . But

n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t ,

t h e S t a t e

still has

an o b l i g a t i o n

to

show

a

c h a i n

o f c u s t o d y and a u t h e n t i c i t y as to t h i s s n a p s h o t

-

t h a t this

i n

f a c t ,

i s Ms. M e l o n g o s

Yahoo

e - m a i l

a c c o u n t .

I

d o n t

know t h a t t h e y can e s t a b l i s h it

p u r e l y t h r o u g h t h e e x p e r t t h a t d i d t h e

e x a m i n a t i o n

t h e f o r e n s i c e x a m i n a t i o n .

So b e f o r e t h e j u r y would

s ee this

I

20 b e l i e

v e

t h a t t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n

f o u n d a t i o n a l

21 r e q u i r e m e n t s t h a t

t h e

S t a t e is g o in g

to ne e d

to

22

23

24

meet .

And

I m

n o t

s u r e b a s e d -- t h e o n l y r e a s o n

I

e x p r e s s

a

c o n c e r n is

t h e y v e

i n d i c a t e d t h r e e

w i t n e s s e s .

And I d o n t know - -

I m

a t a

l o s s how

15


17/195

2

t h ey would l a y t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r t h i s . But --

MS. ZARKOS:

I f y o u d l i k e

to

a r g u e

t h a t

3 p a r t i c u l a r e x h i b i t now we a r e

p r e p a r e d

to do

4

5

6

7

t h a t . Are

t h e r e

a rg u men t s

on

t h e

o t h e r s ?

Two

were found - - p u r s u a n t t o t h e s e a r c h

w a r r a n t s ,

Co u n s e l ; and t h e

o t h e r

one , in t h e r e g u l a r c o u r s e

o f

b u s i n e s s

fo r

t h e

Sa v

e -A -L i f e

F o u n d a t i o n .

But

8 we a r e p r e p a r e d t o

a rg u e on

two.

9

MS. BONJEAN:

10 it came

f rom.

11

12

MS. ZARKOS :

MS. BONJEAN:

13 as

w e l l ?

Yes.

Th i s , I d o n t know where

The

s e a r c h w a r r a n t .

This was

f rom t h e s e a r c h

w ar r an t

14 MS. ZARKOS: C o r r e c t .

The

e x p e r t w i l l n o t be

15 t e s t i f y i n g a s

to

th o s e

two

d o cu men t s . T h a t w i l l

16 be

t h e

o f f i c e r .

MS. BONJEAN: I d o n t

know.

7

18

n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y co n ce rn ed a b o u t .

This

documen t

I m

It s P e o p l e s

19 2A and even 2B wh i ch , I b e l i eve , i s

going

to be

20 l a c k i n g

in

f o u n d a t i o n

i n o r d e r t o

g e t

them

i n t o

21

e v i d e n c e

wi th

j u s t an e x p e r t .

22

23

24

S . ZARKOS:

We

a r e p r e p a r e d to a r g u e if y o u d

l i k e to

do

t h a t

b e f o r e

we b eg in .

MS.

BONJEAN:

And

Your

Honor

I would have

16


18/195

2

3

4

b ro u g h t

t h i s

up

earlier,

b u t I

was j u s t handed

t h e s e e x h i b i t s t h i s mo rn in g .

I

a p o l o g i z e .

THE COURT:

I m

n o t h e s i t a t i n g

b e c a u s e o f

t h a t

a rg u men t . I m

a l wa ys h e s i t a n t b e c a u s e

I

a lw ay s

5

h a t e to r e s o l v e e v i d e n t i a r y

r u l i n g s

b e f o r e I v e

6

7

8

9

10

h e a rd any e v i d e n c e .

I

mean

if somebody c a n

l a y

a

f o u n d a t i o n ,

f o u n d a t i o n

i s l a i d .

n o t l a i d .

MS.

BONJEAN: U n d er s t o o d .

I f

t h e y

can t, it s

THE COURT: I t a k e t h e a t t o r n e y s a t

their

word.

11

The

S t a t e b e l i e v e s t h e y have a f o u n d a t i o n

f o r it.

12 I f

t h e y men t io n it

in o p en in g --

if t h e y do , t h e y

13

can men t io n

it in

o p e n i n g s t a t e m e n t .

If

t h e y d o n t ,

14 if t h e y d o n t g e t

it

i n t o e v i d e n c e t h e r e a f t e r , I

15 can o n l y imag in e what you do in an a r gum e n t

16

t h e r e a f t e r . The

r e a s o n

I s a y t h i s is b e c a u s e it s

17

o f t e n be e n

my e x p e r i e n c e t h a t what

t h e

a t t o r n e y s

18 say r e g a r d i n g

th e p r o p e r f o u n d a t i o n o r t h e

e x i s t e n c e

19 o f

t h e

p r o p e r f o u n d a t i o n o r its

n o n e x i s t e n c e --

20

a l wa ys

s a i d

in good f a i t h , and

I

have

no

d i f f e r e n t

21

e x p e c t a t i o n h e r e -- b u t it s som e t i m e s d i f f e r e n t

22 w i t h

r e s p e c t

to how t h e w i t n e s s

i s p e r c e i v e d

when

23 t h e w i t n e s s testifies r e g a r d i n g t h a t f o u n d a t i o n .

24 So you o f t e n spe nd

a

l o t o f t ime

t a l k i n g ab o u t

17


19/195

1

e v i d e n t i a r y

f o u n d a t i o n s

b e fo re h a n d

w i th o u t

b e i n g

2 a b l e t o r e s o l v e t h e

p r o p r i e t y o f

t h o s e f o u n d a t io n s

3 in a p r o p e r manner , in my e s t i m a t i o n .

So I d j u s t

4

assume

t a k e

t h i s

as

it

comes

u n l e s s

t h e r e s

some

5

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

r e a s o n to p r o h i b i t

its

i n t r o d u c t i o n , o t h e r t h a n an

e v i d e n t i a r y

r ea s o n .

7

MS BONJEAN: No Your Honor . I b e l i e v e t h e

8 b a s i s would be p o t e n t i a l l y a l a c k

o f

ch a in

o f

9 cu s to d y and

t h e

t y p i c a l f o u n d a t i o n a l e l emen t .

So

10 I b r i n g

it

to

t h e

C o u r t s

a t t e n t i o n so as not

t o

11

waive any i s s u e s . But I

w i l l

c e r t a i n l y ad d r e s s

12 t h a t

if

it t u r n s

o u t

t h a t t h ey

c a n t

l a y t h e

13 f o u n d a t i o n

later

on.

