07-26-2012, 05:04 PM
Adub----you are right--it was because of rule 29.
So after lunch Judge Bates has jury go to another to courtroom as there is some "courtroom legal matters" to attend to. So jury leaves and about 6 deputies come in (making a total of 10) Four of them completely surrounded Pettaway and the others blocked all the doorways and exits. Believe me----I was scared shitless. I could tell tell something big was about to happen.
Defense presents their side---not enough evidence to convict---only cigarette butt----blah,blah,blah. Also his cell phone pings never were near the Straub's home that nite.
Prosecution states the cigarette is enough---places him at the scene.
Sorry---both said alot more than that but my mind is reeling and I am still feeling nauseous! I am sure someone will post full details from Blade.
So Bates takes about 10 min. in his chambers and you can feel the tension in the room. I was sitting next Straub's victim advocate and she turned to me and said " this doesn't look good"
Bates comes back----talks about his experience etc. Then he starts explaining "Rule 29" and I think---crap---this thug is walking. Bates says the cigarette butt is not enough to place Pettaway at crime scene. It was proven that people were in and out of the Straub"s house after Mary Beth and Jeff went on the cruise. So the the butt could have been left there 2 or 3 days before that. So he said following Rule 29 there was nothing to do but aquit Pettaway.
I still can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Sr was there from the Clarke family. Everyone in Pettaway famly was sobbing---one male member was hyperventilating and I was praying he'd just pass out already! His girlfriend was also there.
Lisa's family(her Mom/Dad/Sister were all at William's closing arguments) were crying quietly. Looked like cousins, Mary Beth's sister and husband and about 4 others I didn't recognize.
So Straub's asked to be excused and left with dignity.
Pettaway's got to leave next and had police escort out to their cars. Couldn't tell what Cameo was doing.
Can you imagine if Maytee had been there?????
Anyway--I have more to say but want to get this out there.
So after lunch Judge Bates has jury go to another to courtroom as there is some "courtroom legal matters" to attend to. So jury leaves and about 6 deputies come in (making a total of 10) Four of them completely surrounded Pettaway and the others blocked all the doorways and exits. Believe me----I was scared shitless. I could tell tell something big was about to happen.
Defense presents their side---not enough evidence to convict---only cigarette butt----blah,blah,blah. Also his cell phone pings never were near the Straub's home that nite.
Prosecution states the cigarette is enough---places him at the scene.
Sorry---both said alot more than that but my mind is reeling and I am still feeling nauseous! I am sure someone will post full details from Blade.
So Bates takes about 10 min. in his chambers and you can feel the tension in the room. I was sitting next Straub's victim advocate and she turned to me and said " this doesn't look good"
Bates comes back----talks about his experience etc. Then he starts explaining "Rule 29" and I think---crap---this thug is walking. Bates says the cigarette butt is not enough to place Pettaway at crime scene. It was proven that people were in and out of the Straub"s house after Mary Beth and Jeff went on the cruise. So the the butt could have been left there 2 or 3 days before that. So he said following Rule 29 there was nothing to do but aquit Pettaway.
I still can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Sr was there from the Clarke family. Everyone in Pettaway famly was sobbing---one male member was hyperventilating and I was praying he'd just pass out already! His girlfriend was also there.
Lisa's family(her Mom/Dad/Sister were all at William's closing arguments) were crying quietly. Looked like cousins, Mary Beth's sister and husband and about 4 others I didn't recognize.
So Straub's asked to be excused and left with dignity.
Pettaway's got to leave next and had police escort out to their cars. Couldn't tell what Cameo was doing.
Can you imagine if Maytee had been there?????
Anyway--I have more to say but want to get this out there.