Ted Wafer Trial – August 4, 2014
After Friday and the weekend, the trial of Ted Wafer reconvenes today at 9 a.m. Yahtzeebutterfly and others have done a fantastic job following available information on Twitter. That has been our only option since the judge ordered no live stream the afternoon of the first day of trial.
WXYZ-TV Detroit generally releases a video recapping the day, which I shall post here as soon as it is available.
On another note, Michael Dunn has a pretrial hearing today on the retrial of 1st degree murder charges for killing Jordan Davis. If you hear anything about it before I do, feel free to post it in comments.
Because it’s so tiring following the Wafer trial via Twitter, I personally hope that the defense rests today and Tuesday, the jury will begin their work deliberating. Actually, I don’t see much that the defense has left to present.
Justice for Renisha!
UPDATE!
I didn’t read any tweets about Wafer being cross-examined by the prosecution, but WXYZ-TV reports in their recap video that cross-examination did happen and will continue in the morning.
MICHAEL DUNN
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on September 22 for Dunn’s retrial.
Posted on 08/04/2014, in Cases, Renisha McBride and tagged defense, murder, Renisha McBride, Ted Wafer, trial. Bookmark the permalink. 194 Comments.
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 
Court reconvenes at 9:00 a.m. this morning. Here are Twitter sites reporting the trial proceedings:
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Mandi Wright, a photographer for the Detroit Free Press, tweets photos from the courtroom:
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https://twitter.com/TheTrialFile
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Xena, You wrote “July 4” instead of “Aug 4” in your Heading of post above.
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awaiting beginning of court in Wafer trial. Defense firearms expert expected to continue his testimony. defense plans to call 3-4 witnesses
we still don’t know if Theodore Wafer will take the stand in his own defense. Defense attys not commenting on that so far
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Good Morning. Court is in session but no jurors yet. Hearing other matters.
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
Day 7 of #TheodoreWafer trial to begin shortly
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court in session for wafer trial
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asst wayco danielle hagaman-clark not continuing on trial because of”maternity leave: she is expected to have her baby today or tuesday
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motion filed to have a daubert hrg in middle of trial for defense firearms expert david balash..jurors will leave out for it. def atty objec
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Reliability basis of opinions of WIT Balash.
def atty cheryl carpenter says the issue over the qual of their experts covered in motion hrg in june
jury will be excused for an hour for daubery hrg
judge telling them she has to attend to others matters (the daubert hrg) and asks them to come back at 10:30 a.m.
jury leaves
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Here is some info that explains what a Daubert hearing is:
DAUBERT STANDARD
Standard used by a trial judge to make a preliminary assessment of whether an expert’s scientific testimony is based on reasoning or methodology that is scientifically valid and can properly be applied to the facts at issue.
Under this standard, the factors that may be considered in determining whether the methodology is valid are: (1) whether the theory or technique in question can be and has been tested; (2) whether it has been subjected to peer review and publication; (3) its known or potential error rate; (4) the existence and maintenance of standards controlling its operation; and (5) whether it has attracted widespread acceptance within a relevant scientific community. See Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). The Daubert standard is the test currently used in the federal courts and some state courts. In the federal courts, it replaced the Frye standard.
“Daubert Hearing on Expert and Scientific Evidence”
http://www.legalsource360.com/index.php/daubert-hearing-on-expert-and-scientific-evidence-2559/
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daubert hrg is evaluation by trial judge to determine admissibility of expert witness
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Judge hearing other matters, Daubert not held yet.
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Daubert hearing begins in Wafer trial. David Balash taking the witness stand
Balash is talking about his knowledge about “stippling”on McBride’s face..he’s said there is a lack of it..the waddingmaterial from shotgun.
which would indicate a close range shooting..judge asking him his basis for opinion. he tells her he’s done test shot on Wafer’s gun
idabwellsinstiture tweets:
Daubert Hearing in session; Judge asks WIT Balash the basis of his opinion that #RenishaMcBride was shot from distance of 2 feet or less
WIT says basis of opinion is based on multitude of factors
Judge asking if basis of opinion is textbook, field tests, etc.
Mandi Wright@DetroitMandi
Retired MSP David Balash answers Judge Hathaway’s questions.
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judge asking defense firearms expert what standards he used to arrive at his conclusion that mcbride shot at close range 2 ft or less
WIT says he has done test shot on Wafer’s gun to arrive at this conclusion
Judge asking how WIT arrived at conclusion that screen insert was dislodged when #TedWafer shot through it
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Judge asking if WIT did test at screen door with a surrogate for #RenishaMcBride standing at outside of door.
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judge asking defense firearms expert what standards he used to arrive at his conclusion that mcbride shot at close range 2 ft or less
Balash tells judge that he measured the screen door area to determine trajectory of the GSW:Screen door not there at time
said he did testing with/paper targets only at police department
judge asking why not repeated tests.Balash says not necess. judge calls attys to sidebar
WIT opinion is that shotgun barrel was approx one inch or less from screen when discharged.
Judge asking if WIT tested the theory through an actual screen door through a muzzle; WIT says test was done with
paper targets at Dearborn Heights Police Department shooting range
WIT says screen door not present when test conducted
judge asking why not repeated tests.Balash says not necess. judge calls attys to sidebar
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
Retired MSP David Balash answers questions about his opinion about tests on #TheodoreWafer screen.
