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Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
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Allied Gardens
Alpine
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Eva Knott
Eva Knott
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Votes
Her husband, the rapist
Paul Pfingst began his closing argument this afternoon, September 26, but did not finish, so this case will continue Monday morning. The defense attorney warned the jury that prosecution's proposed motive of "anger, bitterness and spite" is a "fabrication." Pfingst seemed astonished, and declared that Watanabe “just made it up, the darnedest thing!” And the criminal defense expert further declared: “Attorneys can say anything!” Defense seemed to be addressing prosecution's allegation that defendant Julie Harper lied in the witness box, when he reminded the jury: *The burden never shifts to the defense to prove anything*. Pfingst suggested to jurors: “Forget murder one or murder two” and rather to consider the lesser, manslaughter options.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 26, 2014 6 p.m.
Her husband, the rapist
Prosecutor Keith Watanabe began his closing arguments to the jury this morning, September 26, 2014. He will continue after the lunch break. Watanabe challenged the truthfulness of Julie Harper's testimony, and suggested there was conspiracy between Julie Harper and her father to hide evidence. Defense attorney Paul Pfingst made some objections, but the judge mostly advised defense to address their concerns during their argument, expected later this afternoon.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 26, 2014 1:23 p.m.
Her husband, the rapist
In this photo, lead prosecutor Keith Watanabe watches as defendant Julie Harper positions second prosecutor Clayton Carr to demonstrate how her husband appeared when he was approaching her. Judge Blaine Bowman presides over jury trial in San Diego's North County Superior Courthouse.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 25, 2014 4:26 p.m.
Her husband, the rapist
Scott, no one is going to see that if you run the word THE and the word RAPIST together you get the word THERAPIST. Isn't there a movie you should be watching?
— September 25, 2014 3:53 p.m.
Justice for mom found dead in bed
Update. After the hearing on September 30, there is one more hearing scheduled for David Leroy Lucero on October 31, this to address "the criminal mental health cases as a follow-up to the permanent conservatorship." This according to deputy district attorney Patrick Espinoza.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 25, 2014 3:28 p.m.
Pistol-packing housewife
Bombshell from prosecution today: Julie Harper had been sending letters and communicating with an old lover from her college days. And that man was selected as godfather for one of her children. By the time of the shooting, Julie said that man, named Jerome, was her best friend of any person, man or woman. After Julie had been in custody for two weeks, she sent a newsy postcard to this old lover, and signed off with the acronym TLOML, which she said means The Love of My Life. Court adjourned for the day, Tuesday September 23, 2014, and prosecutor will resume questioning the witness-defendant tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 23, 2014 6:28 p.m.
A derringer for my daughter
The judge admonished John Cihak to stop nodding and shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, while his daughter Julie Harper was in the witness box, today September 23, 2014. Hon. Judge Blaine Bowman warned the anxious father that he would be required to wait in the hallway if he could not control himself. John Cihak answered, "Yes, your honor," and kept his seat in the front row of the crowded gallery; every seat for the public was taken, and extra seats were set out in aisles. At that moment, Julie Harper was being cross examined by prosecutor Keith Watanabe about her conversations she had with her father at his office, before she had spoken to an attorney.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 23, 2014 6:12 p.m.
A derringer for my daughter
Julie Harper was in the witness box for three hours today, September 22, 2014. She apparently started making written notes and clandestine audio-video recordings when she realized that her marriage was in serious trouble, starting in 2011. The defense attorney introduced each piece of evidence and then Julie explained the context for the jury. It is unclear if the prosecutor was surprised by any of these items. In the audio-video recordings, husband Jason does not seem to be aware that he is being recorded, while he expresses his frustration with his wife. In one video Jason is exasperated that his wife spent money on a surprise vacation while he claims that he is worried about paying the mortgage. Prosecution has not begun cross examination yet, and Julie Harper is expected to continue her testimony tomorrow, Tuesday.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 22, 2014 6:39 p.m.
A derringer for my daughter
Paul Pfingst reportedly directed that a photo be taken of more than $39,000 cash that was in a blue backpack, before Pfingst took that cash. The blue backpack, characterized as a "get-away-bag," was later found by police, stashed in the attic above the garage of John Cihak's home. When police found the bag, more than a week after Jason Harper's death and after suspect Julie Harper was already taken into custody, there was only about $20 cash left in the bag. Prosecutor Keith Watanabe has criticized opposing counsel's handling of evidence.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 21, 2014 9:27 a.m.
A derringer for my daughter
It was reportedly after 11 p.m. the day of the shooting, when attorney Paul Pfingst phoned Carlsbad police to request they do a "welfare check" at the Harper home, where the body of Jason Harper was eventually found. This photo of Pfingst is from the web site of prominent San Diego law firm Higgs, Fletcher & Mack.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…
— September 21, 2014 9 a.m.
