Viewer - Cara Rintala Trial: Live updates from Day 9 of courtroom proceedings

Cara Rintala Trial: Live updates from Da...

Tuesday February 26, 2013

9:10

9;05 A.M. Fred Contrada signing in for The Republican for live coverage of the Cara Rintala murder trial. Day 5 of testimony. We ended yesterday with Jennifer Preisig, a forensic scientist with the state police, on the stand. She was testifying about finding blood drops on a laundry basket in Annamarie Rintala's car and examining other objects for blood. Sgt. Chris Ray of the state police had earlier testified that he retrieved a pink cloth diaper and some rags from a trash can at a McDonalds in Holyoke after seeing what he believed was Cara Rintala's truck in the parking lot there. The objects from that can were laid out on butcher paper in the Rintala home for Preisig to test.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:10

9:11

9:09 a.m. The judge and lawyers are talking at sidebar. Sidebar is called when lawyers want to talk to the judge out of the hearing of the public. The substance of those talks is usually available in the trial transcripts later on.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:11

9:15

9:12 a.m. Rup is advising the jury that the court will be in touch in case tomorrow's weather necessitates some delay in the trial.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:15

9:21

9:14 a.m. Preisig still on the stand under questioning by prosecutor Steven Gagne. She takes a pink rag from an evidence bag. She holds it up for the jury. It's dark pink, almost maroon. Judge Mary-Lou Rup admits it as evidence.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:21

9:23

9:20 a.m. Preisig takes a second rag out of the evidence bag. This rag is gray. Rup admits it as evidence over the objection of defense attorney David Hoose.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:23

9:25

9:23 a.m. Preisig takes out a pink cloth diaper, the thid piece of evidence she examined. Admitted as evidence despite defense objection. (The defense might have detailed the reasons for its objections at sidebar. I do not recall hearing it in open court).

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:25

9:29

9:26 a.m. Preisig collected a similar pink cloth diaper from under the sink in the Rintala house when she was there on April 1, 2010. No one has said so, but it is possibly being admitted for comparison to the diaper from the McDonald's trash.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:29

9:31

9:29 a.m. Preisig has been presented with a brown paper evidence bag much bigger than the others. Inside is the laundry basket. It's a white plastic basket similar to those many people have in their homes.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:31

9:36

9:31 a.m. Gagne done. Rup goes off the bench for a brief recess. The questioning of witnesses in a trial goes like this: direct questioning by the side that calls the witness, cross examination by the other side. There may then be re-direct, in which the primary questioner usually tries to undo whatever damage the other side has done on cross. Sometimes there is re-cross, in which the other side tries to do the same thing. Very rarely there is another round of questioning that usually consists of a single question.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:36

9:41

9:35 a.m. Hoose on cross is questioning Preisig about the details of her examination at the house and in the lab. Preisig acknowledges that she found no blood traces in the bed of Rintala's pickup truck. The door handle also tested negative.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:41

9:46

9:40 a.m. Preisig said the chemical they use to detect blood works at a ratio of up to 1 drop of blood in 20,000 drops of some other liquid. Hoose said the chemical is known to show false positives in reaction to things like household cleaners. Preisig shows where she found the brown stain on the laundry basket. The stain is no longer visible because examiners took a swab of it.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:46

9:51

2:46 a.m. Hoose asks about the rags on the butcher paper, says someone brought them from outside the house to the crime scene. Preisig confirms.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:51

9:57

9:51 a.m. Preisig testifies that evidence is stored in a cold room to prevent degradation. She seized a belt near the side door of the Rintala house. Hoose done with cross. Gagne on re-direct. He asks about confirmatory testing. Sometimes this cannot be done because the sample is too small. Preisig steps down.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 9:57

10:00

9:56 p.m. Gagne calls Caroline Tatro. She is a forensic scientist at the state police crime lab.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:00

10:01

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

When possible, please give us the link to the archived blogs for the first eight days of the trial. Thank you.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:01 Guest

10:01

10 a.m. Sorry, I don't know how to access them if they exist. Someone from MassLive can better help with this.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:01

