Cross Examine Casey

Cross Examine Casey
NEW* In cross ask Casey: Do you have, in your room at home, pictures you have created that depict violent scenes.

NEW* Xanga -- Prosecution: has motive against Sawyer
art comes from own conscious
- conscious thought of violence
stated threat against Sawyer
knew where The Crew hung out
was present before school
had access to chemistry equipment
had access to paint thinner


Casey lives on the same street that the high school is on. He says he lives behind the school (line 61) so he is very close to the school.
Has lived there his whole life.
Has been on honor roll up until most recent semester -- intelligent -- treasurer of science club -- likes science, of course. Takes advanced classes -- science, math, English -- line 21.
Involved in a couple of school activities.
Admits "not the most popular" has a small group of friends

claims started being "picked on" by The Crew.
"walk around like they own the school" -- This sounds like "sour grapes," like Casey is jealous.
Line 14/15 -- He knows that the cafeteria's dining patio os their hang-out -- has been since freshman year.
He mentions that "no one has dared to challenge them." DOES THIS BOTHER HIM? Again, is he jealous?
He says he doesn't know way they are "idolized" at the high school, especially Sawyer Simpson. He says they're always invited to parties. This sound like jealousy again.
Casey is really bothered by the popularity of The Crew, of Sawyer -- so much so that he fantasizes about violence against them.

Casey is telling us this "story" about Sawyer and the Crew picking on him and on that kid named Brady to explain the violent drawings, and perhaps to discredit Sawyer as a witness.

Casey can't testify on behalf of Brady! Could we ask Casey if he knows precisely why Brady switched schools? Could there have been a move involved, or a program at the other school that Brady wanted to participate in? (Check Cameron Cortez's statement.)

Almost failed chemistry last semester -- (seems to think that is because of Sawyer-- see lines 32-34)

What artist(s) were being imitated in the paintings in the bedroom? Salvador Dali.

Harassment ? Casey doesn't tell us what Sawyer and The Crew did to harass him on that first day of school. What did he consider harassment? Did they comment on his shoes?
Line 25.
Got shoved -- he doesn't say by whom.
The picture -- his face on the body of a donkey -- line 46 -- He takes photographs and manipulates them on the computer. (How can we bring this out?)

You spoke of a picture that was placed on your locker, right? Someone had combined pictures to put your face on the face of a donkey, correct? Did you say earlier that you "occasionally take photographs and manipulate them on the computer"? (line 46) Thank you.

Lines 38-39 I often imagine there is something I can do about it, and then I draw or paint pictures that express those feelings.
What he would do about it involves violence against Sawyer, and against the school. Why not just Sawyer? Why desire to destroy the school? -- lines 27-30. A lot of students are laughing at him, joking, calling him names, gossiping about him.

He has been feeling frustrated -- line 44. venting it. .. art comes from thoughts in his head line 46.

*consequences for hurting people -- Does Casey understand that there are consequences for hurting people? -- He was fantasizing about hurting people -- enough to take the time to produce (how many?) violent pieces of art.
line 54 The counselor -- Cameron Cortez felt that he was frustrated, upset enough, his feelings were serious enough to need some sort of way to deal with it. He needed a way to deal with his frustration. --

line 58 meaning I would go back to see the counselor -- Ask Casey "Did you say, "You'll be sorry you ever picked on me because I'm going back to see the counselor?" Did you say that?

line 59 -- humiliated -- so upset he tripped -- Do you often blame tripping or other bad experiences on being upset by the actions of others?

Why didn't they call Jamie as a witness? Why is Casey testifying as to what Jamie knows and thinks and says? (objection during direct?)

"Posting the actual drawings on R-Place is just another part of the fantasy." (line 70) -- (Don't people fantasize about things they'd like to do -- often things they would do if they had the chance?)

I want to be someone who is not made fun of. (line 72) Can we refer to other acts of violence at schools -- school shootings?

He feels he has been tortured. (line 75) Even if he has been tortured -- picked on as the boys at Columbine felt they had been -- does that justify planning, preparing, and carrying out a violent attack on those he felt had frustrated, tortured, and humiliated him?

A young man who feels he has been frustrated, tortured, and humiliated . . .

About the day of -- April 4
Hmm? Why do they show the custodian's closet on the map of the school?

Casey says he was at school early on April 4 to work on a project in the library. Because of where the door is to the library, wouldn't he have been around the cafeteria patio where Sawyer saw him. That would give him and excuse, and an opportunity to check on his bomb, right?

Casey is not usually at school that early.

Ate lunch in a classroom by the parking lot.
The teacher is not in the room, so she can't say if he ever left it.
But, why would he call the police about the container -- unless he had a change of heart?

Where is the school's back exit near the athletic fields? Is it the one by the faculty lot? line 86
-- not the usual exit route for an emergency. line 87
"we realized the bomb squad was by the cafeteria" line 88
Who is "we"? How did Casey know that? He was on the other side of the school, right? (See map.) Apparently there wouldn't be any windows from which he could see the patio area.
How did he know they were the bomb squad? Would there truck have been marked?
Here is a definitely marked truck:
http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/pol/homeland/bombsquad.htm







When we play defense:
Shouldn't necessarily have Casey testify first.
If a defendant testifies, it sets the tone.
Non-verbals are important as well as verbals
Carefully choose Casey.
The defendant needs to be able to be cross-examined without either exploding (anger) or diminishing (allowing himself or herself to be beaten down).
He/she could lean back in the chair if it's pointed out that he/she did something dumb -- as if it's something a teen would do.