14

THE COURT: There

w i l l

be a

j o i n t mot ion

to

15

e x c l u d e

w i t n e s s e s .

Both s i d e s a re r e s p o n s i b l e

f o r

16 k eep i n g t h e i r w i t n e s s e s

out when

o t h e r s a re

17 t e s t i f y i n g o r m a t t e r s

o f

s u b s t an ce a re b e in g

18

d i s c u s s e d

by t h e

Co u r t That w i l l be t h r o u g h o u t

19 t h e p r o c e e d i n g s ; it

d o e s n t

have to be renewed

20

a f t e r an y r e c e s s e s o r a f t e r any o t h e r d a t e .

I

21 a n t i c i p a t e b r i n g i n g t h e j u r y o u t

now s w e a r i n g

22

them

i n , g i v i n g

my

p r e f a t o r y

r emark s

c o n s i s t e n t

23 w i t h

Supreme

Cour t - - IP I

I n s t r u c t i o n 1 .0 1 8 ,

doing

24 o p en i n g s t a t e m e n t s and t h en b r eak in g fo r l u n ch

1 8


20/195

2

3

b e c a u s e it s j u s t a f t e r

noon .

I w i l l make a

p r e f a t o r y

e x p l a n a t i o n

wi th r e s p e c t

to why t h e y v e

b een w a i t i n g so l o n g :

T h a t s

my f a u l t ,

not

anyone

4 else s.

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Any

r e a s o n

n o t to p ro c e e d ,

S t a t e ?

MS ZARKOS:

No,

Your Honor .

THE COURT:

D efen se?

MS

BONJEAN:

No,

Your

Honor .

Thank

you.

THE COURT:

Br i n g o u r

j u r y

o u t , p l e a s e .

THE

SHERIFF:

A l l

r i s e .

Whereupon, t h e

f o l l o w in g p r o ceed in g s

were

h e ld in open c o u r t

i n t h e

p r e s en ce o f t h e j u r y . )

THE COURT: I m co mp e l l ed to say , good a f t e r n o o n ,

ev e ry b o d y . I ll e x p l a i n t h a t in a moment.

I want

16 you

all

to

r ema in s t a n d i n g fo r t h e

moment .

17

18

19

20

21

22

Everyone

e l s e

can be

s e a t e d .

P lea s e

r a i s e

your

r i g h t

h an d s ,

f o l k s

( Ju ro r s sworn . )

THE COURT:

Thank

you.

You

may

be

s e a t e d .

F i r s t ,

t h a n k

you, l a d i e s and g en t l emen ,

fo r y o u r

p ro mp t n es s

t o d a y .

The f a c t

t h a t you

got

23 h e re p r o m p t l y would o t h e r w i s e

have

e n a b l e d

us

to

24

g e t s t a r t e d

q u i c k l y .

The f a c t

t h a t

we

d id n o t

i s

19


21/195

2

my

f a u l t .

t i s

not

t h e f a u l t o f t h e a t t o r n e y s

o r

o f Ms Melongo

I mi s j u d g ed how q u i c k l y I c o u l d

3

g e t

r i d o f some

o t h e r m a t t e r s

b e f o r e

t h e

Co u r t

4

t h a t

have

n o th in g

to

do

w i t h

t h i s

cas e .

I

wi sh

to

5 t h a n k

you as

much

as

I p o s s i b l y

can

fo r

your

6 p a t i e n c e and p ro mi s e

you

as much

as

I

can t h a t

I

7 w i l l en d eav o r

to

n o t

make you

w a i t

a n y t h i n g l i k e

8

9

10

t h i s h e r e a f t e r . I a p o l o g i z e .

Members o f t h e j u r y t h e trial i s ab o u t

to

commence

I w i l l now i n s t r u c t

you as

t o

t h e

11 law

r e g a rd i n g

some o f your d u t i e s d u r i n g

trial and

12

d e l i b e r a t i o n s .

13 You s h o u l d not do any i n d e p e n d e n t

14 i n v e s t i g a t i o n o r r e s e a r c h

on

any s u b j e c t o r p e r s o n

15

r e l a t i n g to t h e

c a se .

What you

may have s een o r

16

h e a rd o u t s i d e o f t h e co u r t ro o m i s n o t e v i d e n c e .

17 T h i s i n c l u d e s any p r e s s r a d i o o r

t e l e v i s i o n

8

19

20

p ro g rams .

And

it a l s o i n c l u d e s any i n f o r m a t i o n

a v a i l a b l e on

t h e I n t e r n e t .

Such

p ro g rams r e p o r t s

and

i n f o r m a t i o n

a r e n o t ev id en ce .

Your

v e r d i c t

21 mus t

not

be i n f l u e n c e d in any way by su ch

22

m a t e r i a l .

For ex amp le

you

must n o t

u se t h e

23 I n t e r n e t o r any

o t h e r

s o u r ce s to

s e a r c h

fo r any

24 i n fo rm a t i o n ab o u t

t h e

c a s e o r

t h e

law

which

20


22/195

a p p l i e s to

t h e c a s e .

2

In t h e

c o u r s e o f

t h e

trial

do n o t

3

c om m unic a t e w i t h

o r

p r o v i d e

i n f o r m a t i o n

p e r s o n a l l y

4

in

w r i t i n g

o r

e l e c t r o n i c a l l y

to

a nyone

a b o u t

this

5 c a s e n o t e ve n your own f a m i l i e s o r f r i e n d s

6

c o u r t r o o m

p e r s o n n e l and a l s o n o t even among

7

y o u r s e l v e s until

o t h e r w i s e i n s t r u c t e d .

L a wye r s

8 p a r t i e s

and

w i t n e s s e s a r e n o t

p e r m i t t e d

t o s p e a k

9

w i t h

you a b o u t

any s u b j e c t e ve n if

u n r e l a t e d

to

10

this c a s e u n t i l after t h e c a s e is o v e r and you

11 a r e d i s c h a r g e d

f rom your

d u t i e s as j u r o r s .

12

13

14

15

T he r e i s an o r d e r in

which trials

a r e

c o n d u c t e d . Soon you w i l l

h e a r

o p e n i n g s t a t e m e n t s

by t h e

a t t o r n e y s .

T h e r e a f t e r e v i d e n c e w i l l be

p r e s e n t e d . As I i n d i c a t e d

y e s t e r d a y

after t h e

16 e v i d e n c e is i n t h e a t t o r n e y s w i l l have t h e

17

o p p o r t u n i t y

to

make f i n a l

a r g u m e n t s .

And it is a t

18

t h a t

p o i n t

t h a t

I w i l l i n s t r u c t you as to

t h e

l aw.