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def atty asks Balash about how he proccesses entire crime scene
Balash says he’s served as an expert witness in trials “dozens of times.” judge asks him about his opinion of the crime scene investigation
Balash says he would have protected suspected footprints on Wafer home’s AC unit in back of house
says also he would have lifted fingerprints that night and on side and back doors
sidebar
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asst wayne co. pros. pat muscat asking balash about 2007 Dearborn case he testified in. muscat asks about poss. misidentification of item
zipper for a bullet.
PROS asks question re Dearborn case and a misidentification of a bullet hole in front of a jury. Witness is excused.
Balash off stand now. Muscat talks now says he concern. about a couple of areas of testimony..
says it’s extremely dangerous to allow Balash to comment in some areas and on credibility of other witnesses
def. atty. cheryl carpenter amended her motion to allow Balash to talk about “woven patterns” on door
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asst wayne co. pros. pat muscat asking balash about 2007 Dearborn case he testified in. muscat asks about poss. misidentification of item
zipper for a bullet.
PROS asks question re Dearborn case and a misidentification of a bullet hole in front of a jury. Witness is excused.
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Balash off stand now. Muscat talks now says he concern. about a couple of areas of testimony..
says it’s extremely dangerous to allow Balash to comment in some areas and on credibility of other witnesses
def. atty. cheryl carpenter amended her motion to allow Balash to talk about “woven patterns” on door
def atty asks judge to allow Balash to talk about how the crime was handled..
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def atty tells judge “your gatekeeper role is very, very narrow” during Daubert hrg to determine what area expert can testify to
Judge says WIT has offered improper testimony in terms of opinion on what other officers were thinking;
DEF offers that judge’s rule is that of gatekeeper; testimony should be allowed in evidence for jury to decide its weight
udge says it is “extremely dangerous” to allow WIT to comment in some areas and on credibility of other witnesses
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Judge won’t allow Balash to talk about what law enforcement invetigators were thinking during crime scene investigation..
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daubert hrg done
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Jury brought back in
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Balash back on stand..he can’t opine about woven pattern regarding screen door as well
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def. atty cheryl carpenter asking balash about his opinions/conclusions on the wafer case
def atty had about balash opinion on close range theory. Muscat objects saying that was covered last week. she rephrases.Balash givesconclus
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Balash tetifies McBride was very close to the door of Wafer home when shot..
Balash says McBride was to the left of the door when shot..
balash says he went to wafer home three times including a week ago sunday when he took measurements at the home.
Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
#TheodoreWafer attorney Carpenter asks Balash more questions about his opinion on distance of shot.
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balash first visited wafer home dec. 13
sidebar after balash talks about measurements at the house
def atty shows jurors diagram of wafer home
courtroom audience not able to see it
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Balash says screen out of door when Wafer fired the shot
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Balash further explaining the screen door not intact..he’s showing jury the math and measurements for his theory that screen door dislodged
def atty asks Balash about his teaching career
Balash says he’s also testified for prosecutors before..about 6-12 times
Balash” Neither defense or pros witn. says he consider himself an expert witness.something i take seriously
Balash talking about his exp. as crime scene reconstructionists. says he’s processed over1,000 scenes
def atty asks Balash what evid he wld have taken at Wafer’s home following the shooting
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def atty asks Balash about how he wld have processed suspected footprints on AC unit at Wafer home
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Balash says he would have taken AC unit in for processing, “may have” dusted for fingerprints ..and both the main metal door in for testing
Balash says crime scene shld have been more secured to avoid contamination of evidence
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DEF asks how WIT would have conducted investigation, secured scene, secured footprint on AC unit; taken fingerprints, etc.
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Balash says crime scene investigators shld wear protective outfits at crime scene. pros.
muscat doing cross now shows wafer’s shotgun now
muscat asks Balash: “this weapon does not go off accidentally, correct” Balash agrees
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
Asst. Pros. Pat Muscat asks Balash about #TheodoreWafer gun’s safety. “Red means dead” he asks.
Muscat: “This is not a hair trigger weapon???” Balash: absolutely not
Balash: “always treat (Mossberg 500 shotgun) it as loaded”
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under cross by Muscat, Balash says he saw no evidence of prying or tool marks at Wafer’s home that would indicate an attempt break-in
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PROS ends questioning; DEF requests 5 mins to redirect, lunch is coming next
DEF attempting to ask WIT questions and keeps getting objections
Under re-direct from def atty Balash says he cld not find range to conduct test of gun on door screen
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This should be the last post under the Balesh questioning.
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In reponse to rapid-fire line of questioning from pros. Muscat..Balash admits he doesn’t have key details on chain of events inWafer shoot.
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Pros. Muscat now asking Balash about the paper targets he used Dec. 13 to test Wafer’s shotgun
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Balash says, under pros. grilling, he didn’t use any measurements when he did the shotgun testing of Wafer shotgun
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“in effort to replicate the human body you shot into a paper target”..pros muscat tells balash, defense firearms expert.
pros says state police don’t conduct these kinds of tests
muscat showing the shooting range at Dearborn Hghts police dept Balash used for his testing of Wafer shotgun
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Mandi Wright@DetroitMandi
Asst. Prosecutor Muscat shows Balash Dearborn Heights PD shooting range.
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The Trial File @TheTrialFile
Prosecution says state police don’t conduct these kinds of tests (referring to Balash’s tests)
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Balash says he was injured during testing of wafer shotgun
Says thumb during recoil caused small injury to his face
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PROS asks if WIT was injured by recoil of Wafer’s weapon during test firing; needed a bandaid
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PROS ends questioning; DEF requests 5 mins to redirect, lunch is coming next
DEF attempting to ask WIT questions and keeps getting objections
Under re-direct from def atty Balash says he cld not find range to conduct test of gun on door screen
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“As Michael Dunn’s Sept. 22 trial approaches in death of teen Jordan Davis, both sides meet in court”
By Larry Hannan Mon, Aug 4, 2014 @ 9:23 am
http://members.jacksonville.com/news/crime/2014-08-04/story/michael-dunns-sept-22-trial-approaches-death-teen-jordan-davis-both
Excerpt:
Michael David Dunn was in court for less than a minute Monday during his latest pretrial hearing.