10:02

@Guest -- Previous coverage is available here:

http://topics.masslive.com/tag/cara-rintala/posts.html

Greg Saulmon / The Republican

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:02

10:05

10:01 a.m. Tatro, like Preisig, sat in her car overnight at 18 Barton St., waiting for a warrant. It rained that night. The next morning she went first to the garage entrance, noticed a shovel outside the garage door. The prosecution theorizes that Rintala used the shovel to smash the doorway so it would look like someone broke into the house. The defense disputes this.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:05

10:08

10:05 a.m. Tatro testifies that she found white residue on the shovel's tip and handle

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:08

10:08

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

question about yesterday's viewing of the crime scene. So the new owner of the home had no choice in the matter but to allow this? I wonder if that was a condition when they bought the home.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:08 Guest

10:08

10:07 a.m. I don't know the answer to this.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:08

10:13

10:08 a.m. Gagne shows photos showing white residue on shovel. Tatro took samples of the residue.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:13

10:13

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

what is caras overall deminer today?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:13 Guest

10:14

10:12 a.m. My view of Cara is slightly blocked. I can't look at her as often as I would because I am busy blogging. She has been emotional at times but more often than not appears to be collected.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:14

10:14

[Comment From guestguest: ]

how long do u think the trial will last?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:14 guest

10:14

10:13 a.m. At least two more weeks.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:14

10:19

10:14 a.m. Gagne is methodically having the witness retrace the chain of custody for the evidence. This proved to be a big problem in the OJ trial. Tatro testifies that she examined the Ford Explorer inside the garage for blood, found none. She wnet into the home.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:19

10:20

10:18 a.m. As a reminder, Tuesdays and Thursdays are half days in this trial, so testimony today will conclude at 1 p.m.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:20

10:22

10:19 a.m. Tatro points out in a photo wood chips on the mat in front of the door to the house.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:22

10:22

[Comment From guestguest: ]

is the court room full?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:22 guest

10:22

10:22 a.m. No.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:22

10:22

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

what is the purpose of the half days?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:22 Guest

10:23

10:22 a.m. The court has to deal with other cases.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:23

10:25

10:22 a.m. Gagne shows a close-up of a hair in the weather stripping on the door jamb. Tatro notes the door jamb was damaged. Gagne offers into evidence photos of the damage.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:25

10:30

10:25 a.m. In photo of door jamb are what appear to be hack marks. Tatro took a paint sample from the foor jamb.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:30

10:30

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

What time did Cara call 911. After eading the Texts from Cara and Anne's phones. It sound as if Cara was trtying to contact Anne until around 5pm. If memory serves me right, didnt the respondign emt's say the riga mortus had set in meaning the body had been lifeless for several hours.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:30 Guest

10:32

10:30 a.m. You're getting into the complicated time line, which the defense disputes. It might be better to let witness testimony outline this little by little during the trial. I expect the medical examiner will be more specific when she testifies.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:32

10:37

10:32 a.m. Tatro noted red-brown stains on basement steps. Gagne shows photos. Tape marks stains found on second and third steps from the top. Those stains, Tatro said, tested positive for blood. She pointed out similar stains of some lower steps, also positive for blood. Stain on post next to steps. She calls it a "transfer stain."

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:37

10:42

10:36 a.m. Stains on bottom step. Looking down stairs, there was a transfer stain on left wall, Tatro said. Photo shows the stain on the wall and three "finger swipes." All stains positive for blood. Hoose asks to be heard at sidebar.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:42

10:44

[Comment From guestguest: ]

whos finger swipes?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:44 guest

10:44

10:43 a.m. No one has suggested an answer to this to this point.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:44

10:49

10:44 a.m. Gagne shows photo that reveals a red brown stain near top of steps on right looking down. Tatro said it tested positive for blood. Tatro testifies about the position of Annamarie's body at the bottom of the stairs. It was covered with paint, she said. There were red-brown stains near the body on the floor.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:49

10:52

10:48 a.m. Tatro said there were hairs at the crime scene on the body. There were hairs on Annamarie's chest and hands.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:52

10:53

[Comment From guestguest: ]

Are there anyone in court showing support for cara

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:53 guest

10:53

10:52 a.m. I believe so, but I have not approached them.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:53

10:58

10:53 a.m. Gagne shows photo of Annamarie's bloody right hand. You can see some hairs on her fingers. A photo of her left hand also shows hairs. Her left hand appears swollen and red with pooled blood. Photo of Annamarie's chest with more hairs. You can see her face, which is half-covered with paint. Her eyes are open.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:58