19 I w i l l r e a d t h o s e i n s t r u c t i o n s t o you

h e re

in

open

20 c o u r t and you w i l l a l s o

ha ve

them i n w r i t i n g b ack

21 i n t h e

j u r y

room when you b e g i n

your


22 E v id en ce c o n s i s t s o f t e s t i m o n y

by

23 w i t n e s s e s and o f e x h i b i t s t h a t a r e a l l o w e d i n t o

24

e v i d e n c e by me

S t a t e m e n t s

and r e m a r ks by

21


23/195

1 a t t o r n e y s a r e o r d i n a r i l y n o t e v i d e n c e

and

s h o u l d

2

n o t

be

c o n s i d e r e d by

you

as su ch .

If

t h e r e

a r e

3 e x c e p t i o n s

t o

t h a t I

w i l l

let

you know.

4

5

6

You

do

have

t h e

r i g h t

to t a k e n o t e s

d u r i n g

trial.

Not e pa ds

have

be e n

p r o v i d e d f o r

your c o n v e n i e n c e .

P l e a s e

p l a c e your name o r o t h e r

7 identification

mark

on t h e

co v e r

o f t h e n o t e p a d .

8

No

one w i l l

be

a l l o w ed

to

l o o k a t your n o t e s a t

9

10

11

12

any

t i m e .

You do n o t have

to

t a k e

n o t e s ;

t h a t is

e n t i r e l y up to

you .

I ha ve no p r e f e r e n c e one way

o r t h e

o t h e r . If

you

do

t a k e

n o t e s

do n o t let

t h a t s to

p

you

f rom h e a r i n g all

t h e e v i d e n c e .

You

13

may

use

you r n o t e s t o r e f r e s h your memory a t t h e

14 a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e

b u t you s h o u l d a l s o u se

your

own

15

memory o f t h e e v i d e n c e .

If

your

n o t e s

c o n f l i c t

16 w i t h

your

memory

o r

if

someone

else s n o t e s

c o n f l i c t

17

w i t h

your

memory you a re f r e e

t o use you r

own

18

memory o f

t h e

e v i d e n c e .

J u s t

b e c a u s e a j u r o r ha s

19

t a k e n

n o t e s doe s n o t mean t h a t h i s o r

h e r

memory

20

o f t h e e v i d e n c e i s any

better t h a n t h e

memory o f a

21 j u r o r

who

ha s

n o t t a k e n

n o t e s .

22 Your

n o t e s

w i l l n o t

l e a v e

t h i s c o u r t r o o m

23 The

d e p u t y

sheriff w i l l c o l l e c t t hem when you

24 l e a v e

f o r l u n c h and a t t h e

end o f t h e c o u r t

da y .

22


24/195

At t h e

end

o f t h e

trial when

you

a re d i s c h a rg e d

2 f rom

f u r t h e r

s e r v i c e in t h i s

c a se ,

t h o s e n o t e s

3 w i l l be c o l l e c t e d by

our

d ep u t y s h e r i f f

and

t h en

d e s t r o y e d .

No

one

w i l l

be

a l lowed

to

l ook

a t

t h e

5

n o te s

b e fo re

t h ey

a re d e s t ro y e d .

6

7

As I i n d i c a t e d y e s t e r d a y , f o l k s ,

sit

w h erev e r

you

wish .

I f

t h e r e a re any

o f

you who

8 a re

h a r d e r

o f h e a r i n g

and

wish to sit c l o s e r to

9 t h e w i t n e s s s t a n d , p l e a s e

do so . I f

as I

i n d i c a t e d

10

y e s t e r d a y , if you

wish

to t ak e a b r eak

o r

g e t a

11

b r eak and I have

not

been so r e s o l u t e as I t r y to

12

13

be r e g a rd i n g b re a k s ,

r a i s e

your hand .

I ll

see

you.

W e l l

t ak e a b r eak .

I f

I

d o n t see

you

14

because I m

l o o k i n g

somewhere e l s e

-- maybe

a t

my

15 n o t e s

- - say ,

ex cu s e

me

Judge , I need a b r eak ,

16

and

w e l l t a k e a

b r eak .

17

18

During t h i s

trial,

you w i l l h ea r

o b j e c t i o n s f rom

t h e

a t t o r n e y s . The a t t o r n e y s have

19 t h e r i g h t

to

o b j e c t

when

t h ey b e l i e v e

t e s t i m o n y

o r

20

o t h e r o f f e r e d e v i d e n c e i s not

a d m i s s i b l e .

Those

21

o b s e r v a t i o n s

h e lp me e n s u re

t h a t

you o n l y h ea r

22

a d m i s s i b l e ev id en ce .

When I s u s t a i n

an o b j e c t i o n ,

23 you w i l l h e a r me

say ,

s u s t a i n e d , and you w i l l

24 d i s r e g a r d

t h e

q u e s t i o n and answer if one had b een

23


25/195

1

2

3

4

5

7

8

given and

you

mus t n o t

i n f e r

an y th in g f rom

t h e

q u e s t i o n o r answer .

You

mus t

n o t s p e c u l a t e

on

what

t h e w i t n e ss

would have s a i d if I would have

him

o r

he r

to

answer .

At t h i s t i m e , t h e a t t o r n e y s f o r

each

s i d e

have

t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f making

an o p en i n g

s t a t e m e n t .

An o p en i n g

s t a t e m e n t

i s n o t

e v i d e n c e

and

s h o u l d

n o t be

c o n s i d e r e d

by you a s s u ch .

It

i s a

9

s t a t e m e n t by t h e a t t o r n e y as to what t h ey

e x p e c t

10 t h e

e v i d e n c e

to show.

11 S t a t e , do

you wi sh

to make

an

o p en i n g

12

s t a t e m e n t ?

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

MS DASGUPTA:

Yes Judge .

THE COURT:

Ms. D asg u p ta , you may

do so now.

OPENING

STATEMENT

Y THE PEOPLE:

MS DASGUPTA:

L a d i e s

and

g en t l emen , y o u r e

not go ing

to

h e a r ab o u t t h e c r ime o f

t h e

c e n t u r y

t o d ay .

But what

you

w i l l h e a r ab o u t

i s

a c r i me o f

t h i s

c e n t u ry .

Y o u r e u sed t o t h e

b u r g l a r

who u sed

21 a

c ro w b ar to g e t

i n t o

so meb o d y s home

p ry

open

a

22

window o r a d o o r , rummage

t h ro u g h

so meb o d y s p e r s o n a l

23 b e lo n g in g s

and t h e n

t ak e some t h i n g s - - j e w e l ry ,

24

p a p e r s , e l e c t r o n i c s .

