Rex Fowler 1st degree murder trial

[Lohan2008]

Blog

3:10 PM -Crime Scene Investigator Testifies

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26967613/detail.html

Detective Robert Houchins continued to narrate video showing an overview of crime scenes inside the office where Ciancio was killed and outside where a bleeding Fowler staggered after shooting himself under the chin.
covered with blood and a handgun laying atop the table.

"What we're seeing here is a semi-automatic pistol lying on the table," Houchins said. "Also, there is massive blood spatter on this table."

Houchins said the blood spatter on the table was caused by the bullet-impact "force causing the bloodshed to Mr. Ciancio."

At Houchins testified, Fowler sat at the defense table, lifting his chin as he looked across the courtroom toward the jury box.

Houchins pointed out to the jury where the video showed a divot torn in the carpet, consistent with a bullet damaging it.

Questioned by defense attorney Sarah Quinn, Houchins described a large blood pattern in the torn carpet area, where it appeared someone had been lying and "flailing around."

Defense attorneys have said Fowler laid down on the carpet before shooting himself under the chin in an attempted suicide.

Alan Gathright, 7NEWS Content Producer

 

[Smurf]

News coverage of the trial (video)...

http://www.9news.com/news/article/183072/339/Murder-trial-begins-for-office-shooting-

Interesting. Per the judge's instructions, the prosecutors spoke in generic terms and could not mention the Church of Scientology by name.. they had to call it "an organization that supported the defendant's beliefs."

 

[Lohan2008]

CSI

3:45 PM -Forensic Criminalist Testifies

Adams County sheriff's Detective Von Mark Bailey, a forensic criminalist, said he was called from the crime lab on the day of the shooting to a staging area near the crime scene.

was described as an "active shooting situation," he said, and a SWAT team was searching the building to ensure there was no gunman hiding inside.

Once SWAT "cleared" the building, investigators entered and began collecting evidence, he said.

Using a series of photographs, Bailey described how he collected blood evidence and determined the angle of bullet paths and holes.

In one photo, Bailey said, "You can see the body of a white male later identified as Thomas Ciancio," lying on the carpeted floor of the office.

The detective also showed a door latch in the Fowler Software office, where he said he found "suspected blood." Someone had taped a plastic cap "over the locking mechanism of the door," he added.

Another detective said earlier that the taped cap prevented the door from being locked.

There were also photos of bloody carpeting where Ciancio fell and a Glock handgun, lying the folding table where Ciancio had been sitting at the beginning of the meeting with Fowler.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26967613/detail.html

 

[Auditor's Toad]

No, the argument was apparently over money. What Rex spent the money on is irrelevant. What is relevant is that they had an argument over money which resulted in violence & death. That is the likely thrust of the case.

The church was apparently not in any way a party to the events. The church-related material is just 'human interest' detail. It makes an interesting 'story. It is not relevant to the trial. Rex could've spent the money on hookers or orphanages. It wouldn't change the nature of the prosecution's case.

For the prosecution to go off on some sort of extended tangent introducing the church would be a waste of time as well as a distraction from purpose. It could also easily cost them a conviction; either through confusing the jury with irrelevancies, or by adding irrelevant/prejudicial material which could warrant a mistrial, or through a subsequent defense appeal of prosecutorial misconduct based on the former.

A smart prosecutor would stick to that which is NECESSARY to his case alone and ignore any extraneous details.

Because of the nature of this board (esmb) people tend to lose discernment about matters in which they perceive church involvement, seeing all things 'through the church darkly'. That is not surprising. People who tend to be "ex's" often have antipathies with the result that their emotions tend to color their perceptions. How many ex-wives/husbands say nasty things to others about their ex. Sometimes its warranted, often it isn't.
In this regard people on esmb have a tendency to be myopic about the church. Frankly, the vast majority of the world doesn't give a 'flying f@ck' about the Co$; i.e. don't know, don't care. If it's irrelevant the prosecutor is unlikely to bring it up and the judge is unlikely to allow it. The Co$ connection is substantially irrelevant. KISS.
Mark A. Baker

When it come to the C o $ and you say "Sometimes its warranted, often it isn't" in regards to "nasty things " said by poster on the ESMB it would seem the harsh comments are far more likely oten warranted and sometimes not.

While the C o $ obviously isn't on trial but I do have to chuckle at any comment that the role of the them is 'irrelevant'. Think about for just a nanosecond.....what oh what lead up to this crime?

How did Rex get in the fix he was in? How?

And how, dear God, can anyone with a straight face say the C o $ is "irrelevant" in this?