Dunn, 47, is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 22 for a second time on a first-degree murder charge in the death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis. He opened fire on Davis and his friends during a dispute over loud music at a gas station while Dunn was in town for his son’s wedding.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys had no issues to bring up during Monday’s hearing. Defense attorney Waffa Hanania told Circuit Judge Russell Healey the exchange of public materials with the prosecution was ongoing and their might be issues for the judge to deal with during the next hearing on Aug. 25.
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Lunch break; back at 1:30
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I don’t think David Balash has been a helpful Defense witness.
1. Upon question by the prosecution, Balash had to admit he injured himself when firing Wafer’s gun. Because of this I feel the jury will question just how good a gun expert Balash is.
2. Prosecution stated that state police don’t conduct these kinds of tests (referring to Balash’s tests)
3.Question by the prosecution, Balash said he didn’t use any measurements when he did the shotgun testing of Wafer shotgun.
4.In reponse to “rapid-fire line of questioning” from prosecutor, Balash admited that he doesn’t have key details on chain of events in Wafer shooting.
5. Under cross by the prosecutor, Balash stated that he saw no evidence of prying or tool marks at Wafer’s home that would indicate an attempt break-in.
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Yahtzeebutterfly,
Wow! Did I get the months confused or what? Just noticed I put July in the title instead of August. I’ve now corrected it.
Right now I’m catching up and really thank you for keeping us informed.
I wonder what the defense is trying to prove, or disprove, with this morning’s witness? It seems like such a waste of the jury’s time.
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We need to find an audio link:
Here is a tweet from Oralander:
We’re going to hear audio in case. Pros wants to know why. Sidebar now
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Yahtzee,
Thanks again for all you do.
Off topic, when you have a chance, her is an article I think you might be interested in regarding teaching our youth about racism.
Help! My White Husband Came With a Racist Teenage Stepdaughter
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/07/teenage_racism_what_to_do_when_your_stepdaughter_uses_racial_slurs.html?wpisrc=obinsite
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Thanks, dreamer…I started reading it….but then I just saw this tweet by oralandar. Can you help me find the audio link?
Here is her tweet:
We’re going to hear audio in case. Pros wants to know why. Sidebar now
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These had been the live streaming sites when there had been video with audio:
http://www.livestream.com/freeplive
http://courtchatter.tv/wafer2.htm
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This page shows the radio stations in Michigan with 2 dozen+ Detroit stations and
3 Dearborn stations.
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I just read the article now, butterflydreamer.
It is excellent.
Thanks for showing it to me.
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Corporal Krot of Dearborn Heights police next witness. We’re gonna hear his audio at scene about stepping in evidence
Audio hard to hear
jury back in..judge polling them about any media exposure to case
corporal Krot coming to stand
it’s sgt. krot..he responded to Wafer home around 4:43 a.m.
Krot says he stepped on porch to see if McBride “had any signs of life …I felt her pulse …I said i may have stepped on some of the blood
Krot: i was tryng not to but yes I did step on some blood,..it was a pretty horrific scene
krot says he stepped on blood near the grass
Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
Dearborn Heights Sgt. Krot testifies
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DEF calls Corp. Krot of Dearborn Heights PD., one of the responders to scene at Wafer’s house
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hmm…how did I do that?
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Krot(one of first officers responding to the scene): he got there around 4:44 a.m. I searchedMr. Wafer he explained to be how he accidentshot
accidentally shot the gun and that there was pounding on the door which shifted to another one. we are looking at dash-car video now
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the video/audio dash cam. video that morning just after the shooting. video halted after objct from def atty. sidebar now
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five minute break now..jurors leave out
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def atty: Your honor I object to this..you are allowing them to play what has already been played in court. judge asks pros whythey’replayin
asst wayne co prosecutor terry anderson: “this is the witness that she called your honor” the tape is of Krot talking as well
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judge: the exhibit already been admitted. pros says krot can identify the other voices. judge says “that’s what I was hoping to.”
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we’re seeing/hearing video of the first officers who responded to Wafer’s home
jury back in court
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Anderson having tape played to ask Krot to identifying who is talking on tape of the conversation minutes after the shooting.
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Krot identifies 3 police officer and voice he says is Wafer saying he doesn’t get who would be knocking on his door so early in the morning.
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What good is a 5 minute break? By the time all the jurors are out of the room, it’s time for them to return.
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Here it is!!!
Thedore Wafer takes the stand..says he’s nervous
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Wafer speaking low..wears grey suit coat..shirt and tie..holding his hands together
says he has new job at airport doing field maintenance..he now works with computers
sidebar as pros objects to wafer career ques
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Somewhere there is a station broadcasting the audio of this.
Can someone find it for me?
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I’m still searching, even WXYZ-TV in Detroit. Nothing yet. 😦
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thanks!
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wafer says he’s never been maried and has no children.
pros objects to line of questions..judge allowing another one
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wafer said he ” had hoped” to be married w/children by now. dad dead..mom living..younger sis/older bro
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wafer lived at his home since 1994..always lived alone..no security system at the home..says he cldn’t afford one
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the home has three doors but he comes and go in side door…cause it’s easy access..he doesn’t really have a lot of company..