We know that s a c r i m e .

24


26/195

Nowadays you

have

a c r i m i n a l

sitting

in

2 t h e

p r i v a c y o f

t h e i r

own home w i t h t h e i r

l a p t o p

o r

3 t h e i r co mp u te r , r e m o t e l y a c c e s s i n g a n o t h e r p e r s o n s

4

co mp u te r

m i l e s

and

m i l e s

away

w i t h o u t t h e

knowledge ,

5

6

t h e p r e s e n c e , t h e

a u t h o r i t y o f

t h a t v i c t i m .

can l o o k a t e - m a i l a c c o u n t s , bank

a c c o u n t s .

They

They

7 can

alter, r emove ,

d e l e t e

i n f o r m a t i o n .

8

9

MS. BONJEAN: O b j e c t i o n , Your Honor .

This

l i n e o f

sounds more

l i k e

a r gum e n t

and

doe s n o t

10 sound l i k e t h e

e v i d e n c e

t h e y i n t e n d to

p ro v e a t trial.

12

THE COURT:

O v e r ru l e d .

MS. DASGUPTA:

T h a t s a l s o a c r i m e .

T h i s

13

d e f e n d a n t sitting

b e f o r e you t o d ay was an ex -emp lo y ee

14

o f what

was t h e

S a v e - A - L i f e

F o u n d a t i o n .

The

15 p r e s i d e n t o f t h a t f o u n d a t i o n was a woman named

16

C a r o l S p i z z i r r i .

T h i s d e f e n d a n t , w i t h i n da ys

o f

17 b e i n g

f i r e d f rom

h e r

j o b , w i t h i n da ys

o f c o m p l e t i n g

18

an e x i t i n t e r v i e w where

she

was f o r c e d to

g i v e

up

19 acces s t o S a v e - A - L i f e Fo u n d a t i o n , s p e c i f i c a l l y ,

20

p a s s w o r d s

t h i s d e fe n d a n t a c c e s s e d Ms. Spizzirri s

21

co mp u t e r . She d i d n t

s t o p

t h e r e :

She a c c e s s e d

22 Ms. Spizzirri s p e r s o n a l e - m a i l acco u n t , and sh e

23

24

rummaged

t h ro u g h

Ms.

Spizzirri s e -

m a i l .

And

she

t o o k

o n e . She

d i d n t

s t o p

t h e r e .

She

fo rw ard ed

25


27/195

2

it

to

h e r s e l f .

A f t e r she d i d t h a t , she changed

t h e

s u b j e c t

l i n e .

She changed c o n t e n t in t h a t

3 e - m a i l , and she

fo rw ard ed

it to

o t h e r

employees

a t

4

Save -A-Li fe Founda t ion .

And sh e

had

a b s o l u t e l y

no

5 a u t h o r i t y to do

so .

6 e know she d i d

t h i s b e c a u s e

a f t e r

7 d e t e c t i v e s in v e s t i g a t e d

t h i s cas e , t h ey

o b t a i n e d a

8

v a l i d s e a r c h w a r r a n t , and t h e y r eco v e r ed

h e r

l a p t o p

9

f rom h e r home They had a co mp u te r f o r e n s i c

10

a n a l y s t l o o k a t t h i s l a p t o p , and

it

was as if she

11

left e l e c t r o n i c

f o o t p r i n t s o f h e r

c r ime

in h e r

12

l a p t o p .

This

a n a l y s t found a number o f

t h i n g s .

13 One o f

them was a

copy o f

a web

page t h a t was

14

s av ed in

he r computer .

That web page

was

t h a t

v e ry

15

e - m a i l t h a t t h e d e fe n d a n t had

fo rw ard ed

to h e r s e l f .

16 She found

in t h e d e f e n d a n t s co mp u te r

17

18

19

t y p e d in

t h e

v i c t i m , Caro l Spizzirri s,

e - m a i l

a d d r e s s ,

wi th h e r p e r s o n a l p as s w o rd .

A g ain ,

days

a f t e r she was

f i r e d f rom

t h i s

j o b .

Found in

h e r

20

home were u se rn ames

and passwords

- -

a whole list

21 o f

Save -A-Li fe

emp l o y ees i n f o r m a t i o n -- u se rn ames

22

and

passwords .

23 e a l s o know t h i s b e c a u s e t h i s d e f en d an t

24

a d m i t t e d

to t h o s e d e t e c t i v e s what she d i d .

She

26


28/195

1 a d m i tt e d t o r e t a i n i n g p as sw o rd s

o f

t h o s e e m p l o y e e s .

2 She

a d m i t t e d

to

l o o k i n g a t

Ms.

Spizzirri s

e m a i l

3

4

acco u n t .

She a d m i t t e d t o f o r w a r d i n g one to h e r s e l f .

T h i s

d e fe n d a n t

i s

no

d i f f e r e n t

t h a n y o u r

5 common

t h

i

e f in t h e n i g h t , e x c e p t

she u sed

t h e

6

t o o l s

o f h e r

t r a d e to

commit

t h i s c r i m e .

W e r e

7

going to

show you

e v i d e n c e

t h a t

w i l l

p r o v e t h a t

8 she d i d

n o t

have

a u t h o r i t y

to a c c e s s

9

Ms.

Spizzirri s e - m a i l a c c o u n t , d i d

not

have

10 a u t h o r i t y to fo rw ard t h a t e - m a i l to h e r s e l f ; and

11 when

she

f o r w a r d e d it to

h e r s e l f and

when she

12 ch an g ed

t h e i n f o r m a t i o n

in t h a t

e m a i l , t h a t

sh e

13

a c t u a l l y a l t e r e d d a t a .

And b e c a u s e

o f

t h a t , you

14

w i l l f i n d h e r g u i l t y

o f

co mp u te r t a m p e r i n g .

15 Thank

you .

16

17

THE COURT:

Thank you

Ms.

D asg u p ta .

Ms. Bo n jean ,

do

you wish

to g i v e n

an

18 o p en i n g

s t a t e m e n t ?

19

20

21

22

23

24

MS.

BONJEAN:

I

do,

Your Honor .

THE COURT: You may.

OPENING STATEMENT

Y THE DEFENDANT:

Thank

you .

MS.

BONJEAN:

Good a f t e r n o o n ,

l a d i e s

and

g en t l emen .

I d l i k e a g a i n t o i n t r o d u c e m y s e l f .

27


29/195

1

y

name i s

J e n n i f e r Bonjean , and

I r e p r e s e n t

2 Ms. Melongo who

i s

my

c l i e n t

t h a t sits t o t h e

3 r i g h t

o f

me.

