This trial started November 24, 2003 and is
ongoing.
Day One
November 24, 2003
by dll 8:47am
- Arrived at the courthouse. Asked information booth what
courtroom the case was being tried in - 942 East on the Ninth
Floor. The courtroom is large. It has four columns of
seats and 11 rows. The right set of columns is marked for
media only. The middle right is reserved here and there for prosecution
and defense usage. There are two fixed cameras. One is
by the jury box focused towards the judge and witness stand.
The other is behind the witness stand looking towards the defense
team's table. I was told that these are operated by the TV
show "48 Hours" for a special they are doing on the
trial. Both cameras have been blocked from the jury's view
with black material held up on metal stands. I'm sitting in
the second row behind the defense table. There looks to be
about 10 common citizens such as myself scattered around the
courtroom. Half have notebooks much like my own. Right
now some court employee is talking to the press about "still
photography." He said he doesn't want the jury
distracted, so he's going to bring the defendants into the
courtroom ten minutes before the jury comes in, and the press can
take pictures then. I guess I should have brought my camera
maybe. There are lots of computers and computer
equipment. Earlier, when I first came in, there was a video
of Sebastian Burns (henceforth known as SB) and Atif Rafay (AR)
talking but the audio was impossible for me to hear and the
subtitles were too far away for me to read. 9:00am -
The courtroom is filling up now. More media, more
spectators, more lawyer-looking types. There is a kid with
glasses sitting to my left with a notebook but he hasn't opened it
yet. The press is oozing out of their section because there
are so many of them. 9:05am - Guards came in and are
making the press move back behind a certain line. I believe
they are going to bring the defendants in soon. Defendants
enter. SB is wearing gray pants and a blue shirt. His
lawyers hand him a tie and belt (things apparently not allowed in
jail). He is first surveying the courtroom. Now he is
posing for the cameras. There are still cameras clicking and
video cameras with huge lights rolling. AR is wearing a hounds tooth
jacket. He came in quietly, sat down immediately and is
whispering to his lawyer. SB seems calm and relaxed. AR
seems shy and nervous. The media is going nuts with the
photography. There are nine video cameras and 5 still
cameras that I can count. 9:07am - Judge Mertel
enters the courtroom. 9:11am - Jury enters. The
judge addresses the jury and tells them under no circumstance are
any of the jury to talk with the media before the trial is
over. He is now explaining their notebooks to them.
They each received a notebook that has their prospective jury
number on it. No one will ever read their notebook and after
the trail is over it will be destroyed. There are 18 jurors:
twelve regular and six alternates. 9:17am - Roger
Davidheiser, for the prosecution, begins opening arguments. 10:30am
- Fifteen minute break is called by Judge Mertel. I walk out
of the courtroom and am faced with a wall of cameras and bright
lights. I get the impression they were not for me. I
walk to the elevators and wind up going down to the first floor
with Song Richardson (one of SB's attorneys). She is talking
with another woman. Both seemed flustered at the media
attention and the shock of coming out of the courtroom to the
cameras and lights. 10:45am - Davidheiser continues
opening arguments. Noon - Prosecution ends opening
arguments.
Lunch break called by Judge Mertel. 1:30pm - Lunch
break ends. SB and AR are brought back into courtroom. Media
again gets to take still pictures. SB posing. AR with
head down, whispering with counsel. SB sits down and pours
himself a cup of water. He seems to love doing this. A
joy he is denied in jail. 1:37pm - Song Richardson,
counsel for SB, starts opening statement. 2:30pm -
Break called by Judge Mertel. 2:52pm - Richardson
continues opening statement. 4:00pm - Richardson ends
opening statement. Judge ends the day. Not
a slam dunk for prosecutors |