Wafer says he locks his front door and screen door/nd backdoor.the main entry(side door) is locked.doesn’t useporch liteexcept for halloween
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says front part of home not very lit if he doesn’t use porch light. there is public lighting nearby.
Wafer says crime in his neighborhood. finds liquor, bottles, drug paraphenelia, on property. “weekends are the worst”
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says front part of home not very lit if he doesn’t use porch light. there is public lighting nearby.
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
TheodoreWafer talks about securing his home as he takes the stand
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says a neighbor pulled gun out on 3 guys who came to threaten him..another neighbor home broke into.wafer says he’s “hi and by”type neighbor
wafer says neighborhodd “definitely changed” and is changing. “renters coming in more” foreclosures, stores closing.
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His general area was called Copper Canyon because of former Detroit resident ordinance forcing cops/other public workers to live inDetroit
he says for sale signs went up after residency rule struck down. wafer says “I like my house” and that he doesn’t want to move
Waferonbuying gun in 2008:” I wasn’t getting anyyounger been living alone for a long time.Thought it was time to get some kind of securty
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i could afford
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wafer says pistol grip came w/gun and that it is more manueravble inside his 1,100 sq. foot home
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Now I am catching up with this person’s tweets:
DEF is asking about air conditioning unit; who installed it how long has he ever stepped on it;
what about to clean windows & gutters; he says never. DEF now asking about crime in neighborhood. WIT says neighbors talk 2
one another about crime in the neighborhood, finds syringes, “baggies” on lawn. WIT says weekends are the worst.
WIT calls weekend “Garbage Detail”. Says neighbor of his had to hold off 3 individuals w/ his handgun
WIT says neighbor found 3 individuals in front of home using drugs, asked them 2 leave, they left and came back.
DEF asks what kind of neighbor he is. WIT says quiet, doesn’t get into other peoples’ business.
DEF asks if WIT thinks neighborhood is changing, has changed. He says definitely. Foreclosures, more renters, etc.
DEF asks about “Copper Canyon” area; police officers who live in a particular area; copper refers to badges
Residency law, had to live in city to work in city. Wafer says he felt safe. Struck down in late 90s, lots of for sale signs
DEF asked why he didn’t move; WIT says he likes his neighborhood. Didn’t want to move. WIT says he bought shotgun in 2008; #RenishaMcBride
WIT says he wasn’t getting any younger, thought it was time to get some security he could afford. Heard it
was a good self defense weapon, the shotgun, also saw articles in some magazines
WIT says he modified shotgun to have the pistol grip; purchased interchangeably; pistol grip allowed more maneuverability
DEF asks what kind of shells came w/ the shotgun; WIT says no shells came with it; cashier asks him what kind he wants;
WIT says birdshot; a few years later he switched to buckshot; was in a store looking at kayaks and bought it
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DEF asks if WIT keeps his gun loaded; WIT says no. WIT says gun was loaded a Sept/Oct, 2013; WIT says neighbor incident
w/ the 3 individuals, and later their cars being paintballer, thought he was being targeted, led him to load weapon
DEF asks if safety was on; WIT says it was. DEF asks if WIT told police he didn’t know gun was loaded; WIT affirms he did
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wafer says pistol grip came w/gun and that it is more manueravble inside his 1,100 sq. foot home
wafer talks about his home. he has glass block in back room, he’s says he’s update, glass block for security and that “it looks good too”
Wafer says he bought buck shot for his shotgun a yr after buying it when he went shopping for a Kayak. he bought case for gun too
Wafer says he does not keep his gun loaded
Wafer says he loaded the gun over a month before the shooting. says after the neig.incident and his and neigh. cars gettingpaintballed.
idabeewells
DEF asks when WIT knew it was loaded; WIT says when it fired.
DEF asking him about Nov. 2, 2013. WIT says he worked 7 to 3 pm; stopped by McDonald’s to bring a bite back home; cleaned
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up, ate and went to neighborhood pub; stayed there until around 7. Says he had three beers; says police did not ask
about alcohol consumption; WIT says he does not keep liquor in home; did not consume anymore alcohol after 7 pm; did not
wafer holds head back and starts talking about Nov. 2 shooting. hours leading up to it
says he went to neigh. pub around 7 p.m. Nov. 1 ..had about 3 beers
wafer says went home, ate sub, went to sleep around 10:30 p.m…got up to use bathroom around Midnight
says he has no land line..has “older model” cell phone.
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about alcohol consumption; WIT says he does not keep liquor in home; did not consume anymore alcohol after 7 pm; did not have any illegal drugs. went to back tv room, fell asleep in recliner; tv usually on when he does that; says doesn’t always
sleep thru night; got up around 12:30 or so, changed into sleep/comfortable clothes, brush teeth, etc. WIT does not have a ….has an older model cell phone. usually charges it near the recliner; charger was in the wall when he went to bed;
WIT says he does not remember where cell phone was, but usually kept in charger. DEF asks why he didn’t call 911 before
firing his weapon; says he looked; seemed like forever; but did find it in his jeans in the bathroom; usually keeps phone
in front pocket; says DEF misspoke in opening statement; no one keeps cell phone in back pocket; DEF asks if WIT wishes he
Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
TheodoreWafer talks about the night leading up to shooting of Renisha McBride
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Wafer: “I can’t remember the cell phone period.” why not call cell phone: Wafer: “I cldn’t find my cell phone.” found after he fired shot
wafer says cell phone was in front pocket of jeans in bathroom. not normally where he keeps..