4

5

7

You

w i l l

be

i n s t r u c t e d t h a t

o p en i n g

s t a t e m e n t s a r e t h e o r i e s o f what t h e

l awye rs

i n t e n d

t o

p ro

v e a t trial

Th e o r i e s .

T h e y r e

not

ev id en ce .

And somet imes t h e r e a re

l awye rs

t h a t

8 g e t

v e ry zea lo u s

d u r in g

open ing s t a t e m e n t s ab o u t

9

10

what t h ey

t h i n k t h e y r e g o i n g

to

p ro

v

e .

They have

h i g h

hopes o f

what t h e

e v i d e n c e

w i l l show.

And it

11 t u r n s out somet imes

t h a t

t h ey d o n t

a c t u a l l y

12

d e l i v e r .

And you a r e

going

t o f i n d t h a t to

be t h e

13 c a s e h e re .

14

Now

if

you l i s t e n e d t o t h e

S t a t e s

15 o p en i n g s t a t e m e n t , t h ey a re t e l l i n g you

t h a t

e i g h t

16 y ea r s

ago - - back

in May

1 s t o f

2006

- -

e i g h t y ea r s

17

ago - -

my

c l i e n t

co mmi t t ed t h e a c t o f co mp u te r

18

t a m p e r i n g

when she acces s ed

- - a l l e g e d l y - -

an

19 e - m a i l

accoun t o f her

fo rmer

b o s s because she was

20

21

so d i s g r u n t l e d .

And you

know what she d i d ?

fo rw ard ed an

e - m a i l to

h e r s e l f . T h a t s

what

She

22

t h ey re a l l e g i n g . T h i s

d i s g r u n t l e d

employee has

23 f u l l

a c c e s s

t o t h e b o s s e - m a i l s .

And t h e

t h i n g s

24 she

d o es to r e a l l y

s a b o t a g e

and

g e t a t them i s

28


30/195

1

fo rw ard

an e - m a i l to h e r s e l f .

Hum.

It s h o u l d

2

make

you wonder w h e t h e r o r no t t h i s

a n a l o g y

o f a

3

4

5

b u r g l a r i s going to

h o l d

up.

A b u r g l a r

s t e a l s

t h i n g s .

A

t h i e f

s t e a l s

t h i n g s .

you t h a t

my

c l i e n t s t o l e

t h i n g s .

T h e y r e

telling

T h e r e s n o t

6 g o i n g to be a s h r ed

o f e v i d e n c e

t h a t you h e a r f rom

7 t h e w i t n e s s s t a n d t h a t my c l i e n t d i d an y th in g

8 i mp ro p e r , i n c l u d i n g acces s anyone s co mp u t e r .

9 They

c a n n o t

d e m o n s t r a t e

by p r o o f beyond

a

r e a s o n a b l e

10

d o u b t

--

and that s t h e i r b u rd en , l a d i e s and

11

gen t l emen .

I f

t h e y b r i n g

t h e

case

- - and

let s

12 n o t

u n d e r e s t i m a t e

computer t a m p e r i n g i s a v e ry

13 s e r i o u s

o f f e n s e .

14

15

16

THE COURT: S u s t a i n e d .

S u s t a i n e d .

You

a r e

i n s t r u c t e d to d i s r e g a r d t h a t ,

l a d i e s and g en t l emen .

An o f f e n s e , s e r i o u s o r n o t

17 s e r i o u s , that s what

w e r e

going

t o r e s o l v e .

18

19

P lea s e

c o n t i n u e , Ms.

Bo n jean .

MS

BONJEAN:

Yes Your Honor .

Thank

you.

20 The S t a t e i s g o i n g to tell

you

h e re

in

21 o p en i n g s t a t e m e n t what t h ey i n t e n d t o p ro v e , and

22

t h ey j u s t d i d .

But t h e y r e n o t

go ing

to be a b l e

23

to d e l i v e r f rom

t h e w i t n e s s s t a n d

because

24

t h e r e s - -

and I m

n o t

go ing

to g e t

i n t o

all t h e

29


31/195

1 e v i d e n c e h e r e in open ing

s t a t e m e n t s ,

b u t I m g o i n g

2

to

p o i n t ou t a few t h i n g s .

F i r s t

o f

all you a r e

3 g o i n g to h e a r t h a t J u ly 6 th , t h ey c o n f i s c a t e d my

4

c l i e n t

s

l a p t o p ,

based

on a l l e g a t i o n s

o f

5

Ms S p i z z i r r i .

Ms S p i z z i r r i made t h e s e same

6 a l l e g a t i o n s a b o u t t h e IT

p e r s o n

t h a t

p re c e d e d

7

8

Ms Melongo

She made a l l e g a t i o n s a f t e r t h i s .

Y o u r e going to h e a r t h a t

t e s t i m o n y .

y

c l i e n t

9

was

t h e

IT

a d m i n i s t r a t o r and had acces s - -

10

11

12

r i g h t f u l l y had acces s

to

passwords , all o f

t h o s e

t h i n g s .

And she

used h e r l a p t o p .

T h e r e s

no

q u e s t i o n a b o u t it .

You a r e going

to

h ea r f rom

13

Ms S p i z z i r r i

t h a t

she

made an a l l e g a t i o n a g a i n s t

14

t h e e x a c t

p e r s o n

t h a t

p re c e d e d Ms

Melongo

- -

t h a t

15 he

s a b o t a g e d h e r

c o m p u t e r s , t h a t he

d e s t ro y e d

16 i n f o r m a t i o n , t h a t he went

i n t o

h e r

o f f

i c e and

17 s a i d , if

you

d o n t h i r e

me

p e rm a n e n t l y

MS. DASGUPTA: O b j e c t i o n .

THE COURT: O v e r ru l e d .

18

19

20

MS. BONJEAN:

I f

you

don t h i r e me p e rm a n e n t l y ,

21 I m g o i n g

to

s a b o t a g e your compute r .

22

So a p p a r e n t l y , s h e s t h e mos t u n l u c k y

23

emp lo y e r

in

t h e wo r ld

- -

t h a t

she

now

has

two

IT

24

p e o p l e

t h a t a r e

j

u s t

ou t

t o g e t h e r .

And y o u r e

30


32/195

g o i n g

to listen to h e r

t e s t i m o n y , l a d i e s and

2 g en t l emen , and

y o u r e g o in g to come

up

w i t h your

3 own r e a s o n s why she may ha ve

had

a m o t i v e

to

make

4


a g a i n s t

my

client.

F a l s e


5

t h a t

c a n n o t

be

d e m o n s t r a t e d .