10:58

10:57 a.m. Rup calls a recess. Tatro still on stand.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 10:58

11:19

11:16 a.m. Back in court awaiting the jury. I have learned this about Cara's family: Her step-father is here in court nearly every day, along with about a half dozen friends and family of Cara. Cara's mother attended one or two court events but stays home to take care of Brianna. Also, the court procedure is understandably stressful for her.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:19

11:20

[Comment From guestguest: ]

i dont recall you saying her parents have been there threw this trial. but anns parents have been there since jury selection is my memory serving me correctly.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:20 guest

11:20

[Comment From Scott CheggScott Chegg: ]

How many other reporters have been covering the trial? Are any from outside of Western Mass?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:20 Scott Chegg

11:21

11:20 a.m. The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a reporter here every day. Author Joe McGinniss is also here daily, writing a story for Boston Magazine. Some local news channels were here for opening statements but are not in court daily. No one from outside Western Mass. that I know of.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:21

11:22

[Comment From guestguest: ]

Will there be a lunch break?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:22 guest

11:22

11:21 a.m. Yes, at 1 p.m. We will be done for the day then.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:22

11:28

11:22 a.m. Photo of a counter in the Rintala home. Tatro screened various objects for blood, found none. We are looking at a work bench and a tool box in basement. Tatro could not find blood on a hammer in the tool chest. There are red-brown stains on the floor near the tool box, numerous ones. The stains were positive for blood.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:28

11:28

[Comment From dondon: ]

is there anyone from ann's famly?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:28 don

11:29

11:27 p.m. Her parents and some others. They could be family or friends or both.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:29

11:32

11:28 a.m. Tatro looks at photo of bathroom shown by Gagne. On the clear liner behind the shower curtain, Tatro says, was a red-brown stain. Hoose asks to be heard to sidebar,

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:32

11:33

[Comment From CPCP: ]

Is there any discussion about what the evidence means or are they just reviewing the evidence at this point?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:33 CP

11:34

11:32 a.m. Gagne is building his case slowly and methodically. You can draw your own conclusions now, but eventually I think some expert witness will be more explicit about the evidence.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:34

11:36

11:34 a.m. The stain on the shower curtain liner tested positive for blood, Tatro testified.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:36

11:36

[Comment From guestguest: ]

fred is the mother of the deceased doing ok and her father. that is what i would call stress.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:36 guest

11:37

11:35 a.m. Because it is stressful, I try to give them their own space and don't approach them with a lot of questions. If Cara is convicted, they will have an opportunty to make victim statements in court.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:37

11:37

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

has the prosecution given any kind of insight as to why Anne was cover in paint?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:37 Guest

11:38

11:37 a.m. Not in detail. The prosecution has suggested that Cara tried to covert up evidence at the crime scene.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:38

11:38

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

who has custody of Brianna?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:38 Guest

11:38

11:38 a.m. Apparently Cara's parents.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:38

11:41

11:38 a.m. Tatro gives jury an inventory about evidence in bags she received. Among the evidence was a green blanket, jewelry, sox, green shirt.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:41

11:41

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

While Cara stands trial is she locked up somewhere or does she get to go home daily?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:41 Guest

11:42

11:41 a.m. Cara returns to custody at the end of the court day. I don't know where she is being held.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:42

11:43

11:42 a.m. Tatro talks about further examination of the hair found on Annamarie. Hoose objects. Sidebar.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:43

11:43

[Comment From guestguest: ]

do the cochranes see her?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:43 guest

11:43

11:42 a.m. We all here in the same room.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:43

11:44

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Do you think Brianna will be asked to take the stand at any point?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:44 Guest

11:44

11:43 a.m. Brianna is not on the witness list.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:44

11:46

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Has there been any talk as to Brianna's where abouts on the day of the death? Besides being with Cara running arons in the afternoon?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:46 Guest

11:47

11:46 a.m. Yes. Lots. All in testimony.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:47

11:56

11:50 a.m. Still at sidebar. Now they're back. Gagne showes Tatro photo of hairs, offers it into evidence. Hoose objects. Rup admits the photo as evidence. Gagne show the hairs on the screen. Tatro explains the different stages of growth and parts of the hairs in questions. One hair with root showing is the kind that naturally falls out when a new hair grows in its place, she says. The other hair is the kind that is forcibly removed from a person.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:56

