James Pilcher Profile picture
Nov 29 37 tweets 12 min read
Starting second thread for Wagner murder trial. Defense almost done with defense closings - then Andy Wilson will handle final rebuttal for prosecution. @Local12
@Local12 Parker: Few final points. Angela testified Billy told her to buy two pairs of shoes. It was Billy and Jake who planned it. Pointing out inconsistencies in Jake and Angela's testimony @Local12
Parker says state has introduced "distractions" - is it possible Jake wore two left shoes? George got nothing for his testimony - compare that to George and Angela. @Local12
Says guys in Alaska would hire him now even with everything going on. That's got to count for something. @Local12
Compare these guns and gun culture like a $20 or $50 bill - they used them like currency. @Local12
"The law requires you to consider Jake and Angela's testimony with grave suspicion ... there's no proof here beyond a reasonable doubt." "His mother wouldn't even look at him." @Local12
Parker asks jury if they believe George was there, that they remember he had no intent to kill and that he only went along to protect Jake from his father. @Local12
"I ask you to return a verdict of not guilty all charges, George wasn’t even up there, there’s nothing even credible here to say otherwise ... George didn’t do this, he is different than Jake he is different than Angela." Parker finishes by pounding on the podium. @Local12
Wilson: He is guilty of aggravated murder ... lists all the victims' names. Then says "you better believe that he is up to his eyeballs in this with his family" @Local12
Says Jake had his chance to throw his brother under the bus by saying he pulled trigger on SKS. But he didn't. Wilson says that doesn't matter - he can still be guilty of aggravated murder in Ohio. @Local12
If you aid assist or abet - you are guilty. Wilson brings up buying the phone jammer from China - fraud detection called George and he authorized it. @Local12
Wilson: That alone shows you he aided and abetted. Walking through all the other things he allegedly did to prepare including false bed. @Local12
Calls the impromptu plan to use Chris Sr's truck and have two vehicles was "brilliant" and makes perfect sense. @Local12
After Montana interview if you are innocent "You better believe when you get out to the car, you would say 'what the hell was that?' Mom how in the world are shell casings from the murder weapon on our property?" @Local12
Run though list of 20 things that you can't do if you're really innocent that they think George did. "And that's not a cumuluative list." "It shows you have accepted that group intent." @Local12
Wilson suggests they pull out complicity instructions and apply to each charge and each count even though it's written as if he's principal offender. If they find he's complicit by aiding and abetting, he's guilty. @Local12
Shows picture of Wagner family after the murders - Wilson says those kids were "going to be raised Wagners" referring to Jake and George's daughter and son. They stole George's son wiped out an entire family to get Jake's daughter @Local12
Says the allegations of sexual abuse of Jake's daughter "wasn't true ... it was their playbook" - common planner's theme under the law. Accused previous people of abuse "to push them out" @Local12
But Hanna was stronger than the other women - had a strong support system and family - gestures to the Rhoden family in the gallery. @Local12
Wilson: Make no mistake, their desire to raise (XXX) 100 percent as Wagners was the motive in this case.
@Local12
Says if you peel back the case another layer - this is about control and power. The playbook is the same all the time. "The Wagners need to control these children, these grandchildren, need to be raised. That's a group think." @Local12
Wilson: "Who's running the show? It's him" pointing to George. Also says he manipulated his son at Montana border. "No way he's sitting on the sidelines" @Local12
Wilson says they waited to put Jake on stand to show you depth and complexity of the investigation before Jake pleaded guilty. @Local12
Talking through how they started suspecting Wagners - Billy lied to BCI agents, then the search warrants uncovered shell casings matching those at scene. "BCI had the Wagners, had them, well before Jake came forward." @Local12
Says Jake is a "terrible, terrible human being. He's evil. He's going to spend the rest of his life locked in a cage." @Local12
But state entered the deal with one thing in mind - to get murder weapons. "Those guns were incredibly important." Needed them because of drugs - that was the Wagners' ruse and needed to finally disprove it. @Local12
When Jake led us to the guns, it flipped that defense 100 percent. Destroyed all the rumors heard in community as well. "No more arguing that it was the cartel." @Local12
Also calls Angela Wagner a terrible human being, she's evil. "Even though she didn't go up to Union Hill Road, you better believe she is complicit." @Local12
"As distasteful as it was to deal with Jake and Angela, their testimony corroborates all the other evidence." Everybody in the family participated in the murders and everybody is guilty. @Local12
"Let's be real, who moved those bodies ... it was the defendant" talking about Chris Sr's trailer. @Local12
Wilson answering all the inconsistencies Parker brought up in defense. Also says they didn't play tape of George at Montana border as strategic move because then he doesn't have to testify. Only way he can get his story out then is take stand and be cross examined @Local12
Says George was clearly coached and practiced his answers when he took the stand. Answering questions before Parker even finished the question, including context before Parker framed it. @Local12
Asks jury if they noticed his body language when he would deny his involvement. Had a major tell. Looked straight down before answering anything to do with the crimes. @Local12
Wilson looks at co counsel, makes speed up sign. Then tells jury he is passing over 10 pages of notes. "There comes a time that there is nothing that I say that you don't know." "It's time to let you do your job" @Local12
"Over last three months we've given you all the evidence you need to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He knew about it and participated in it ... if you make that finding, at that point, he's guilty ... and that's what you'll do because that's what he is." @Local12
And with that, we're done until 1 p.m. Jury will get jury instructions starting at 1. @Local12