6 Y o u r e a l s o g o in g to h e a r

t h a t

w h i l e t h e y

7 went

i n

and t o o k my

client s l a p t o p co mp u te r ,

what

8

d i d n t t h e y do .

Well , t h e y d i d n t go

g e t

a m i r r o r

9

image

o f t h e

s e r v e r

t h a t t h e

e - m a i l s

mig h t

have

gone t h r o u g h

t h a t was

b a s e d in

Co l o rad o .

They

0

11

12

d i d n t

do t h a t .

They d i d n t - -

to

work on my t e rm i n o l o g y h e r e .

som e t i m e s

I have

They

d i d n t even

13

subpoe na

t h e e - m a i l

p r o v i d e r

and g e t

r e q u e s t e d

14

l o g s and

u s e r a c t i v i t y .

They d i d n t do t h a t .

15 What t h e y went to is

h e r

co mp u te r and

h e r

16

co mp u te r a l o n e and

f rom t h i s

s p e c u l a t e d and made

17

w i l d a s s u m p t i o n s .

And y e t ,

t h e y ha ve

no

18 e v i d e n c e

--

h a r d

e v i d e n c e -- t h a t

t h e y c o u l d

have

19 g o t t e n to

show

IP a d d r e s s e s -- t h i n g s t h a t

would

20 a c t u a l l y

be s t r o n g e v i d e n c e

t h a t

you

mig h t be

21

i n t e r e s t e d i n h e a r i n g

in d e c i d i n g t h i s

c a s e .

And

22

q u i t e

h o n e s t l y ,

l a d i e s and

g en t l emen , y o u r e

23 entitled

t o

th e b e s t e v i d e n c e when y o u r e

p a s s i n g

24

on so meth in g

as s e r i o u s

a s w h e t h e r o r n o t

31


33/195

someone

2

3

4

5

7

MS.

ZARKOS:

O b j e c t i o n .

MS.

BONJEAN:

is g u i l t y

o r n o t

g u i l t y

o f

t h e

c r i m e

o f

c om pu t e r

t a m p e r i n g .

t o t h e b e s t

e v i d e n c e .

Y o u r e entitled

THE

COURT:

O v e r ru l e d .

MS. BONJEAN:

Y o u r e n o t entitled you

8

s h o u l d n t ha ve to make t h e s e g r a v e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s

9 b a s e d on s p e c u l a t i o n and b a s e d on a s s u m p t i o n s and

10 b a s e d on, oh,

it

mig h t have ha ppe ne d t h a t way o r

11

12

13

4

5

it mig h t have

ha ppe ne d

t h a t

way

o r I d o n t know

how t h a t g o t t h e r e .

And you w i l l f i n d t h a t you

w i l l n o t be p r o v i d e d w i t h t h e b e s t e v i d e n c e .

Now h e r e s t h e

t h i n g ,

l a d i e s and

g en t l emen .

Even if you

b e l i e v e e v e r y t h i n g

t h a t

t h e

16

S t a t e

ha s

to o f f e r

you,

y o u r e g o in g to

still

r e t u r n

17 a n o t g u i l t y v e r d i c t

a g a i n s t

my c l i e n t and t h i s is

18

19

20

21

22

why.

Be c a use

t h e y have

to

p ro v e t h a t she a l t e r e d

d a t a , and

t h e y can n o t

p ro v e t h a t . Fo rw ard in g an

e - m a i l t o y o u r s e l f i s n o t a l t e r i n g d a t a .

She d i d

n o t

- -

maybe I

want to

make

t h i s p e r f e c t l y

c l e a r . e a r e n o t s t a t i n g

t h a t my

client

d i d t h a t .

23

e

i n t e n d to e s t a b l i s h

t h a t

she is

100 p e r c e n t

24

i n n o c e n t

o f e v e r

y c h a r g e t h a t t h e y v e made. But

32


34/195

1

e ve n

if t h e S t a t e were

r i g h t ,

s h e s still n o t

2 g u i l t y

o f

t h e c r ime o f

computer t a m p e r i n g

b e c a u s e

she

d i d n t alter a n y t h i n g .

She fo rw ard ed an

4

e - m a i l to

h e r s e l f .

T h a t s

n o t

co mp u te r

t a m p e r i n g .

5 It mig h t be s o me t h i n g ,

b u t

it s

not

co mp u te r

6

t a m p e r i n g .

7 And I

want

you to remember t h e

words

t h e

8

9

p r o s e c u t o r u s ed .

She rummaged

t h ro u g h

t h e

e - m a i l s .

L i s t e n ;

listen

f rom t h e w i t n e s s s t a n d

1 w h e t h e r my c l i e n t -- what

t h e i r

e v i d e n c e i s o f my

c l i e n t rummaging

t h ro u g h

any

e - m a i l s . T h i s i s1

12

o v e r r e a c h i n g .

You

w i l l

h e a r t h e t e s t im o n y

and t h e

13 e v i d e n c e f rom

t h e w i tn e s s

s t a n d , and

you

w i l l make

14 a d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e y d e l i v e r e d on t h i s

15

b ig

p ro mi s e

t h e y

j u s t

made to you .

Be c a use

we a r e

16 c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e y

c a n n o t , w i l l

n o t , a r e u n a b l e

17

t o ; and t h a t t h i s

w i l l

all have b een ,

18 u n f o r t u n a t e l y , a

w as te

o f

o u r

t i m e .

19

2

But

a p p r e c i a t e your

t i m e

and

l o o k

fo rw ard t o l i s t e n i n g to t h e e v i d e n c e

w i t h

you .

21

w e r e

c o n f i d e n t t h a t you w i l l have

no

t r o u b l e

22

r e t u r n i n g

a

n o t

g u i l t y

v e r d i c t a t

t h e c l o s e

o f

23 t h i s

c a se .

24 Thank you .

33

An d


35/195

THE COURT: Thank

you,

Ms. B o n jean .

2

L a d i e s

and g e n t l e m e n , I m g o i n g to g i v e

3 you y o u r l u n c h b r e a k now r a t h e r t h a n

start

w i t h

4

any

S t a t e

w i t n e s s e s

and h av e

to

i n t e r r u p t

them.

5 Your l u n c h

s h o u l d

be

h e r e any

moment , I b e l i e v e .

THE

SHERIFF:

It s h e r e .

7

THE

COURT:

At l e a s t one t h i n g is g o i n g w e l l .

8

I ll s e e

you a t

ab o u t

1 : 4 5 .

