Thread by @innercitypress

OK - now US v. #GhislaineMaxwell final-final pre-trial hearing. @sdnylive Judge Alison Nathan will be addressing which experts can testify - then will seal the courtroom. Inner City Press is covering the case innercitypress.com/sdnytrial6maxw… & will live tweet, thread below

https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1457369187781861383

Judge Nathan: We've had 565 prospective jurors fill out the questionnaire. Friday we'll get a hundred or so more. That will give the parties additional time to confer, on a fewer questionnaires. Alright. We'll also do Nov 15 at 9:30, pre voir dire

Judge Nathan: Then, a [final-final] final pre-trial conference.
Maxwell's lawyer: When do we begin voir dire?
Judge Nathan: I believe 9 am.
Maxwell lawyer: One of our team has a hearing in Colorado and can't appear at the [final-final] final

Judge Nathan: So let's begin with the Daubert [expert] hearing. 1st witness, Doctor Rocchio.
[Inner City Press covered her: innercitypress.com/sdny89dmaxwell… ]
Witness: I am Lisa Rocchio.
AUSA Lara Pomerantz: Before your PhD, any degree?
Rocchio: Masters from URI. PhD too.

AUSA Pomerantz: How much time did you spent working with patients?
Rocchio: 500 to 1000 hours while getting my degree, plus a one year doctor's fellowship. 100s of patients, issues related to traumatic stress, suicidality, violence

AUSA Pomerantz: How many employees do you have?
Rocchio: Seven at the present time.
AUSA Pomerantz: How old were the patients you've treated for sexual abuse when the abuse occurred?
Rocchio. 13... I'm on the voluntarily faculty of Brown U

AUSA Pomerantz: Is this your C.V.?
Rocchio: Yes. But it doesn't include my recent promotion.
AUSA Pomerantz: We offer Exhibit 1.
Maxwell's lawyer: No objection for purposes of today.

AUSA Pomerantz: How is most sexual abuse of children carried out?
Rocchio: In the context of a relationship.
AUSA Pomerantz: Are you familiar with grooming?
Rocchio: I am.

AUSA Pomerantz: Describe grooming.
Rocchio: Victim is identified then isolated. Like in a Boy Scouts troop. It's akin to what 2 adults might do in a courtship

Rocchio: They might groom an institution, like working their way up through the Boy Scouts.
AUSA Pomerantz: Some strategies?
Rocchio: Gift gifting. Tickling. Massages. Talking about sex. Normalizing sexualized behaviors and gradually moving the line to abuse

AUSA: What about substantiated cases of abuse?
Rocchio: It's where it's admitted or resulted in conviction. Or young children with venereal diseases.
AUSA: Gov Ex 2.
Rocchio: It's an article about coercive control.
Defense: No objection for purposes of today

[The exhibit / article has, as one of its listed keywords, "predatory tactics."]
Judge Nathan: You cited pimp and sex worker - trauma bonding. What's the similarity?
Rocchio: The pimp subjugates the sex worker, like a sex trafficker does.
Judge Nathan: Thank you.

Rocchio: My patients say, He bought me sneakers. That impacts the individuals self-blame and feelings of shame.
AUSA: Is the concept of grooming accepted?
Rocchio: Yes.
AUSA: Who is more at risk?
Rocchio: Needy, vulnerable, prior history as a victim.

Rocchio: Those from single parent homes, "sexual minority children," the poor.
AUSA: What is this based on?
Rocchio: My education and training.

Now shown as Government Exhibit: statistical table of how child sex victims are targeted.
[Note: This direct examination could have been done in writing, and get straight to the cross examination.
#JustSayin

AUSA: The defense has argued that a victim's prior sexual experience is relevant to the concept of groom- that is, whether or not a person had prior sexual experience makes them more vulnerable.
Rocchio: Even theoretically I don't understand how that could be true

AUSA: Now let's turn to grooming for other(s)
Judge Nathan: Let's take a 10 minute comfort break.
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