RESOLUTION: GUILTY, LIFE IN PRISON
And so it ends.
"May God have mercy on your soul."
◼
"I'm here to talk about the impact on our lives by the senseless slaughter of two innocent people by a man, and I'm hesitant to use the word, man." - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 10, 2014
◼
"Little did we know that this nightmare would never end" - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 10, 2014
◼
Jurors, family, community members pack courtroom for Bodhi Tree sentencing - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 10, 2014
...7 jurors took the time out of their schedules, community members that attended the trial, and the families of all victims have been waiting...
◼
link - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 10, 2014
...He has to serve consecutive sentences... but the basic gist is he has to serve 75 years and even then with minimum parole times on other terms, it is another 25 so it would be 100 years before he is eligible for parole.
Tree sat with with an attitude, no remorse and after sentence looked at bailiffs and said
"Allright, ready."
◼
We plead with the court to never release this animal to society" - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 10, 2014
Some of the jurors were wiping tears as did Sean Butler-Smith's sister Breanne and community members. Even the court staff who were stoic and professional were shaken by the emotional testimony of the families. While Rhett August's mother attended, she chose not to speak.
Victim witness representative Marybeth read a letter from Nancy Jo Marcet, Sunshine's mother, Michael Tostado, Christina's uncle read his own statement, that of his wife, and Christina's aunt and the last one to read was Tina Schwarz, Christina's mother.
Mrs. Marcet started her letter by referring t the loss of her son, "who was taken from us so violently trying to protect Christina." The last words Alan "Sunshine" Marcet etxted to his mother on May 17, was "I love you so very much." And on May 18, she found out he was dead. This loss just on the heels of Sunshine's father being killed.
"He should not be allowed to do this anyone again," Mrs. Marcet's sentiment was reiterated by all speakers, Ms. Firpo and Judge Dale Reinholtsen.
They were very grateful to DDA Elan Firpo and the jurors who they thanked. Mrs. Schwarz even thanked the public defenders and addressed Bodhi Tree. At one point, she asked him to look at her, he didn't. She said, "May God have mercy on your soul."
__________________
Thank you, John Chiv, for covering this case in its entirety.
__________________
◼
Tree gets life in prison - Paul Mann/Mad River Union
A full report will appear in the Oct. 15 edition of the Mad River Union.
Thank you, Paul Mann.
__________________
◼
Bodhi Tree Sentenced to Life in Prison - Andrew Goff/Lost Coast Outpost
__________________
AFTERMATH:
◼
Key witness in Tree trial assualted the second time in jail - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 11, 2014
◼
Even with the trial over, Sean is not safe; his sister's account - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 11, 2014
◼
DDA Elan Firpo gives notice, joins well-known local firm - John Chiv/Words Worth Oct 10, 2014
__________________
◼
Closing arguments in Tree start Thursday, expected to last a couple days - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/29/14
◼
Defense rests; evidence in Tree case complete - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/29/14
◼
People rest in Tree case; defense calls last witness - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/29/14
◼
"When someone is killed, it has nothing to do with me getting out early" - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/29/14
Williams explained why people in and out of custody come to him with information. Ms. Holmquist tried to paint him as a snitch wanting personal benefit. Both on cross and redirect, Williams came across as someone whose tips to the Sheriff's office and DA's office have led to discovery of a body and arrest of three suspects in one case; another case in which Williams wore a wire and was supposed to catch an inmate who raped his wife confessing he was planning to plot to have someone kill her.
Williams said he was going to testify whether he had an immunity agreement or any plea deal in his case because "what he (Tree) did was hideous." Williams said Tree killed a 'child", referring to Christina.
◼
The never ending jury trial; Tree case to definitely go into next week - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/29/14
◼
Williams testifies Tree allegedly said, "I am going to beat this shit and get the fuck out of here" and "I am tired of these faggot woods" - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/25/14
◼
"Because that is your opinion, not mine" Losey sets Holmquist straight on cross - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/25/14
◼
Defense tactic on cross of Brannon backfires in Tree case - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/24/14
◼
Another jail inmate confirms Tree admission about threat and shooting Rhett August - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/24/14
◼
From the "hood" to a business management courses at CR, the journey of one criminal who got "saved" by Christ - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/23/14
◼
Brannon alleges Tree said "I'm going to beat this case" and get out - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/23/14
Brannon also alleges that Tree said he would shoot Brannon in the head and not make the same mistake he did with Rhett.
◼
"I got something for you guys, I'll be right back" - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/23/14
Brannon also said initially he did not talk to police because he was in a gang and you do not snitch. Ms. Firpo brought this up because at the April preliminary hearing Brannon denied anything about a fight.
Even though he was offered immunity in April, but then he got saved, became a Christian and got out of the political structure and had a "change of heart." Reading the Bible, he dropped out of the gang and wanted to change his life. He did not want to be part of the "prison political structure"; the gang. A cellmate in Humboldt County jail was the one who gave him the Bible, but Brannon was already thinking of telling the truth before this and he wrote to the DA saying he wanted to cooperate. He also sent a letter addressed to District Attorney Paul Gallegos. This was on April 2014 before the 402 hearings....
◼
July 3 tip given to only me re Tree makes sense after today's testimony - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/22/14
◼
Best estimate: Bodhi Tree trial estimated to conclude this Friday or by July 28 - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/22/14
◼
Bodhi Tree Trial jury trial on break until Tuesday - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/9/14
◼
Murder suspect led a troubled life of crime - Paul Mann/Mad River Union 7/9/14
Note:
Chiv often posts early details of court proceedings, and then fleshes the story out later in the day, so it is recommended that you check back, to catch the full post, and the full flavor of the proceedings...
◼
Second defense witness testifies out of order in Bodhi Tree case - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/2/14
◼
An uneventful morning in the Bodhi Tree case - John Chiv/Words Worth 7/1/14
◼
First defense witness testimony in Bodhi Tree case total letdown - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/30/14
◼
Touche Firpo in Bodhi Tree cross vs redirect today - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/27/14
"Are you a detective?" and "Are you authorised to open and search items" Christian responded she was not. Ms. Firpo also asked Ms. Christian if it was "realistic" to collect every item in the house. She also brought up the fact that Ms. Holmquist asked why a butcher knife in the kitchen was not collected. She asked Ms. Christian if anyone had been stabbed in this double homicide.
The last question is just one example of the completely irrelevant questions by the defense. By now, I can predict the questions and strategy of the defense. I realize they need to present a vigorous defense for their client but only one person has been identified by the witnesses, only one person had a motive. Endless questions that do not prove the defense theory only serve to annoy.
◼
Red spot on Tree's ipod, latex glove among other gloves found on Tree when arrested - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/27/14
◼
Witness testimony varies, but consistent on pre-killing agitation - Tabitha Soden/Mad River Union 6/27/14
◼
"Pretty quiet, he never said much. Didn't communicate much with anybody." - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/26/14
Yesterday and today, Dale Coultier, a senior criminalist with the CA DOJ, who works at the Eureka lab and is primarily a firearms examiner testified in detail about the process of examining bullets from the Eureka and Arcata crime scenes.
There has been no firearm recovered and he testified that there were similarities in the bullet markings and that it is possible that the same firearm was used but he could not say that definitively because he did not have a firearm to compare and examine.
For two days, Mr. Russo questioned him on cross to no avail.
◼
"They were looking for Mr. Tree, that he had killed some people" - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/25/14
◼
Today's testimony in Bodhi Tree could be summed up in one sentence - John Chiv/Words Worth 6/24/14
"I don't recall."