Wafer:hear this noice..loud banging..im in my recliner..i lay there for a minute..starts up again at the front door..that got me up.
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could have found his phone. DEF asks about the morning of Nov. 2, Says he here’s loud knocking banging. Gets louder
WIT says he turns of TV, feels for phone but only finds charger. WIT crawls out of recliner to go to turn off lights;
WIT says window in front, banging louder than doors. WIT says floor is vibrating
PHOTO on witness stand:
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Wafer:I don’t know who’s out there. you can hear the window…something;s slapping the window. the floor is vibrating
wafer says he sees a figures jumps from the porch and goes to right. then he hears 4-5 hits to the door. “each time it’s getting more violent
WIT says he looks out window and see a figure leaving porch going to side of house; cannot tell male female black white
WIT says noise is escalating, each time getting louder. WIT’s voice getting quieter
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WIT says he was in kitchen looking for glasses, looking for cell phone. At sink, 10 feet from side door
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi · 12s
#TheodoreWafer says he can’t find his cell phone.
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wafer:”after the second side door i waited for a few seconds in the kitchen in the middle of the kitchen. im back up against the sink”
‘Wafer:”The side door starts getting attacked, it is worse .. I cld feel the doors vibrating. Windows rattling.’
Wafer: “I’m frozen. I’m frozen in the kitchen. I stop. I wait.” Wafer says he looks outside thru doors’ peep holes not windows
Wafer hands still clenched together..he says he keeps basaeball bat in home and he’s clenching it “hard”..showing now
wafer: “front door starts up again. it’s intense. it’s metal hitting the door.”
Wafer: “I know I had to get my gun” says baseball bat “wasn’t going to get it.”
Wafer says he didn’t check it to see if it was loaded..says noise started up again “I’m frozen there. I don’t know what to do.”
Describes banging on side door as “attack”, floor vibrating, windows rattling
WIT says he looked out peep hole, didn’t want to look out windows to give away his position; didn’t want to open blinds
WIT says noise stops while he is in kitchen. He waits. Says he was scared, heart was racing, says he grabs baseball bat
near side door in kitchen, grabbed that and held it. DEF asks how hard is he clinching bat. He says “hard.”
He says banging starts up again at front door. He drops bat, says he knew he had to get his gun He though someone was
coming through door. Went to bedroom, closet, to get shotgun. Did not know it was loaded; says he is frozen, cannot move
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WIT says he had to investigate this, didn’t want to cower, be a victim in his house, so he went to front door. Says there is
no place in home where he can stand & train gun on front door. Says he looks out peep hole & its cracked he can’t look out
WIT says no one outside his home is saying anything, says he never said anything; DEF says he did not say anything because
he didn;t want anyone to know his location in the house, whey didn’t call out and say he had a gun, etc. Says he goes to
front door, opens door with right hand, gun is in left hand, down by his side; notices screen is down, dropped. not
supposed to be like this. Says this is trouble, this is not good. Says he opens door all the way, person comes quickly
“it stops. everytime it’s stop “i think it’s over.”, says wafer. i was going to investigate. i didn’t want to cower in my house. >>
“I didn’t want to be a victim,” wafer continues..he says he looks out peephole..”it’s distorted..it’s cracked like two diff images.”
wafer: “nobody’s saying anything. someone wants to gain entry.” didn’t want to yell out, he says..”i didn’t want anyoneto know my location..
Wafer says he looked out first and opened the door just a couple of inches. he opened door w/right hand. gun in left “this is trouble..”
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from side, WIT says he raises gun and shoots.
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WIT couldn’t tell who person was; person falls backward. Not until person is down does he look to begin to see who
who it is. puts gun down and goes to find gun. DEF asks if he has ever killed anyone. WIT says noe. DEF asks if he thinks
about #RenishaMcBride or her family. WIT says “everyday. that young girl had her whole life ahead of her.”
“this is not good. the person come out from the right of my house so fast and I raised the gun and shot. (person) fell back in slow motion”
wafer says the person was dark complexioned, shorter stature, “i saw boots that maybe a woman..female wld wear”..he then put gun down..
and then tried to find my phone..wafer says he then found the phone
def atty: you think about this a lot: Wafer (breathing hard) yes..”so devastating” this poor girl .she had her whole life in front of her..”
“i took that from her.”, wafer says crying..still holding his hands together..says it happened “too fast….too fast.”
a female juror cries into a Kleenex during Wafer testimony about McBride
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So, the defense is going for manslaughter.
I can’t wait until cross-examination.
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about this a lot. WIT says ” yes..”so devastating” this poor girl .she had her whole life in front of her.”
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wafer crying as he talks about being feeling “panic …confusion” that night
“i took that from her.” DEF asks how fast did all this happen. WIT says “too fast … too fast.”
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idabeewells
#TedWafer cries on the witness stand as he recounts shooting #RenishaMcBride.
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def atty wafer asking why feeling mad: he says “this is happening to me…why did this happened ….i don’t get this…”
def atty asks open door/” wafer: “i thought they were gong to come through..i didn’t want to cower.i didn’t want to be a vic in my own house
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DEF asks WIT why did he open his front door. WIT says he “thought they were going to come thru. didn’t want to cower
didn’t want to be a victim in his own home.” DEF asks why he went 2 door w/ shotgun if he thought it was unloaded. WIT says
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wafer says it was a reflex to pull the trigger and the person stepped about a foot in front of him. came fromleft. wafer looks at home pics.
but says from right..his left
Wafer says last threat at side door
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didn’t want to be a victim in his own home.” DEF asks why he went 2 door w/ shotgun if he thought it was unloaded. WIT says
was “pretty menacing,” thought it would scare whoever it was off. Says he pulled trigger “purely reflex action”
DEF asks WIT why he was feeling mad; WIT said why “this is happening to me…why did this happened ….i don’t get this…”
Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi
#TheodoreWafer attorney hands him photos of his home.