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
Her husband, the rapist
Paul Pfingst began his closing argument this afternoon, September 26, but did not finish, so this case will continue Monday morning. The defense attorney warned the jury that prosecution's proposed motive of "anger, bitterness and spite" is a "fabrication." Pfingst seemed astonished, and declared that Watanabe “just made it up, the darnedest thing!” And the criminal defense expert further declared: “Attorneys can say anything!” Defense seemed to be addressing prosecution's allegation that defendant Julie Harper lied in the witness box, when he reminded the jury: *The burden never shifts to the defense to prove anything*. Pfingst suggested to jurors: “Forget murder one or murder two” and rather to consider the lesser, manslaughter options. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 26, 2014 6 p.m.
Her husband, the rapist
Prosecutor Keith Watanabe began his closing arguments to the jury this morning, September 26, 2014. He will continue after the lunch break. Watanabe challenged the truthfulness of Julie Harper's testimony, and suggested there was conspiracy between Julie Harper and her father to hide evidence. Defense attorney Paul Pfingst made some objections, but the judge mostly advised defense to address their concerns during their argument, expected later this afternoon. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 26, 2014 1:23 p.m.
Her husband, the rapist
In this photo, lead prosecutor Keith Watanabe watches as defendant Julie Harper positions second prosecutor Clayton Carr to demonstrate how her husband appeared when he was approaching her. Judge Blaine Bowman presides over jury trial in San Diego's North County Superior Courthouse. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 25, 2014 4:26 p.m.
Her husband, the rapist
Scott, no one is going to see that if you run the word THE and the word RAPIST together you get the word THERAPIST. Isn't there a movie you should be watching?— September 25, 2014 3:53 p.m.
Justice for mom found dead in bed
Update. After the hearing on September 30, there is one more hearing scheduled for David Leroy Lucero on October 31, this to address "the criminal mental health cases as a follow-up to the permanent conservatorship." This according to deputy district attorney Patrick Espinoza. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 25, 2014 3:28 p.m.
Pistol-packing housewife
Bombshell from prosecution today: Julie Harper had been sending letters and communicating with an old lover from her college days. And that man was selected as godfather for one of her children. By the time of the shooting, Julie said that man, named Jerome, was her best friend of any person, man or woman. After Julie had been in custody for two weeks, she sent a newsy postcard to this old lover, and signed off with the acronym TLOML, which she said means The Love of My Life. Court adjourned for the day, Tuesday September 23, 2014, and prosecutor will resume questioning the witness-defendant tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 23, 2014 6:28 p.m.
A derringer for my daughter
The judge admonished John Cihak to stop nodding and shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, while his daughter Julie Harper was in the witness box, today September 23, 2014. Hon. Judge Blaine Bowman warned the anxious father that he would be required to wait in the hallway if he could not control himself. John Cihak answered, "Yes, your honor," and kept his seat in the front row of the crowded gallery; every seat for the public was taken, and extra seats were set out in aisles. At that moment, Julie Harper was being cross examined by prosecutor Keith Watanabe about her conversations she had with her father at his office, before she had spoken to an attorney. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s… http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 23, 2014 6:12 p.m.
A derringer for my daughter
Julie Harper was in the witness box for three hours today, September 22, 2014. She apparently started making written notes and clandestine audio-video recordings when she realized that her marriage was in serious trouble, starting in 2011. The defense attorney introduced each piece of evidence and then Julie explained the context for the jury. It is unclear if the prosecutor was surprised by any of these items. In the audio-video recordings, husband Jason does not seem to be aware that he is being recorded, while he expresses his frustration with his wife. In one video Jason is exasperated that his wife spent money on a surprise vacation while he claims that he is worried about paying the mortgage. Prosecution has not begun cross examination yet, and Julie Harper is expected to continue her testimony tomorrow, Tuesday. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 22, 2014 6:39 p.m.
A derringer for my daughter
Paul Pfingst reportedly directed that a photo be taken of more than $39,000 cash that was in a blue backpack, before Pfingst took that cash. The blue backpack, characterized as a "get-away-bag," was later found by police, stashed in the attic above the garage of John Cihak's home. When police found the bag, more than a week after Jason Harper's death and after suspect Julie Harper was already taken into custody, there was only about $20 cash left in the bag. Prosecutor Keith Watanabe has criticized opposing counsel's handling of evidence. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 21, 2014 9:27 a.m.
A derringer for my daughter
It was reportedly after 11 p.m. the day of the shooting, when attorney Paul Pfingst phoned Carlsbad police to request they do a "welfare check" at the Harper home, where the body of Jason Harper was eventually found. This photo of Pfingst is from the web site of prominent San Diego law firm Higgs, Fletcher & Mack. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2014/s…— September 21, 2014 9 a.m.