@Perwinkle Can a boarding school really tell two students not to date?
@jonri The divorce court filing said the dad had been an adjunct professor (who also make zilch), and that was public record.
I understand where you are coming from on this, but I don’t think anyone should assume that a landscaper is uneducated. There are many PhDs driving cabs out there (at least there were, until Uber started putting them out of business).
The reason I would find it instructive is because a guy who slept with people previously might be less likely to ejaculate early. And if a woman hadn’t been with other partners she might be more likely to be confused. We have heard that she was a virgin, but do we know she was? If I knew she was, I’d be more likely to believe her testimony.
I’m afraid that doesn’t sound nice. I hope everyone understands what I’m trying to say. A person’s level of experience, in my mind, could have direct bearing on what happened that night.
I understand. In that case, the side proffering the evidence would file a motion that it should be able to go ahead and present that evidence. This is what happens sometimes when the judge excuses the jury, and then hears in advance what the testimony will be.
I suspect in this case there just wasn’t anything like that.
Edit: I think the fact that you would be more likely to believe her testimony if she were a virgin is one of the reasons this sort of evidence is kept out!
@MidwestDad3 The jury didn’t see the divorce file. Again, it’s NOT about money. It’s about “real” blue collar vs. well educated. And believe me, in Vermont and NH it matters.
Put it this way…which would impress people more.
Owen Labrie, child of a social worker and a landscaper who gets a scholarship to St. Paul’s and earns straight As there
OR
Owen Labrie, son of a Ph.D—I think Cannon has one–who gets a scholarship to St. Paul.s and earns straight As.
ETA Looks like he just has a MA
For me, I think past history that shows sexual aggressiveness would be very pertinent.
@MidwestDad3. If the age gap was this large? Yes. The school employees are mandated reporters. No one wants to face an accusation of statutory rape. There are all sorts of ways faculty can keep tabs on students, especially if they’re worried about them.
It would also have factored into any teacher recommendations to colleges. Schools have a record of reporting disciplinary missteps to colleges, as well.
^^^@jonri Didn’t I say before that you should have done the cross-examination in this case!!!
@Youdon’tsay, any experience she might have had is also inadmissible. Her reactions apparently do match known responses by sexual assault victims:
“past history that shows sexual aggressiveness”
Well, presumably the prosecutor either presented this to the judge, and the judge denied it, or the prosecutor just didn’t think it was relevant.
And just the use of the word “scholarship” rather than “financial aid” - semantics, yes, but there is a difference.
And the whole, “raised by a single mother” thing.
Spin city.
But, New Hampshirites are known for their individualistic natures/thinking. Hopefully, they’ll see through the spin just as we have.
@MidwestDad3 - Sounds like the judge denied it by denying the talk of sexual histories.
“Spin city.” Yes, certainly. But there was also an “expert,” a former prosecutor, interviewed on television who said she had a vaginal “tear.” That is so far outside the bounds of any testimony that was given that it can’t even be called an exaggeration. It’s a falsehood.
There is spin on both sides in these cases. Lots of it.
Just to be clear – and I think everyone here gets this – I wouldn’t be passing judgment in terms of her being a virgin that that makes her good or better or more trustworthy. It’s about did she understand what happened. Lots of girls/women have first experiences that weren’t exactly good, were confusing, etc.
Reports of jurors leaving. No verdict today.
@ MidwestDad3
The jurors aren’t listening to TV…or shouldn’t be. They are hearing the whole “I could never have afforded St. Paul’s” 'my father is a landscaper" , I was raised by “a single mother from the age of 2” nonsense.
I don’t care about spin in the media. I care about spin in the courtroom.
Have the jury instructions been reported anywhere? I’d be interested in reading them.
Just looked at Labrie’s mugshot again. I think he peroxided his eyebrows to match his hair. They’re much darker now.
It frightens me that he came across so well on the stand when I was totally predisposed to dislike him. He was calm and well-spoken, and not at all flustered when talking about exceptionally intimate things. He even seemed cute when talking about his flirtations with the victim – as if it was all a misunderstanding and he was explaining things to a discipline board at his school. He didn’t sound like a teenager at all.
Truly chilling - it’s like he doesn’t have a conscience.
Could someone from the NY area elaborate on what he meant by “princess”? I think some of the meaning sailed over my head too. I assumed it was a compliment.
So is it the concensus that the jury’s departure today without a verdict bodes better for the prosecution than the defense?
I agree that he came across pretty well and that they have crafted a good narrative – flirtation leads to more and in his excitement he pre-ejaculated but that’s it. And then, of course, he trumped up what really happened to look good to his friends. He couldn’t tell them the truth – that he was so inexperienced that he ejaculated prematurely. I’m quite sure at least one of those guys on the jury could relate, and all they need is one.
These are the lyrics to a no. 1 country song from the past year:
“Baptist church parkin’ lot, tryin’ not to get caught
Take her home and give her your jacket
Makin’ it to second base, but sayin’ you went all the way
Monday afternoon at practice”
@GnocchiB My apologies in advance. I am ONLY explaining the term.
From the urbandictionary, which lets users submit definitions for slang terms. This was voted #1, i.e., the best definition of the term princess.
Runner up definition:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Princess
It’s NOT a compliment. So, I do not believe for a nanosecond he had a “crush” on her. Maybe they need some teenage interns in the DAs office.
I grow more and more curious about this jury.