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DEF hands photos of WIT’s home to WIT, asks him to show jury where person/figure came from; he says from the right/his left
DEF asks WIT if the sound of banging she recreated in opening statements was accurate. WIT says no, louder.
DEF ask WIT what he meant by “accident” to police; WIT says “i can’t explain it, i went to sleep that night, i didn’t ”
says he doesn’t “see how I could do that” to def attyrequest to recreate what he heard
def atty asks what he meant by term accident: wafer: ” i can’t explain it..i went to sleep that night.i didn’t expect i’d havetofight4mylife
says he pulled tigger “to protect me myself to save myself itwas them or me..’
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“didn’t expect i’d have to fight for my life.” WIT says he pulled trigger “to protect me … ”
“to save myself. it was them or me.”
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5 min break.
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prosecutor athina siringas begins cross exam of wafer
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PROS now questioning #TedWafer. “Did you give three versions of what happened to the police?”
Statement to Sgt. McMamon, was that within 5 minutes of the shooting? and you sat in the police car for about an hour? and
then you were taken to Dearborn Heights PD and spoke with a Sgt (sp?). WIT affirms all to be true.
You’ve been testifying about an hour today? WIT concurs. You’ve been very emotional today, crying on and off. Did you cry
during 2 to 2 /12 hours of questioning in the police station? Where there was no judge or jury. DEF objects. Sustained.
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PROS moves to admit video of #TedWafer’s interview in Dearborn Heights Police station
pros: do you ever remember crying for 2-3 hours after you shot and killed renisha mcbride to wafer..he answers no
sidebar
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oralandar brand-wms @oralandar_DN · 1m
Wafer at police station following nov 2 shooting
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Idabwellsinstitute:
#TedWafer about to be questioned by Dearborn Heights PD in the death of #RenishaMcBride
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pros. showing the police questioning of Wafer from Nov. 2 just after the fatal shooting of renisha mcbride
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idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 36s
“Right now you’re not being charged with anything.”
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Wafer asks if he should have an atty present during question. says he had no idea what the sound was. says he heard “banging, prying” noises
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on side of house. “i didn’t know how many people were there.”
in police video. Wafer is seen on the viddeo telling police about his neighbor’s incident and the paintball incident says he “just blewitoff
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Wafer: “I should have just called you guys first..”
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No shit, Sherlock!
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Yeah, no shit!
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idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 36s
” … and now i’m mad.”
#RenishaMcBride
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oralandar brand-wms @oralandar_DN · 1m
Wafer being ques by Dearborn heights police
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Wafer on his shot gun: “Im not sure the tech what you call it..the shit..”
idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 34s
” … basically grabbing the weapon to show whatever is going on .. “
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi · 1m
#TheodoreWafer speaks to DHPD night he shot #RenishaMcBride
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on the video police asks Wafer porch light was on..and he says no it was not
Wafer: “Looking through the peephole i can see shadows but I can’t make out..one finger ..”
Wafer: “I opened that door that fast..the weapon discharged..”
Wafer says he call Dearborn Heights police and 911..says shooting happened fast “we’re talking boom..”
idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 18s
” … it looked young … “
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Wafer says “couldn’t have been but a couple of feet” in the distance the weapon fired
officer doing the ques. asking Wafer how he held his gun..
oralandar brand-wms @oralandar_DN · 5s
Wafer showing police how he handled the gun
Wafer tells police in interrogation he did not know McBride
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Mandi Wright @DetroitMandi · 50s
#TheodoreWafer speaks to DHPD night he shot #RenishaMcBride says he is not romantically involved.
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wafer says the shooting “is so puzzling to me” says he doesn’t know why a female wld be trying to break into his home..
wafer tells police he’s trying to re-do his house and he sleep in his Laz-Z-Boy recliner
on the tape police are going through Wafer’s cell phone
idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 21s
#TedWafer being questioned by Dearborn Heights PD; partial transcripts of Wafer’s interview
#RenishaMcBride pic.twitter.com/mGxX4Swa5M
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Wafer tells police he has no house phone, no computer..just the cell phone
wafer’s testimony began around 2 p.m.
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Wafer: “Is it a neighbor’s kid??..” asking police about the deceased McBride
in tape police asking Wafer if there “was any reason” mcbride would have been in his house. he keeps telling them no.
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police asks Wafer is he knew what race McBride was: he says dark complexioned is all he knows and that he lives in mixed neighborhood
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Wafer says McBride looked pretty young and again tells police that he has no idea who McBride is..
police asks Wafer if he ever called for prostitutes since he’s single and he says no
idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 1m
#TedWafer’s interview continues
#RenishaMcBride pic.twitter.com/eiLhCUXjwc
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Wafer says McBride looked pretty young and again tells police that he has no idea who McBride is..
police asks Wafer if he ever called for prostitutes since he’s single and he says no
Wafer: “No sir..i do not frequent prostitutes.” they also ask if he is attracted to female and he says “yes sir.”
Wafer tells police it sounded like someone was jiggling the screen door/ the security door on the side trying to get into the house
Wafer: “I wish i could afford the security where you could just turn on the cameras and see what’s going on..”