 

[AnonyMary]

3:45 PM -Forensic Criminalist Testifies........
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26967613/detail.html

Lohan, Better to not copy the copyrighted articles and use only fair use exerpts with links to the whole. This complies with US law and lets readers take the opportunity to comment it up after reading the article.

 

[Mark A. Baker]

When it come to the C o $ and you say "Sometimes its warranted, often it isn't" in regards to "nasty things " said by poster on the ESMB it would seem the harsh comments are far more likely oten warranted and sometimes not.

While the C o $ obviously isn't on trial but I do have to chuckle at any comment that the role of the them is 'irrelevant'. Think about for just a nanosecond.....what oh what lead up to this crime?

How did Rex get in the fix he was in? How?

And how, dear God, can anyone with a straight face say the C o $ is "irrelevant" in this?

In the great scope of spirituality & understanding consciousness: nothing is wholly irrelevant.

In the particular scope of the criminal trial of Rex Fowler, however, most things are irrelevant. In this case Fowler's involvement with the Co$ specifically is irrelevant. His guilt/innocence in re the murder of Ciancio under the law has nothing to do with scientology, however others might wish to perceive it in such a context.

It would no doubt be a great joy to the defense were the prosecution to introduce the church as a matter of issue as it would hold forth the likely prospect of valid grounds for an appeal.


Mark A. Baker

 

[Auditor's Toad]

In the great scope of spirituality & understanding consciousness: nothing is wholly irrelevant.

In the particular scope of the criminal trial of Rex Fowler, however, most things are irrelevant. In this case Fowler's involvement with the Co$ specifically is irrelevant. His guilt/innocence in re the murder of Ciancio under the law has nothing to do with scientology, however others might wish to perceive it in such a context.

It would no doubt be a great joy to the defense were the prosecution to introduce the church as a matter of issue as it would hold forth the likely prospect of valid grounds for an appeal.


Mark A. Baker

In terms of his legal murder trial the C o $ might be irrelevant - and no doubt they have lost lots of sleep chewing over how not to get too much bad PR created with this trial. Makes their day to be left out of it !

And on the other hand to ignore the influence the C o $ has had over the life of Rex is to be almost hopelessly clueless.

 

[AnonyMary]

Love it that the article includes "Scientology" and the facts about Fowler's wife and the briefcase:

Prosecutors point to failing software company in Fowler murder trial
By Monte Whaley
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/23/2011 09:09:11 AM MSTUpdated: 02/23/2011 12:10:04 PM MST

[..] Both sides in the case claim Fowler Software was failing because Fowler gave as much as $200,000 in company funds to the Church of Scientology.

Fowler, 58, is a prominent member of the Church of Scientology, and the trial has attracted attention from both supporters and detractors of the organization.

However, the allegations that Fowler funneled money from his company to the church are not a factor in the case, Adams County District Judge Francis Wasserman has said. Wasserman barred prosecutors from asking prospective jurors about their views on Scientology.[..]

[..] Prosecutors have claimed Fowler shot himself after shooting Ciancio. Investigators at the scene found handwritten notes to Fowler's wife, Janet, and a briefcase. Janet Fowler later demanded the briefcase be given to her because it contained private information concerning Scientology.[..]

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_17461131

Comment it up please!

 

[Mark A. Baker]

... And on the other hand to ignore the influence the C o $ has had over the life of Rex is to be almost hopelessly clueless.

It's not a matter for the court to adjudicate.


Mark A. Baker

 

[freethinker]

From the judge's reaction to the prosecution attemoting to enter evidence from Rex's briefcase, I would say the defense filed a Motion of limine which is a motion to suppress evidence that will prejudice the defendants defense..

 

[dchoiceisalwaysrs]

scientology organization very culpable in murder

In this criminal case it may well fall out of the focus of ascertaining guilt. However, in a civil case the extortionist culture seeded by Lcriminalhubbard's psychic terrorism " ....deadly serious game ..." without which this murder would not have taken place, should be adjudicated.

It's not a matter for the court to adjudicate.


Mark A. Baker

 

[ARC]

Not as to the 'hate crime', 'hate crimes' are not simply crimes committed against people you hate.

I know that. But since Scientology calls itself a "religion" in the US, a Scientologist killing a non-Scientologist who was "supressive" and refused to conform might perhaps rise to the standard?

Here the likely motivation is money. That blows the 'hate crime' argument out of meaningful consideration.

Well, unless Fowler had a plan to paint Ciancio as the assailant and the headshot was only a misdirection, or a sacrifice for a scam - then this looks more like revenge right? The anger came from a money dispute and a dispute over WISE training, but there was no profit in killing Ciancio. But yeah, I see what you mean: Since the victim and attacker knew each other and had a money dispute, this isn't similar to a person shooting up a gay bar because he hates gay people.