11:58

11:56 a.m. The hairs on Annamarie's hands and chest were the kind that are forcibly removed. Hairs were sent for DNA testing.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:58

11:58

[Comment From guestguest: ]

has she been in jail waiting trial?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:58 guest

11:58

11:58 a.m. Yes.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:58

11:59

[Comment From guestguest: ]

did they say whos hair it is?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 11:59 guest

12:00

11:58 a.m. Not yet.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:00

12:07

12:03 p.m. Gagne introduces a photo of jeans, baseball cap and belt that Tatro took to the lab. Jeans have paint on them. Found blood on back pocket.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:07

12:07

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Stop grilling Fred and let him pay attention to his blogging~

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:07 Guest

12:08

12:07 p.m. It's part of my job to answer these questions if I have the time and know the answers.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:08

12:08

[Comment From guestguest: ]

does ann have any sibling?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:08 guest

12:08

12:08 p.m. I don't know.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:08

12:09

12:08 p.m. Tatro takes a necklace out of an evidence bag. Gagne offers it into evidence. Hoose asks to go sidebar.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:09

12:14

[Comment From guestguest: ]

Thank you fred for continuing answearing public questions.thats why there is comments and questions. dont feel as thou u r being grilled.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:14 guest

12:15

12:11 p.m. Tatro examined the necklace, saw paint, red-brown stains. They tested positive for blood.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:15

12:22

12:14 p.m. Tatro points out paint spot and blood on close-up of the necklace. Paint and blood on a pendant. She submitted blood for DNA testing.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:22

12:26

12:21 p.m. Gagne shows photo of black fleece jacket. It was paint on it and red-brown stains that tested positive for blood. Tatro sent cutting from the jacket to a lab for further testing.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:26

12:29

12:26 p.m. Tatro found red-brown stains and hairs on a vacuum cleaner in the basement. One was an animal hair. Now Tatro is testifying about Annamarie's blood, as collected by the medical examiner.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:29

12:32

12:29 p.m. Tatro said the ME also did a sexual assault kit on Annamarie's body. The kit was negative for sperm cells. They also examined the fingernail scrapings. They were positive for blood.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:32

12:35

12:32 p.m. Gagne shows a photo of the blood stain on the laundry basket.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:35

12:42

12:35 p.m. Gagne shows photo of paint-covered slacks, which Tatro calls "scrubs." They are almost entirely covered with white paint.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:42

12:48

12:42 p.m. They are back to the rags. Tatro found blood on one rag.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:48

12:50

12:48 p.m. Gagne gives the jury a photo of the rag on which blood was found to examine now. This is called "publishing it to the jury."

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:50

12:52

12:49 p.m. The pink cloth was negative fro blood, Tatro said.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:52

12:52

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

do you know if any firefighters from ludlow will be called as witnesses?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:52 Guest

12:52

12:51 p.m. There are some names on the witness list.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:52

12:54

12:52 p.m. Tatro took a DNA sample from Cara.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:54

12:54

[Comment From guestguest: ]

you cant say the names of the witnesses can you?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:54 guest

12:54

12:53 p.m. I'd rather wait to see if they are called. They may or may not be.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 12:54

1:00

12:54 p.m. Tatro talks about a shelf at the bottom of the basement stairs. She did not personally examine it at the time but processes some items from the shelf back at the lab. Gagne shows a photo of a shelf. It has an area marked with blood.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 1:00

1:00

[Comment From Scott CheggScott Chegg: ]

Awkward place to break--aren't they about to reveal whether the DNA matched?

Tuesday February 26, 2013 1:00 Scott Chegg

1:00

12:59 P.M. This particular trial is a marathon, not a sprint.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 1:00

1:04

1 p.m. Gagne done for the day. Tatro will return to the stand at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 1:04

1:36

[Comment From guestguest: ]

that was put very nicley the trial is a marathon, not a sprint.

Tuesday February 26, 2013 1:36 guest

1:38

Testimony has concluded for the day. Thanks to all for reading. We'll resume our coverage Wednesday morning. Fred will have a story summarizing today's proceedings on MassLive this afternoon, and in The Republican on Wednesday.
-- Joe Deburro / The Republican

Tuesday February 26, 2013 1:38

1:40