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More from @jamespilcher

Nov 29
Good morning from Pike County Wagner murder trial. Defense starts early with its closing arguments, then rebuttal by prosecution. Jury instructions will take awhile too - so unclear whether the jury will get case today or tomorrow. @Local12
@Local12 Parker starts by thanking jury - and says "I'm not going to go as long as you might expect." Canepa went 4.5 hours yesterday. Asks jury that if he offended them, take it out on him not his client. @Local12
"You are the best of Pike County ... you stand between the power of the government and George Wagner." "They've overreached when it comes to George." @Local12
Read 31 tweets
Nov 28
New thread for Wagner murder trial closing arguments. Canepa says jury should regard George's testimony with grave suspicion. Says death penalty lifted because Jake lived up to his end of bargain. Leads to objection and another bench conference @Local12
@Local12 Canepa asks jury to consider why George is lying. Says he lied about Frankie Rhoden being his best friend. @Local12
Calls his defense that he was trying to get away "malarkey" - says the family stuck together after the murders and they worked together in Alaska and moved all over country together. @Local12
Read 10 tweets
Nov 28
Starting a new thread for second morning session and prosecution closing arguments for Wagner Pike County murder trial @local12
False stories told to lead investigators astray can be used as circumstantial evidence. How Wagners said relationship b/w Jake and Hanna were great when they weren't @local12
Tattoos can be used as circumstantial evidence. All three men get them June 2016 - Billy got scorpion on trigger finger. Boonedocks movie clip as well @local12
Read 26 tweets
Nov 28
Good morning from Pike Co. Wagner murder trial. Hoping this is the final stretch. Lawyers to finalize jury instructions today and then closing arguments are expected this morning. Jury will get instructions late today or early tomorrow. Deliberations could start Tuesday @Local12
@Local12 We're on the record with Judge Deering taking the bench. @Local12
Judge has given draft of jury instructions to both sides as well as verdict forms to review tonight and finalize before giving them to jury tomorrow. @Local12
Read 36 tweets
Nov 17
New afternoon thread for George Wagner IV on stand in own defense in Pike County murder trial - still on cross examination. First question about going to gun show where Jake apparently bought a 1911 Walther Colt (the kind used in the murders) @local12
@Local12 Says he has never seen that gun before that was used in the murders. @local12
Canepa asks about his caffeine use - would take pills "stackers" and drink Monsters or Red Bulls on top. Then she brings up him threatening BCI agent Scheiderer - objection and bench conference. @local12
Read 27 tweets
Nov 17
Starting new thread for George Wagner IV on stand in own defense in Pike Co massacre trial. On a 15 minute break. Prosecution on cross examination. @local12
@Local12 Canepa now going through gun purchases and the fact he put incorrect addresses and info on his gun receipts. Says it's a federal offense with up to 10 years in prison. @local12
Now onto the arson of the last house on Bethel Hill Road - happened 6-7 months after his grandmother said she was selling the land. Counters Jake's testimony that George was inside the house - he says he was outside working on his truck @local12
Read 21 tweets

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