Before

you l e a v e , I

9 do

want

to a d mo n i s h you n o t to d i s c u s s this c a s e

10

w i t h a n y o n e u n t i l y o u v e

h e a r d all

t h e e v i d e n c e ,

11

t h e

a rg u m en t s

and

my i n s t r u c t i o n s on t h e l aw

and

2

b e g u n

y o u r


En j o y y o u r

l u n c h .

13

W e l l

s e e you

a b o u t

1 : 4 5 .

14

THE SHERIFF: A l l rise.

15

Whereupon,

t h e f o l lo w i n g p r o c e e d i n g s

16

were h e l d in

open

c o u r t o u t s i d e t h e

17

p r e s e n c e o f t h e j u r y . )

18

THE COURT:

Thank

you,

e v e r y b o d y .

You

can

be

19

s e a t e d .

20

A r e a l

q u i c k p o i n t b e f o r e

we

a d j o u r n ,

I

2

22

d i d t a k e t h e liberty o f e n g e n d e r i n g

a

r e s p o n s e t o

t h e

o b j e c t i o n

b e c a u s e I

t h o u g h t

t h a t t h e p h r a s e ,

23 v e r y s e r i o u s c r im e , impended on t h e p o t e n t i a l

24

p u n i s h m e n t , which is no t

a

p r o p e r s u b j e c t

f o r t h e

34


36/195

1

j u r y ,

p u r s u a n t

to

t h e

law and ,

in

f a c t ,

t h e I PI

2 i n s t r u c t io n s t h a t

w i l l be g i v e n a t

t h e c l o s e

o f

3

t h i s

c a s e .

4

An y th in g

e l s e

t o d i s c u s s b e f o r e

we

b r e a k

5 f o r

l u n c h ?

7

8

9

MS. BONJEAN: No, Your Honor .

THE

COURT:

See ev e ry b o d y

a t

1 : 4 5 .

Lunch break)

THE

COURT:

An y th in g we n eed to d i s c u s s b e f o r e

10

t h e

j u r y

comes

o u t ?

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

MS.

BONJEAN: I

d o n t

t h i n k

so , Your Honor .

THE

COURT: Br ing

t h e j u r y

o u t .

Whereupon,

t h e

f o l l o w i n g

p r o c e e d i n g s

were h e l d

in open

c o u r t i n

t h e

p r e se n c e

o f

t h e

j u r y . )

THE

COURT:

You can

be s e a t e d

e v e r y o n e .

C a l l your irst w i t n e s s .

MS. DASGUPTA:

S t a t e c a l l s Shahna V o i t a .

THE COURT:

P l e a s e s t e p up i you

would , Mis s .

20

R a i s e your

r i g h t

hand and r em a in s t a n d i n g

f o r t h e

21

moment .

22 Wi t n e s s d u l y sw o r n .

23

24

THE

CLERK:

THE

COURT:

You may be s e a t e d .

Ms.

G u p t a ,

you may p r o c e e d .

35


37/195

1 SHAHNA

VOITA

2 c a l l e d as a

w i t n e s s

on b e h a l f

o f

t h e

Peo p l e o f t h e

3

S t a t e

o f

Illinois

h av i n g been first

d u l y sworn,

4

was examined

and

testified as

f o l l o w s :

5

DIRECT

EXAMINATION

6

7

Q

Y MS. DASGUPTA:

In a l o u d c l e a r

v o ice ,

can you s t a t e and

8 s p e l l your first and l a s t name.

9

10

11

12

13

A

Q

A

Q

A

Shahna Voi ta - -

S - h - a - h - n - a , V - o - i - t - a .

Shahna , where do

you

c u r r e n t l y

r e s i d e ?

In Minneso ta

.

W h at s your p r o f e s s i o n ?

I

work f o r

Immi g ra t i o n

and

Customs

14

Enforcement as

a staff

a s s i s t a n t .

15

16

17

18

19

Q

A

Q

work?

How

long have

you

worked t h e r e ?

Since 2007.

P r i o r to your c u r r e n t j o b ,

where

d id you

I

worked

f o r th e Illinois A t t o r n e y

20

G e n e r a l s

O f f i c e .

21

22

23

Q

Q

And i s t h a t h e re in Chicago?

Yes it i s .

And what

was

your

p o s i t i o n

a t t h e

24 Illinois

A t to r n ey

G e n e r a l s

O f f i c e ?

36


38/195

1

2

3

4

5

7

8

9

A

I was a c om pu t e r

f o r e n s i c a n a l y s t .

Q How l o n g were you a c om pu t e r

f o r e n s i c

a n a l y s t t h e r e ?

A

Si n ce 2002 .

Q

A

What d i v i s i o n d i d you

work

a t ?

High

Tech

Cr imes Bu reau .

THE

COURT:

I m

s o r r y , Ms. V o i t a .

Can

I

a s k

you to

keep

your

v o i c e

up . The

a c o u s t i c s

a re no

good in t h i s room.

You ve g o t to p r o j e c t

a little

10

bit more

t h a n

you mig h t o r d i n a r i l y , if you would ,

11 p l e a s e .

12

13

14

THE

WITNESS:

Y es

sir

THE

COURT:

Thank

you.

I m

s o r r y , Ms. D asg u p ta .

15 Y MS. DASGUPTA:

Go

ah ead .

16

Q

You s a i d

you

worked

in

th e

Hi gh- T e c h

17 Cr imes Bureau?

18

A

T h a t s

c o r r e c t .

19 Q

In

what c a p a c i t y

d i d

you work

t h e r e ?

20

A

As

a c om pu t e r f o r e n s i c

a n a l y s t .

21

Q

And

you

d i d t h a t

t h e

e n t i r e

t i m e you

were

22

t h e r e ?

23

24

A

Q

Yes.

B e f o r e t h a t ,

where

d i d you work?

37


39/195

A

I

worked

f o r t h e S t a t e o f

South Dakota

2 t h e g o v e r n o r s

o f f i c e in

t h e

I n t e r n e t

Crimes

3 A g a i n s t C h i ld r en U n i t .

4

Q

D i r e c t i n g

your

a t t e n t i o n

to

a p p r o x i m a t e l y

5

June

o r

J u l y

o f 2006 , were

you

employed

i n t h e

6

Hi g h - T e c h

Cr imes Bureau a t t h e llinois A t to r n ey

7

G e n e r a l s

O f f i c e ?

8

9

10

A

Q

I was.

What were your

r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h e r e ?

To

s e i z e

c o m p u t e r

e v i d e n c e

and a n a l y z e

11 t h a t ev id en ce .

12

Q

In

t h a t p o s i t i o n , d i d

you r e c e i v e

any

13 s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g ?

14

15

16

A

Q

A

I

d i d .

And

what t y p e o f

t r a i n i n g d i d you r e c e i v e ?