Besides which, there is nothing to show that Fowler hated Ciancio because of his religious or other social group membership, hence no evidence to support the charge of a 'hate crime'.

Well, the court has suppressed all direct mentions of Scientology. But if the prosecutors wanted to build a compelling hate crime case based on Scientology hate, then they'd protest more strongly against not being allowed to mention it - maybe appealing the motion, if that's possible at this stage?

I think it'll be in the prosecution's interest to comply with not mentioning Scientology directly. There's less chance of mistrial due to Scientology's well deserved extremely bad public image.

IANAL, but based on Colorado's list of aggravating factors Fowler may well be looking at a capital sentence.

I've heard about the stages of a criminal trial, but it seems the press is consistently saying that Fowler is risking life in prison.

And the only 'reasonable arguments' in favor of capital punishment which I have ever seen have to do with the economic costs to the state of execution versus incarceration.

Executions and appeals also cost a lot of money. I think a better argument is that the death penalty may deter those who don't mind being in prison, but who still fear death. Oddly enough, there are also people who would rather die than sit in prison. (Personally I'm against the death penalty though.)

 

[Lohan2008]

whotever

Lohan, Better to not copy the copyrighted articles and use only fair use exerpts with links to the whole. This complies with US law and lets readers take the opportunity to comment it up after reading the article.

4:30 PM -Battle Over Scientology Evidence

In a dramatic moment, defense attorney Sarah Quinn objected to prosecutors introducing in evidence a manila folder belonging to Fowler...

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26967613/detail.html

 

[Happy Days]

Fascinating reading... it's reads like a script from the Good Wife or JAG even...

Looking forward to tomorrow's episode.

 

[Smurf]

More news coverage (video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc0ATsK750k&feature=player_embedded

 

[Mystic]

Has anyone investigated Rev. Fowler's attorney for scino connections?

And keep 'em coming, Smurf.

 

[Dulloldfart]

It must be quite gruesome being in the courtroom watching the video.

Quote from the newspaper:

At one point, the video showed Cianco's body lying on the floor of Fowler's office near a conference table. It also focused on the table, covered with blood and a handgun laying atop the table.

"What we're seeing here is a semi-automatic pistol lying on the table," Houchins said. "Also, there is massive blood spatter on this table."​

It's not the same as watching a movie where it is all pretend.

Paul

 

[Husky]

It must be quite gruesome being in the courtroom watching the video.

Quote from the newspaper:

At one point, the video showed Cianco's body lying on the floor of Fowler's office near a conference table. It also focused on the table, covered with blood and a handgun laying atop the table.

"What we're seeing here is a semi-automatic pistol lying on the table," Houchins said. "Also, there is massive blood spatter on this table."​

It's not the same as watching a movie where it is all pretend.

Paul

It's really not a movie and sure no pretence here of any kind.

May be the Ot dude wanted to send a message, in a strange dramatic way..
From the very strange place he ended up being at.. The whole thing is just sad.

 

[Royal Prince Xenu]

When it come to the C o $ and you say "Sometimes its warranted, often it isn't" in regards to "nasty things " said by poster on the ESMB it would seem the harsh comments are far more likely oten warranted and sometimes not.

While the C o $ obviously isn't on trial but I do have to chuckle at any comment that the role of the them is 'irrelevant'. Think about for just a nanosecond.....what oh what lead up to this crime?

How did Rex get in the fix he was in? How?

And how, dear God, can anyone with a straight face say the C o $ is "irrelevant" in this?

As I have learned in the Australian "judicial system", the first casualty of law is the truth. The second casualty is common sense.

It must be quite gruesome being in the courtroom watching the video.

Quote from the newspaper:

At one point, the video showed Cianco's body lying on the floor of Fowler's office near a conference table. It also focused on the table, covered with blood and a handgun laying atop the table.

"What we're seeing here is a semi-automatic pistol lying on the table," Houchins said. "Also, there is massive blood spatter on this table."​

It's not the same as watching a movie where it is all pretend.

Paul

Sadly, people have been so desensitized that it can become "the same as watching a movie".

For comparison, consider some of the military night-vision recordings where they're smoking people by remote control and it looks and feels like a video-game.

 

[TG1]

Sadly, people have been so desensitized that it can become "the same as watching a movie".

Uh, no. Dead bodies do not look like actors playing dead people in movies. Anybody here been to war? Worked in a morgue? Been a homicide detective?