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Wafer: “I keep to myself. I like my sports. I watch the games on TV>”
police asks wafer anything else he can think of why a woman wld be banging at his door.
idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 21s
“And your attraction is to females?”
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Wafer: “I keep to myself. I like my sports. I watch the games on TV>”
police asks wafer anything else he can think of why a woman wld be banging at his door.
idabwellsinstitute @idabeewells · 21s
“And your attraction is to females?”
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HE’S TAKING THE STAND? I really hope that we get video of that later.
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They said it was just going to be audio. Are they broadcasting now?
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I’m looking for audio too.
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Detroit Free Press is reporting in real time, but there is no audio.
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Now we get into his mind. He said his neighborhood changed.
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There you go.
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5 min break.
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My last two posts need moderation so I am going to continue down here.
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I have waited until now to go on an errand which I must do.
Maybe one of you can continue posting for me.
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Yahtzeebutterfly,
It’s okay. Thanks for your time and work. I’m divided between several things right now but will try to update/recap as time allows.
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Court has recessed for the day.
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as the questioning continues the police conversation with wafer turns to conversation about him Kayaking
the police questioning lasting more than 40 minutes..
The officer interviewing Wafer tells him about the steps of the investigation..
in the tape the Sgt.(Gurka) who is heading the inves. comes into interview room where Wafer is
Wafer said he got “a little paranoid” when he got paintballer..
Police tell Wafer they are going to review all the evidence and the prosecutor’s office will also look at the case.
Wafer: “So is it okay for me to take the screen off my house now” as he leaves from police interview Nov. 2
jurors breaking for the day..Wafer stepping done from witness stand
court resumes tommorrow at 9 a.m.
in tape police asking Wafer if there “was any reason” mcbride would have been in his house. he keeps telling them no.
police asks Wafer if he ever called for prostitutes since he’s single and he says no
Wafer: “No sir..i do not frequent prostitutes.” they also ask if he is attracted to female and he says “yes sir.”
Wafer tells police it sounded like someone was jiggling the screen door/ the security door on the side trying to get into the house
Wafer: “I wish i could afford the security where you could just turn on the cameras and see what’s going on..”
2nd part of interview begins to play
Sgt. Gurka joins the interview in progress. Wafer exp paintball incident when he loaded shotgun
#RenishaMcBride
Police interview tape ends. Court adjourned for today. Back at it @ 9 a.m.
PROS wants it on record interview was played in its entirety except for redacted portions per the DEF.
DEF wanted personal contact info that may have been mentioned to be taken out.
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Sgt. Gurka joins the interview in progress. Wafer exp paintball incident when he loaded shotgun
#RenishaMcBride
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“Wafer on porch shooting: ‘I didn’t want to be a victim in my own house’ “
http://www.freep.com/article/20140804/NEWS02/308040114/Theodore-Wafer-Renisha-McBride
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Okay…this has video of Wafer on the stand:
“VIDEO: Theodore Wafer recounts night he shot and killed Renisha McBride on his porch”
http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/wayne-county/accused-of-murdering-renisha-mcbride-theodore-wafter-takes-stand-in-his-own-defense
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18 minutes worth
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actually there are 3 videos at that link
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Just want to thank Yahtzee for posting info on Dunn pre-trial today. Very much appreciate it.
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YW, 2dogsonly 🙂
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yahtzee, once again I wish to thank you greatly for your hard work on this case… I had to be gone all day today and unfortunately will be tomorrow as well dealing with my attorney about an important matter. Did you catch the mad statement? Did you catch the drinking statement? This man did not murder because of race, he murdered because he was drunk and angry about being awaken from his sleep. He did not care who it was, he was going to kill them for disturbing his sleep and the nonsense about the baseball bat and the fear is IMO simply a lie to try to cover up his anger. I wonder if he had time to change clothes before he called 911?
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Yes, I didn’t understand why he was mad??
Yeah, and he had 3 beers (?) he said.
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I just reread his police interview….he said he went to the closet and his gun was hanging up there and then tell the police that at that point “now I was mad.”
You know…you are RIGHT, crustyolemothman!
Guns and anger = big, dangerous problem!!!
I hope that the prosecution emphasizes his anger statement in their closing!
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yahtzee, If you recall his former girl friend said he was violent when drinking, and they had actually had an altercation where the police were involved, if my memory is correct, the drinking is the reason for the anger TW is what many of us call a mean drunk. As I have said before, Mz. McBride was just the unlucky person on his porch, it could have been anyone, race was not the issue, it all had to do with anger his domain had be messed with and he was not going to allow that to happen…
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NO, really?
I did not know that or had forgotten that!
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I’ve got a copy of the article here somewhere, now if I can just find it in this mess… I hate it when I can’t find something. Now if I was organized like you, I would just reach over and pick it up… But I’m not… Grrrr…
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I agree with you crusty.
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Found it:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2507893/Pictured-Theodore-Wafer-54-charged-MURDER-Renisha-McBride.html
Excerpt:
the woman did say the killer was a heavy drinker with a bad temper. In fact their relationship ended so sourly they actually wound up in court, fighting a stalking case.
The woman who does not want to be named, met the suspect while working in a factory in Detroit in the mid-nineties.
Speaking exclusively to the MailOnline, she said: ‘We went out for a few months, but we had some major problems because he really liked to drink. I was no angel, but I thought he drank far too much and It was a problem for him.
‘We split up because of his drinking and one evening he came over to try to reconcile, but we ended up having a physical fight. It was just pushing and shoving and the police weren’t called, but it was pretty unpleasant and left me with bruises on my arms. I saw a very nasty side to him.