I a t t e n d e d s e v e r a l t r a i n i n g

s e m i n a r s

and

17 c l a s s e s p r o v i d e d by i n d u s t r y , c o r p o r a t i o n s ,

t h e

18

FBI t h e N a t i o n a l White C o l l a r Crimes C en te r .

19 Q What t y p es o f c l a s s e s ?

20 A These were anywhere

f rom

b a s i c co mp u te r

21 c l a s s e s

to more ad v an ced

co mp u te r f o r e n s i c

a n a l y s i s

22

t r a i n i n g .

23

Q

In your

c a r e e r ,

a b o u t

how

many

co mp u te r s

24

have you c o n d u c t e d

f o r e n s i c

a n a l y s e s on?

38


40/195

A

I

n e v e r k ep t t r a c k , b u t

I

would s a y

2

h u n d r e d s .

3

Q

And o v e r what p e r i o d

o f

t i m e

would you

4

s a y

you

d i d

t h a t ?

5

A From when I s t a r t e d w i t h t h e S t a t e

o f

6 South Dakota u n t i l I left

t h e

A t t o r n e y

G e n e r a l s

7

O f f i c e

in Illinois.

8

Q

Ag a i n ,

d u r i n g

t h e

d i r e c t i n g

y o u r

9

a t t e n t i o n b ack to t h a t

June ,

J u l y o f

2006 ,

d i d you

1 have an o p p o r t u n i t y t o meet w i t h d e t e c t i v e s f rom

11

t h e S c h i l l e r Pa r k P o l i c e

Dep ar tmen t?

12

13

14

A

Q

A

I

d i d .

Why d i d you meet w i t h them?

I was

a s k e d to

assist on a c a s e t h e y were

15 i n v e s t i g a t i n g .

16

17

Q

A

What was y o u r

a s s i s t a n c e

su p p o sed t o be?

To h e l p s e rv e

t h e i r

s e a r c h

w a r r a n t ,

s e i z e

18 any c o m p u t e r - r e l a t e d

e v i d e n c e

and

p e r f o r m a f o r e n s i c

19

a n a l y s i s on

t h a t

e v i d e n c e t h a t was

s e i z e d .

2

21

22

Q

A

Q

Was

t h i s s e a r c h

w a r r a n t e x e c u t e d a t a home?

It

was.

And

do you r e c a l l

a p p r o x i m a t e l y where

23

t h a t

home was?

24

A

I d o n t

r e c a l l .

I t h i n k

it

was

P a l a t i n e ,

39


41/195

p e r h a p s .

3

4

5

6

Q

A

Q

A

Q

Here

in Illinois?

C o r r e c t .

Do

you

r e c a l l

d i d you go to t h a t

home?

I d i d .

Do you r e c a l l t h e

month

and y e a r

you

went

7 t h e r e ?

8

9

10

11

12

13

A

Q

A

Q

A

Q

I

b e l i e v e it

was June o f 2006 .

Did you know

whose home

t h a t

was?

It was Annabe l M e l o n g o s .

Do

you see t h a t

p e r s o n h e re

in c o u r t

t o d a

y?

I do.

Can

you p o i n t

to h e r and

i d e n t i f y an

14 article o f

c l o t h i n g t h a t

she is w e a r i n g ?

15

A She is sitting a t t h a t t a b l e o v e r t h e r e

16

w i t h

a

b l u e j a c k e t on.

17

18

19

MS DASGUPTA:

May

t h e r e c o r d reflect an

i n - c o u r t

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n

o f

t h e

d e fe n d a n t ?

THE

COURT:

So

i n d i c a t e d .

20

Y MS DASGUPTA:

21

22

23

24

Q

When

you

g o t

t o t h e

s c e n e , d i d

you

meet

w i t h were you t h e r e w i t h t h e d e t e c t i v e s ?

A I

met them t h e r e , y e s .

Q

Was one

o f

t h e

d e t e c t i v e s

a D e t e c t i v e

40


42/195

1 Mart in?

2

3

Q

Yes

it was.

When

you got t o the

s cen e

how many

4

computers

were

a t

t h i s

home?

5

6

Q

I b e l i e v e t h e r e were two

Can you t ll us what type o f computers

7

t h ey

were?

8

9

A

Q

A

l a p t o p

and a

d es k to p .

What were you as k ed to do

- -

o r what d i d

10 you do

wi th t h o se computers?

11

A I

s e i z e d t h o s e

computers

p e r

t he e v i d e n c e

12

s e i z u r e

r u l e s

t h a t

t he I l l i n o i s High-Tech Crime

13 Bureau

had e s t a b l i s h e d t o b r i n g back to our l a b .

14

Q

And can

you d e s c r i b e what you

d id

wi th

15

t h o se computers?

16

Photographs

were

t ak en o f t he e v i d e n c e as

17 it

was

found

and

then it was s e i z e d p e r

our

18

19

p o l i c i e s .

The computers were u n p l u g g ed ;

t h ey

were

not sh u t

down.

And t h e

b a t t e r i e s were

p u l l e d f rom

20 t he l a p t o p

and

t h en t h ey

were

l a b e l e d as ev id en ce

21

and

t ak en b ack to our o f f i c e .

22

23

24

Q

Pi

Q

Did you t ak e them b ack t o t h e o f f i c e ?

I

d i d .

And

were t he

computers

wi th

you f rom t h e

41


43/195


44/195

Q

And in what c o n d i t i o n were t h o s e co mp u te r s

2 a t t h a t t i me when you r e t r i e v e d them?

3

A

They a p p e a r e d

to be i n

t h e

same

c o n d i t i o n

4 a s when I s e i z e d them.

5

Q

Did you

co n d u c t a f o r e n s i c

a n a l y s i s

on

6

b o t h o f

t h e s e co mp u te r s?

7

8

9

10

12

13

14

I d i d .

Q

And can you b r i e f l y d e s c r i b e how you d id so?

A F o r en s i c a n a l y s i s on any co mp u te r

e l e c t r o n i c e v i d e n c e t h a t e v i d e n c e i s first

w r i te - b l o c k e d t o p r e v e n t any ch an g es to t h a t

ev id en ce .

I

b e l i e v e i n t h i s

c a s e F a s t B l o c

was

u s ed .

It s a h ard w are

w r i t e - b l o c k i n g

d e v i c e t h a t

w i l l p r e v e n t any ch an g es to t h a t ev id en ce .

The

15 e v i d e n c e i s t h e n d i gitally c o p i e d bit

by

bit o n t o

16

17

a n o t h

Trial Transcript 07 29 2014

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Transcript of Trial Transcript 07 29 2014