CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

Barnicle by all accounts is an angry man. But, in this article of tribute, he did a fine job presenting the sad story of a young man taken much too soon. A soldier caught up in a war that can only be settled politically, he died supporting a young wife and soon-to-be mother. What a tragedy, what a waste of America's young.

Wonderful piece. Great photographs, interesting narrative. At 275 pounds, Jamie is hopefully tall enough to carry this sort of weight. Look out for the knees too!

I hope you guys are going to help in the appeal. The defense attorney really needs your expert advice. Maybe you can be hired on as experts. Gosh, lets go back to the dark colored van and the possibility that aliens were hiding in the back of it and the driver was wearing a mask. Let's not forget that a woman was murdered who had a toddler in the house at the time.

Finally, justice for Christa and for Eva. So a garbage man can't murder? Chris asked a friend to do a B&E with him on a woman. Things like this show us some sort of intent, no matter how vague. Race and class got into this trial but when it all comes down to it, a man was put on trial for murder. Whether rich man, poor man, middle class man, black man, white man, red man, a murder took place and ripped a child from her mother's arms forever. For many of us, this is the crux of the situation.

Exactly what law was in effect when Chris was questioned by police way back when? The judge gave his opinion on what I believe is today's law...but that law has evolved during the past 5 years or so. Thus, what the judge said today he probably would not have said back when Chris was questioned for 7 hours?

Court TV reported today that the prosecution objected to seating No. 4 during jury selection, but she was selected for whatever reason. This trial has gone from a murder to bizarre entertainment. Does Christa even factor into this anymore? It appears the trial has taken on a life of its own....You know, I have heard so many reports about what a mellow guy and a nice fella Chris is. I knew the same sort of guy, but he drank too much one night and then went into work. This great guy and father turned into a murderer by taking off the head of a fellow employee. Gross and terrible event, but nice guys do kill people and alcohol consumption can unleash rage in some people.

I think she got rid of herself. The defense ain't happy about it. Now an older woman with whitish hair has stepped in. Outch! Outch! Outch! Sayith da defense!

Well, what can you expect? The prosecution left wholes for the defense to cut through. Fiber and DNA evidence testing was incomplete. No prosecution expert opinions regarding IQ testing and what that all can add up to. And the information about false confessions, now really! The prosecution must get their act together if there is a next time. Poorly presented case, what can you expect!

Outstanding article. What worries some of us is that so much in the way of smoke and mirrors has happened that justice may not end up being served. There was no rush to arrest in this case, and the police appear to have acted properly in what they did.

A BIG dog, a gun or two, something to protect yourself! This poor woman was a sitting duck...alone and isolated, the right kind of prey for a rapist and/or murderer. But, because a toddler was involved, I would have parked a 50-cal machinegun in back of my doorway. But who would think that this would happen where it did. Sadly, a single Mom was brutally murdered for a minute of sex with what was probably a dead or near-death woman.

Woman, he admitted to punching her in the face. Tim Arnold stated that her teeth were bent over. Do you know how painful that actually is? He admitted to putting the boots to her as well. Some people will side with you while others will disagree, let us see what the jury does with this difficult case.

Great piece, great writing! I was involved with investigating some murders while in the military. From those experiences, I came away with the belief that some people look for 15 minutes of fame, while others retreat and hide when they really know something about the crime.

The fiber testing would be nice but will the sweater actually now exist? Where were Christa's underpants? Didn't Chris have some that he kept from other women as trophies? Hmm, looks a little strange. And why do you think the police stopped investigating after the DNA came back as belonging to Chris? Only his DNA was found in a strength sufficient enough for testing on Christa's dead body. DNA is powerful evidence. How many convictions have been overturned in "modern" forensic times where DNA evidence was matched to an individual? So far, no cases? And what about the woman who tested it at the lab? First, the Mass State Police has a salient reputation regarding forensic science. She went to one of the very best colleges to begin a career in forensics (Saint Michael's College, Winooski, Vermont). How many times has she been recorded as being wrong in her evidence finding? And how many times have the police set people up for a fall on the Cape? You will find that this particular group of officers has an outstanding record.
Let's be fair so Christa has a shot at justice.

Again, videopaul is right. As I watch this trial on TV, it looks like some people are actually inserting themselves into the trial while others are reluctant in their testimony. Now we have a PhD (doctor) saying all kinds of things that I think are absurd. So Chris was tired when he told police his stories. Wow! So what! How did Chris know all the details surrounding the murder scene? I just can't see where his IQ and police questioning make him innocent. The police did not dictate the stories to him, did they? Smoke and mirrors.

What is an IQ of 76? Chris has been living like most of us. He is or has been employed. He has a child or two or three. When driving a garbage truck, he navigated his way through his route by reading a map. He has friends...heck...he was scouted by the University of Miami for a football scholarship. He can vote, can obtain a financial loan, can be married, etc. So, does a 76 IQ mean that he could not have killed anyone? Or does it just mean that he is a little slower in book learning? I kind of remember having soldiers in my Army command with IQs in that range during the 60s. They did admirably well in all their tasks.

The defense is doing a great job in raising doubt. But are many of their questions actually logical or sensible?
For example, Chris is bald and where there is no baldness, his hair is shaven down to the skin; so, when the defense asks if there were African-American hairs found at the murder scene, it becomes a question that can be easily turned back at the defense. The murder and rape happened in January, snow was on the ground...the outside temperature was cold...so Chris probably wore a jacket and long pants and probably gloves. There is an overwhelming probability that no hairs would be found at the murder scene belonging to Chris. I don' know if Chris killed Christa, but raising doubt effectively should be pausible not fairy tale in nature.

Bravo to "videopaul." He states "It's not about race." It's about "rock solid DNA evidence." We are dancing through the tulips of deceptive doubt in order to have at least one juror voting to acquit. Gotta hand it to the defense, they are good in raising doubt. BUT DNA RULES!