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Thank you, I still had not found the link. My memory must have been wacky, I thought the article had stated the police were involved in the physical fight. However, as I said this man is a mean drunk with a violent temper, and he vented that temper on a young lady on that rainy cold morning with a shotgun blast to the face…
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Wafer complained about his neighborhood.
From the following, he seems to have had no way to move out. Was anger stirring within him about this?
Wafer obtained the house he lives in, a corner lot in a residential enclave just north of the Detroit city limits, through family when a relative died, she said. He has lived there since 1994.
“I think he was the one in the family who had the least resources and so they arranged for him to take the house,” she said. “I can’t say for sure, but he may have been the baby of the family.”
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Excerpt is from this same article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2507893/Pictured-Theodore-Wafer-54-charged-MURDER-Renisha-McBride.html
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Wafer testified today that he has a younger and older sibling. What I’m thinking is that he is a functional alcoholic, able to work, but spends his money on alcohol and thus, doesn’t get financially ahead.
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So…Wafer decided to put his baseball bat down and pick up an unloaded gun.
Does that make sense to you??
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Just as much as laying down the shotgun next to an open door and leaving to allegedly go locate a cell phone… Yeah sure, anyone that was fearful and thought there were several attackers would do that, right, Of course they would…
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marie osborne @marieosbornewwj · 3h
#TheodoreWafer Pros asks Wafer why he was not emotional after the shooting while being questioned by police ‘There was no jury there right?’
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marie osborne @marieosbornewwj
Expect the rest of the cross examination by prosecutor Tues.
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I just updated the article with today’s video from WXYZ-TV and a link to today’s pretrial hearing in the Michael Dunn retrial.
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Super.
Did you see his testimony video at this link?
http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/wayne-county/accused-of-murdering-renisha-mcbride-theodore-wafter-takes-stand-in-his-own-defense
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Yes. I’m formatting the video now and as soon as it’s finished, I’ll post it on a new thread.
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Great! 🙂
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mothman — i do believe you are on to something. he was angry, that is the only reason he would be foolish enough to open his front door and not wait (as agonizing as it is) for someone to break through. as long as that door remains closed and locked, he is safe, even if he is very much afraid. anger makes as all do foolish things.
when i experienced the practically the same circumstances, i was fortunate that my husband was at home (he usually worked nights) and that i did have 911 on the phone. i understand the absolute fear he was experiencing, i did too. i understand the desperate desire to just make it all stop. i understand grabbing one’s gun, if available. i did. the difference is, although i was very much afraid, i did not give in to either panic or anger. it helped to have the 911 operator telling me constantly ‘do not open the door’ because there is definitely a weird instinct that made me want to do that — it is very hard to explain to anyone who has not experienced it. the husband and i had no idea what was going on, if any other people were involved (he checked the perimeter of the house, from the inside with shovel in hand). bottom line though is we did not panic.
we learned that would be invader was drunk, only after the cops arrived, had him in cuffs and on the ground. i would have hated to have shot had he broken our door, i’m surprised our flimsy door/lock withstood his bulk, but i would have and not missed. we were also clear with this guy … ‘we are calling the cops” and even showed him the .38 through the door window, cocked it in front of him even while telling him what we were doing. we also turned on all the outside lights. when i compare our actions to wafer’s, i can identify so many errors. most importantly, him saying he did not think the gun was loaded. first rule of gun safety is to check whether or not the gun in your hand is loaded or not. this is either the action of a complete idiot who should never have access to a firearm or it is a lie. i cannot discern which, but for his actions, i hope that he is imprisoned and denied the ability to own a firearm for the remainder of his life.
i will go out on a limb here and say that i do not perceive wafer as a racist; that i do not think there was racial animosity involved in this shooting. unlike zimmertwit, he was not out patrolling specifically for young black men, this problem showed up on his door. i do think that his words on the stand described manslaughter to a T — so he has basically admitted to such under oath. i look forward to more cross examination as i do believe that he was coached by his attorneys and his story was embellished. this will come out.
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PS — i think we all know what the phrase “three beers” really means. i know i do 😉
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Faux,
People say “three beers” they leave out that it was three 40 ounces. 🙂
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or it could refer to 4-6 pints of newcastle, which is how i used the phrase in the days of my misspent youth 😉
either way, i cannot imagine anyone buying that line.
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Faux,
It reminds me of COPS on television, where they stop drunk drivers who say they only had three beers, but they can’t stand up without help. 🙂
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bizzackly 😉
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Those types I insist on skating the “hokey pokey”, singing the “chicken dance”, stumbling the “limbo” for a laugh, then getting them to crash in the comfy spare bedroom where they wake up to eggs and bacon. I never see them again for some reason.
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the last time i had someone get totally wasted in front of me, it was a slightly older male cousin. i had to help him to bed, put a cold cloth on his head and if he were not sleeping in my mom’s spare room, i swear i would have given him a colander to vomit in. i have a pretty low tolerance for such things these days.
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Excellent post, faux.
I am glad you safely survived that night!
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thanks yahtzee. i don’t think it was *my* survival that was ever in question, given the circumstances. i am, however, grateful that i will not have that on my conscience as long as i live, that i did the right thing, and that my pregnant behind was not hauled off to the pokey for any reason.
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Oh my gosh, you were pregnant at the time?? Whew!
Yes, it is good to have a peaceful conscience. You were very wise and clear headed in the midst of very difficult emotions! I commend you and your inspiring example, faux!
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