LIVE BLOG: TJ Lane Trial to be Delayed
CHARDON, Ohio — The teenager accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at Chardon High School last February was back in court Monday morning.
Monday’s appearance was supposed to be 18-year-old T.J. Lane’s final pretrial hearing; but last week, both the prosecution and the defense asked the judge for a continuance in the case.
Judge David Fuhry granted that request on Monday. A meeting will be held later this week to determine a new trial date, which was initially scheduled for January 14.
Lane, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, is charged as an adult with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and felonious assault.
He is accused of killing classmates Daniel Parmertor, 16, Demetrius Hewlin, 17, and Russell King, Jr., 17, and wounding three others at Chardon High School on Feb. 27.
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Judge Fuhry: The jurors that are on-call will be discharged. A new group of jurors will be selected upon start of trial.
The meeting will occur sometime this month.
Judge Fuhry grants continuance.
Judge Fuhry suggests a meeting to schedule a continuance.
Judge Fuhry reveals motions filed by the defense.
Lane led into the courtroom, takes his seat.
Lane’s grandparents take their seats in court.
Attorneys are in court. Court officers appear to be prepping for Lane’s arrival.
The scheduled 9 a.m. hearing is running late.
Another Lane family member refuses to be filmed or recorded during the proceeding. He’s an elderly gentleman.
Lane is expressionless, staring straight ahead towards the witness stand.
Another witness has just refused to be recorded or filmed during the hearing. We’ll resume the blog as soon as we can.
Lane is fidgeting in his chair while his family members speak on the stand. He occasionally cracks his knuckles and looks down at his hands.
A T.J. Lane family member just objected to being recorded and filmed during the proceeding. If you’re watching the live feed, that’s why the audio is no longer available.
Court back in session.
More witnesses to testify when recess is over.
Judge orders 10 minute break.
Prosecutor presses Lane’s mom for private conversation information. Lane’s mom says, “We were trying to make sense of everything we were being told (by police).”
Lane’s mom: “I remember specific things, I just can’t remember the sequence of how everything went.”
Prosecutor: “What were these private conversations?” Lane’s mom: “We were just trying to figure out what happened.”
Lane’s mom asked if she discontinued private conversations during police questioning in her home. She said, “No.”
Lane’s mom says she has trouble remembering things after the shooting because she was so upset.
Lane’s mom on the stand talking about day of shooting.
A suppression hearing for T.J. Lane was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but appears to be running late.
Watch a portion of T.J. Lane’s interrogation here:
http://fox8.com/2012/12/06/chardon-shooting-suspect-wore-shocking-shirt/
The hearing has ended. No ruling was made.
Video: Lane says he had psychological problems when he was younger. Lane says he felt he had mental issues up until the shooting.
Another interview clip to be played.
Delisa says he thought Lane had mental issues because Lane said so during interview.
Video: Delisa asks Lane if he understands rights as he writes a statement. Lane says he understands them.
Another portion of interview played .
Delisa: Lane knew giving statement was voluntary.
Delisa says Lane was asked if he understood Miranda rights. Lane said he remembered the rights.
Delisa: I asked Lane to fill out written statement at end of interview.
Delisa talks about meeting with Lane at the sheriff’s office, says he took part in interview.
Delisa identifies Lane in court.
State calls Chardon Patrolman Matthew Delisa to the stand.
Lane is lightly rocking in his seat, still with hands clasped, expressionless.
Graley says he deals with a lot of people who say things like that, some turn out to be untrue.
Defense asks Graley if he thought Lane had issues after hearing him say he heard voices. Graley said no.
Defense: Lane said repeatedly he didn’t understand why he committed crime. Detectives continued questioning him.
Graley: We didn’t tell Lane that a student had died until close to the end of the interview.
Defense confirms that interrogators didn’t read Lane rights until after three hours of interviews.
Defense questioning Graley now.
Graley: Communications with Lane went very well. Had no trouble understanding him.
Graley: Lane seemed rather intelligent.
Video: After reading Miranda rights again, Lane signs waiver then says he wants to continue talking.
Video: Lane acknowledges hearing rights, says he doesn’t remember all of them. Graley then reads the Miranda rights to Lane again.
Another portion of interview to be played.
Graley: I wanted to make sure he understood them, so I went over them again.
Graley says he discussed rights with Lane.
Graley asked to recite Miranda rights.
Video: Lane tells Graley he hears voices.
Graley: Lane came out of the bathroom and told us there was something else he wanted to say.
