Hello from Charlottesville and Judge Norman Moon's courtroom. It's day 18, week 4 of the "Unite the Right" civil trial. We are hearing the defense make their case, which should wrap up today. Closing arguments are agreed for tomorrow. Here's yday's thread:
https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM/status/1460605214298292226
The defense has called League of the South member Richard Hamblen to the stand. Video being played now. Hamblen is pointing out moments when counterprotesters shouted obscenities at white nationalist protesters. He claims they shouted threats.
DeAndre Harris appears in the video and we're seeing the scene in the parking garage in which Harris was badly beaten. Except the defense and Hamblen are trying to rewrite events and make it out like Harris and counterprotesters instigated the violence.
ICYMI, here's a summary of what happened yesterday:
“You have a misunderstanding, I’m afraid, of what conspiracy is,” a federal judge told Richard Spencer and Christopher Cantwell. buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
“You have a misunderstanding, I’m afraid, of what conspiracy is,” a federal judge told Richard Spencer and Christopher Cantwell. buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
Plaintiffs' counsel crossing Hamblin now. They show a Facebook post from League of the South calling for their "folk" to come to "Unite the Right" and demonstrate against their enemies, which he says are "yankees and communists."
Plaintiffs' counsel is scrutinizing Hamblin's account of seeing the fight where Harris was beaten. Hamblin says he saw the fight and was there. But in the next breath says it was over when he got there. He's inconsistent at best.
Next on the stand for the defense is Capt. William Newberry of the Charlottesville Police Dept. He was working in investigations in 2017 and looked into the groups involved at Unite the Right on both sides.
Defense attorneys asked Newberry who among the Unite the Right he had contact with. He saidhe met someone from League of the South. Other questions were objected to and Judge Moon said they were "beyond the scope." Newberry's already off the stand.
Neo-Nazi Chris Cantwell calls plaintiff Natalie Romero to the stand. She was the plaintiff's first witness in their case and gave devastating testimony. Read about that here: buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
Court will take a short break first, though, because Romero isn't in court yet.
Court will take a short break first, though, because Romero isn't in court yet.
Romero is on the stand and Cantwell is now questioning her. He shows her a photo with a black bandana around her neck. He asks why. She says she wanted something around her face because she'd been maced the day before. As for the color, "I have bandanas of many colors," she says.
Cantwell seems to be on one of his antifa fishing expeditions. He asks Romero about a green whistle and she says she never saw one. "Does this refresh your memory?" he asks, showing a photo. Plaintiffs object.
Cantwell playing a video in court and Romero spots Cantwell in the video near her. Now Cantwell is arguing with her and asking her, "Did I punch you?" Romero says, "I never said it... I can't confirm that." Things getting a bit dicey.
OK Romero steps down. Cantwell calls plaintiff Devin Willis back to the stand. Cantwell wants to show a video. There's an argument between him and plaintiffs, who are objecting to it being shown.
Moving on. Judge Moon is now reading aloud jury instructions.
Judge Moon's instructions include this bit: The burden of proof, in this case, is ~not~ "beyond a reasonable doubt" So, he instructs the jury, "you should therefore put it out of your mind." In this case, the burden of proof is a preponderance of evidence.
Court adjourned for the day. Tomorrow is closing arguments.
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