Thread by @AirDhatu

The People vs. #DanaRivers, 11-9-22 (week 2 day 4): This was the most dramatic day so far imo, in terms of lawyers going at each other with objections, as well as the witness testimony. It's also apparently the last day of evidence, which is why we got out early. 1/

The day starts on an almost comical note. Instead of continuing with Sandra, an expert witness testifies virtually on screen at home with a crying baby. He is an expert on the ethnography of tattoos and teaches in Criminal Justice sciences at Illinois State. 2/

He talks about the research he's done with people who get tattoos, as well as tattoo artists. He has seen pictures of the tattoos Rivers has. He says you cannot read much significance into tattoos without knowing more info — the same tattoo can mean different things 3/

depending on the context. He doesn't think the tattoos he's seen on Rivers necessarily mean Rivers was violent. Gun tattoos are common, he explains; he also says that the significance of "1%" as a criminal symbol is kinda mythological w/ little empirical data. 4/

(it occurs to me I forgot to state this witness's name — it's David Lane). 5/

Lane also is skeptical about a meaningful difference between a "1%" tattoo and a "1%er" tattoo -- it might be an aesthetic decision on the part of the artist (e.g., to conserve space) but maybe not for the wearer. 6/

Prosec in cross-x is REALLY aggressively trying to pry Lane for any hint that Rivers' tattoos could signify criminal intent, but Lane rebuffs. He really doesn't think you can assume criminal intent just based on these common tattoos alone. 7/

Lane, when pressed, also doesn't seem know much about the links between certain tattoos (like AFFA) and Hells Angels. It's clarified that motorcycle gangs aren't his particular field of expertise. It's also revealed in cross-X that Lane only knew he was going to testify 8/

an hour before hand, and only got an email (I guess with the photos?) late yesterday (he read it at 1 am). It's also clarified that he knows nothing about Rivers. So he doesn't know anything about the case except for photos of Rivers' tattoos. 9/

Then Sandra, president of the Deviants motorcycle club, comes back to finish the prosecution's cross-X. Prosec is hammering her about her relationship to Rivers. Prosec says that Sandra considered Rivers family "for life," though Sandra cannot recall that detail. 10/

Prosec plays a phone conversation from November 16th, several days after the murder (!), purportedly with Sandra's voice. The audio quality is poor, but I could make out "take care of her 'till the end of time." It's played a second time, and I did hear "for life" repeatedly. 11/

It's also revealed that Sandra (and I think her wife, who was VP) visited Rivers in jail. Prosec plays a (muddled) audio conversation to show that Rivers reciprocated. I make out something like "I'm in this for life….I'm not going anywhere….I'm going to follow you, 12/

wherever you want to go" (Rivers is speaking, presumably). Prosec confirms with Sandra that Deviants had a yearly December charity coat drive. Sandra reluctantly concedes that Deviants members considered doing a "defense party" for Rivers instead of the coat drive in 2016. 13/

However, she insists that this "defense party" was never actually held. She concedes that they were planning to invite "brothers," if the event were held. Prosec tries identifying the brothers as Hells Angels. Sandra says "brothers" would be "guys' clubs," which include 14/

Hells Angels, but aren't limited to them. Another muddled audio clip is played, and I make out something like, "Brotherhood behind you 50%….Bull****" (sorry I cannot make out more of these audio clips). Prosec clarifies that (Sandra, I guess?) is saying "brothers know how to 15/

deal with bull****." Pros is suggesting that the brothers (Angels?) were invited to a defense party because they know how to help ppl accused of crime (like Rivers). Sandra denies this was about murder, and once again denies they actually held a "defense party." 16/

Attention then turns to patches. Sandra admits she has the red & white Hells Angels patch on her vest, but also patches from other groups. They are "supporters' patches, not necessarily indicating membership. Sandra admits to knowing some angels and members of other clubs. 17/

Sandra, when asked, says she cannot remember if she has a patch that says "outlaw." Prosec shows group photo of Sandra and other Deviants, and claims it shows Sandra wearing "outlaw" badge. Sandra says she cannot tell (I'll admit it was blurry and hard to read). But Sandra 18/

can attest to wearing "President" and "Deviants" badges. Prosec asks again about the meaning of the "1%" vs. "1%er" badges/tattoos. Sandra reaffirms "1%" refers to women's biker groups. She also says that "1%er" refers to "rough clubs" who don't follow "laws of the road." 19/

Sandra denies being "1%er." But Prosec shows a text Sandra sent that says "1%er" with many knife and gun emojis. Sandra denies that she knew when Rivers got the "1%er" tattoo on his hand because he wore gloves. Prosec shows the Deviants' group photo again, and his hand has 20/

no tattoo, indicating that Rivers got the "1%er" tattoo *after* he joined the Deviants. Attention turns to the time shortly after Rivers' arrest. Sandra affirms her wife (the VP) held Rivers' membership cuffs while Rivers was in jail. Then they talk about the club offices. 21/

Deviants' bylaws say that members aren't supposed to be in jail. Prosec asks, if that's so, why was Rivers promoted to Sergeant at Arms while in jail? Sandra cannot recall when Rivers was promoted. Prosec plays audio to demonstrate that new members of the Deviants were 22/

brought to Santa Rita jail and Rivers was introduced as "Sergeant at Arms." An audio clip is played from Jan 2017, and I could make out "let me introduce you….she knows that you're the sergeant." Sandra denies that new members were brought to jail deliberately to pay respect 23/

to Rivers in his new position. But another audio clip is played, stating, "out of respect, you need to talk to her." Prosec asks if Deviants tried making money off of the murders, which of course Sandra denies. Yet another audio clip is played, and it's also of poor quality 24/

, also with the sound of crying small children. I do make out "coat drive" and "this makes money." Prosec is trying to portray Rivers as trying to convince the Deviants they could make money off of this murder. Sandra says that during this conversation w/ Rivers, she wasn't 25/

paying attention to Rivers because she was attending to her kids (you can hear kids crying in the audio). Prosec also suggests that Rivers' asked, upon joining Deviants, whether other members had pending charges. More audio — I make out "weekend" and "charges from anybody." 26/

Finally, prosecution asks about Sandra's relationship with Charlotte Reed. Sandra insists she didn't know her long. She emphatically states that she had no problem with Reed and never threatened her about anything. So the prosecution then displays a text from August 2016, 27/

where Sandra states something like "you touch me + you are f****** with a bunch [something]" and "stay smart, back off b****….". Sorry I couldn't capture the full texts, but I think you get the picture. Sandra *angrily* denies sending either text. 28/

And Sandra's testimony ends on that very dramatic note! Defense says they have no more witnesses to call. Judge says that's it for evidence, and lets jury + audience out early to reconvene next Monday (I'm assuming for closing statements). 29/

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