Video: Lane talks to Graley about wanting to become a psychologist.
Video: Graley asks Lane his date of birth. Lane is sitting handcuffed in a chair.
Another portion of interview played.
Prosecutor hands Graley disc and transcript of interview with Lane.
Detective Graley describes hearing about shooting, being asked to participate in interview.
Detective Graley identifies Lane in court.
Lane appears calm, sitting with hands clasped and occasionally cracking his neck.
State calls Geauga County Sheriff’s detective Aaron Graley to the stand.
TJ Lane re-enters court.
Lane escorted out of the courtroom.
Judge issues break until 1 p.m.
Defense questioning Vetter over not telling Lane of the consequences of his actions.
Vetter: Correct.
Defense to Vetter: 5-hour interrogation with short breaks with Lane, correct?
Vetter: When I talked to Bilicic in the hall, my questioning was brief. Asked if he read Miranda. Bilicic said Lane admitted to shooting.
Defense questioning Vetter now.
Judge Fuhry to Vetter: Did you ask Lane about incident? Vetter: Yes. Fuhry: Did he ever decline to answer? Vetter: No.
Vetter: Lane did not appear to have mental issues.
Vetter: Lane was cooperative, coherent. Answers always on-target. He was cordial, polite.
Video: Lane signs waiver for rights, says he understands what it means.
Another clip played.
Vetter: Lane said he understood his statements were voluntarily.
Lane appears calm when asked questions by Vetter; specifically, about school.
Video: Lane said kids went to Lake Academy for negative reasons, but he wanted to go there so he could work.
Another clip about to be played in court.
Vetter: Lane was happy about attending Lake Academy. Excited to work and go to school.
Lane appears in scrubs on the video.
Video: Lane says he’s in 11th grade; he’s a “B” student.
Another clip to be played from interview.
Video: Vetter asks Lane if rights were read. Lane answers “Yes.”
Prosecutor to play portion of interview with Lane.
Prosecutor hands Vetter excerpt of interview with Lane.
Vetter: Deputy Bilicic said Miranda rights were read. Lane knew the rights were read.
Vetter recites Miranda rights.
Vetter: Lane was cold when he got to station. Gave him dry clothes, made him comfortable.
Vetter identifies Lane in court.
Vetter: Asked to participate in interviewing T.J. Lane.
State calls Detective Juanita Vetter to the stand.
Deputy Bilicic: I asked Lane if anyone else was involved. He said no.
Deputy Bilicic: Lane said he didn’t know why he shot people.
Deputy Bilicic: Something was wrong, sure.
Defense to Deputy Bilicic: Did it occur to you while driving Lane to sheriff’s office that he had mental problems?
Objection overruled.
Prosecutor objects, approaches bench.
Defense to Officer Bilicic: You asked Lane several times why he did the crime and he answered several times, “I don’t know.”
Defense to Officer Bilicic: You asked Lane what happened and he said “I shot people.”
Defense questioning Officer Bilicic now.
Officer Bilicic: Lane replied “yes” when asked if he understood his rights.
Officer Bilicic: Communication between Lane was fine during arrest.
Officer Bilicic: Lane was shivering, wet at the time of his arrest.
Prosecutor about to play arrest video clip in court.
Officer Bilicic just asked to recite Miranda rights.
Officer Bilicic: I handcuffed Lane, put him in back of my car. Read him his rights.
Officer Bilicic: The suspect on north side of the roadway, sitting in a ditch.
Officer Bilicic: On day of shooting, received description of shooter, checked area of high school.
Geauga County Sheriff’s Officer Jonathon Bilicic on the stand.
The state just called arresting officer to the stand.
Defense: Officers tag-teamed interrogation. Officers were aware Lane said he had heard voices since he was a kid. Officers ignored it.
Defense: T.J.’s emotional state part of motion to suppress.
Defense: Three hours and 45 minutes after interrogation, T.J. couldn’t remember his rights. Officer had him sign waiver of rights, continued with interrogation.
Prosecutors: Lane’s attorneys allege he was not properly made aware of his rights when he spoke with officers after the shooting.
Witnesses asked to be removed from the courtroom.
TJ Lane has just entered the courtroom.
It appears the hearing is about to start soon. Most are seated and doors have been closed.
Attorneys just entered the courtroom.
Reporters wait for the hearing to begin.
A court official just came out and told reporters that the hearing is not yet ready to begin.
Court adjourned.