Letter From Beth

From: A Friend
Date: 27 Feb 2002
Time: 23:27:57 -0500
Remote Name: 65.71.93.232

Comments

I received the following letter from Beth, and with her permission, I am posting it today.... Just an update in case you have not checked the website to let you know that the first trial is scheduled for March 11 -- that is the start of jury selection. There is one more hearing prior to that and that is to take place on March 7th. At that point, the trial is handed over to the "Master Court" and it is more difficult to delay it after that point -- although the public defender for the female defendant has tried everything to this point -- and other tactics would not surprise us. We arranged our flights out to LA and plan to be with Karen by March 8th. The DA is trying to get the case in what is known as a "long cause" court which is located on the high security floor of the LA Criminal Courts Building -- where the Simpson trial was held. The long cause court will mean that the trial will complete faster as it is dedicated to only this case. Otherwise, we will be in a courtroom where potentially other pretrials could happen each day before our case begins. The DA expects the jury selection to take 2-3 days. He expects the testimony and evidence to take the remainder of the week and possibly the following Monday. He expects jury deliberation to take up to 2 days. Again, the timing all depends on which courtroom it is assigned to. The twisting and turning feeling in the pit of my being that has occurred since the public defender cancelled the hearing on the 21st (where we expected another delay) leads me to believe that we have a high chance of trial this time. I feel like we are on a train with no exits and the train is picking up speed. I don't want to stay on the train but I must until it pulls into the station. The scenery isn't pretty and the air is difficult to breath. Unfortunately, there is another train after this one that we must take too as the trial for the male defendant is held. None of us bought tickets and none of us want to be on this train and none of us want the destination. However, In Wendy's memory and in her strength, we will ride this train all the way -- and as many times as we have to. It has been suggested to us not to focus on any of the defense part of the trial as the evidence is unbelievable strong and the public defender has to say something to have a defense. We will try to do that. There will be a new posting on the website under Wendy's page and the trial update on the evening of the 7th of March after the last (hopefully) pretrial hearing. We will post the exact location and time as we will know it at that time. If there are any changes, they will always be posted on the website. Again, Karen, Gene and I want to thank you for your emotional and loving support. You know how to reach us. We will be in Karen's apartment in LA. The number is unlisted but most of you have it or can get it if you need it. I was touched recently by a statement from a man who lost a family member in the 911 attack -- "You get up each day and pretend it is normal -- some days it works and some days it doesn't"! Your support is perhaps what gives us the "good days" and we are grateful! Beth