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The Crime

Nick

p.2

 

Forensics

p.2

p.3

Evidence

Hospital-photo

Fingerprints

Investigation

Deputy Pond p.2

p.3

Children

Coercion

Dinner at Grandparents

Broderick

Care-givers

Susan Staffel

p.2

 

Conversation

p.2

Trial

Attorney's

State-repression

Post-trial

Small-Sacrifices

Parole

Most Evil

 

Links:

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D)  "It was probably because you were knocked out.  Right, when you were shot. You
      probably couldn't remember anything because you were knocked out.  But they wanted

      to just, you know, have somebody they saw it so that she could be in trouble for it.  Do
      you wish that she was out of prison now since she really didn't do it?  Or do you, do
      you think she really, you think she really didn't do it, huh" .

 

C)  "I couldn't tell you. I mean, I don't know who did it".  

   

D)  "Yeah, really" ?.

 

C)  "And I couldn't say if she did it or someone else did 'cause I don't know and..."


D)  "That's. .but that's exactly what you should say. That you just, you really don't know. You
       really don't know. And  that's..because, you knew that and if they, they forced you into
       testifying you were a little girl and you just, they told you it was the right thing to do and
       you wanted to do the right thing so you did it. They told you that was the right thing to
       do,huh?.

 

C)  "I..(mumbles)..the person is my Attorney and that's why Fred is.."

 

D)  "Uh huh".  (yes)

 

C)  "That's who I'm living with. He's the guy who... He works for me".


D)  "Yep. It's weird that you live 'with him after that, too. Do you wish you could live with
       your Grandparents at least or sump'n" ?

 

C)  "I don't know. (clears throat) I had something in my throat".

 

D)  "What" ?

 

C)   (clears throat) "I got something in my throat" .

 

D)   "It's a pretty horrible thought to think your own mom tried  to kill you, huh"?

 

C)   "Uh Huh". (yes)

 

D)   "But when you really know it's not true that makes it bearable, huh" ?.

 

C)   "Yeah".

 

D)   "Cause inside even if you can't see her inside you know she didn't hurt you, huh"?

 

C)   "Right.  And then like, I go to the...oh, the school counselor.  She wants me to come to
       her office sometimes once a week. I don't know she just  has this idea that, that there's

       something the matter with  me and so we talk and she started bringin' up my life and

       it just got me upset and... But everything else I can handle except that".


D)  "Did you watch that movie about you guys" ?

 

C)   "Not yet".


D)   "Do you wanna ,watch it" ?

 

C)    "We have it taped.  So.."


D)    "It's just like that book. I couldn't believe that book. I couldn't believe when you told
         me that your mom and dad, that Joanne and Fred let you read it.. I believe that you read
         that. Specially with the first part of it and everything".

 

C)    "Well, I couldn't... I didn't like it the first time I, that I... I've read it. The second and
         third time I.....(mumbles) haven't been able to. ..."


D)    "Oh, you read it a couple of times" ?


C)    "Yeah. Well, I mean the part, you know".

 

D)    "Oh, that part".


C)    "The first part".


D)    "Yeah".

 

C)    "But the first time I read the first part I couldn' t handle it".

 

D)     "I bet. It was pretty hard to read. Um. Do you think that lady Ann Rule told the truth in
          her book" ?


C)     "Well.  No. I mean, all the parts I read I think were wrong", (p.p. 32-3,40-3).

 

Christie's opinion of what she read in the Ann Rule book 'Small Sacrifices' is not surprising.  The critic in this case was reading about  ' herself '.  Christie may well have read one of the many unfounded claims which said that her pulse rate increased during her mom's visits to her in  the hospital.  It was said that this was a 'negative' response from Christie to her mom's presence.  The fact is, such monitors only record a pulse rate. They do not record a particular 'emotion'.  On the basis of Ms Rule's speculation, it could be equally said  that Christie was 'happy' to see her mom.  But like many other one-sided, unfounded observations in the book (and movie) relating to Diane.  Even in cases of ambiguity, we are led to believe that the writer is stating a 'fact', when they are not.

 

In October,1990 an Affidavit signed by Christie (then sixteen) was presented in court.  It was claimed, the result of 'Christie' having learned that the above telephone conversation had been taped.  The Affidavit stated that her reference to coercion was said to get 'D' to drop the subject!, (App 5).  

 

In January,1991an Affidavit by 'D'  was also presented in court.  In this D claimed that Christie was adamant regarding her belief of her mom's innocence (the actual transcript of the telephone conversation runs to over 40 pages). In her Affidavit, 'D', quotes Christie as saying that she was 'more convinced' that her mom didn't hurt them after she had watched the Oprah Winfrey/Diane interview.  She told D that she spoke to Joann Hugi about this and was told that if she was sure maybe she should go back to therapy.  She said that Joann 'had a cow' and that she didn't know who else to talk to about this, (App15).

 

On the same day that D received a telephone call from Ray Broderick, (State official) she also received another phone call. This was from an unidentified male who's voice she did not recognize. The caller told her that if she did not withdraw from 'the case', she and her children would be shot 'Downs style' and that 'they' would know if she contacted anybody else. The caller referred to her children by name and also named the schools they attended...", (App 15, p.5).

 

Prosecutor Hugi needed Christie to say it was her mom, nothing less would do and he knew it.  And he would go to any lengths to obtain it, and he did.  And he would go to any lengths to perpetuate it, testified by the above Affidavit supposedly initiated by Christie.  In the trial he wanted a child witness that would give him an emotive edge.  A guarantee to sway any jury or public. The fact that there was overwhelming evidence by other witnesses relating to someone else as the shooter (including a confession) that were being held in the Lane County D.A.'s office and not presented, was irrelevant.  The evidence was purely circumstantial which the Prosecutor knew was weak and in fact proved Diane's innocence, not her guilt.  It took almost a year of fabrication and collusion to bring charges against Diane.  Defense Attorney Melvin Belli would have torn the Prosecution case apart but Judge Foote grasped the opportunity to give his Prosecutor a winning formula with ex-Lane County Prosecutor, James Jagger as Mr. Hugi's adversary instead of the far more formidable Melvin Belli.  In such an important case Diane should have been granted the extended time to await Belli's return, she was not.  Even though the trial was granted the time to await Judge Foote's questionable 'promotion' to enable him to preside at the trial.  Driven by expediency, a need to appease the public and media, Mr. Hugi had to win his 'first' homicide prosecution.  It comes as no surprise that the Judge had ordered a celebratory spread, 'before' the trial was concluded.

 

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