Yesterday after I left the Federal Building after the Jury went to deliberate in the Paul Tanaka Trial, I walked over the the CCB building which I have done each day. Thinking that yet again the Defense would still be focused on the DNA comparisons, as they had been all that morning and all the previous week (I was told this by my tipsters) and all the previous week, I was pleasantly surprised.
I walked in to a Criminalist and Firearms expert on the stand by the name of Rafael Garcia. On the Elmo was a picture of on of the guns found in Franklin's home. One picture was a view of the hallway and the west closet showing a picture of the jacket in which the gun had been found. The firearm was in the picture next to this one. It was of a semi-automatic pistol. A Raven 25 caliber Auto. Silverman asked if these types of guns are designed for 'easy storage' to which Amster Objected right away. It was over ruled and the answer is that 'yes, absolutely it is designed for easy storage and concealment. "One that a person might carry in their pocket".
Mr Garcia was handed to envelopes at 2 separate times in his Testimony to which he opened them both slowly and pulled out a small coin envelope with a magazine inside. Also in this large envelope was a gun with a flex tie on it so it would be safe if even Amster was to 'approach the Witness', it still wouldn't go off accidentally!
The second envelope he opened was a 380 automatic 'Highpoint' firearm which was displayed for us to view in a larger format on the Elmo. It seemed like a larger gun that probably wouldn't have been concealed too well in a pocket. This too was tied with plastic flex ties for safety in the Courtroom and had 6 live rounds of ammunition inside it. They kept it the same way in which it had been found.
Before I walked in, I was told that during the search of the hallway and closets of Franklin's home, a machete, 19 cell phones (approximately that many but I wasn't there to hear it first hand, I'm trusting my sources with this paragraph) and pornography including a video titled something like 'Big Booties etc'. Well I happen to know for a fact that Franklin loves big booties especially on black ladies.
We ended the day on this Witness.
Today April 6th.
Tanaka Trial.. waiting for the Verdict:
I arrived at the Federal Building just before 8am knowing that the Jury would still be deliberating. They started to deliberate yesterday at 12.15pm until 1.30pm and then came back to deliberate from 8am today. I went in to the Courtroom, no one was there. So, I decided to wander around the building and see who I could be with while I/we waited for a Verdict. I love being around people (as I'm an only child) so sitting with the cleaner would be better than if I was to be by myself with no one to talk to.
So I went to the 2nd floor... there was a door that said "Attorney Conference Room".. Basically a room private for Attorneys only. So...... I opened the door and peeked my head in. Immediately I was faced with Jerome Haig, the Defense lawyer for Paul Tanaka. There was no turning back now so I said "I'm so sorry, I was looking for the Cafeteria"... I wish I thought up something better than that. Anyway he beckoned for me to come in and sit at his desk. I really didn't want to be in his way knowing that he probably had a thousand calls to make and probably receive too.
Jerome Haig and I had a long chat about everything under the sun, including the Trial what he thought the outcome would be, who he's represented before, how he deals with the other side etc. It was very interesting because he was the stronger of the 2 Defense lawyers yet much more on the shorter side. I would guess he's about 5ft 6 but he certainly makes up for that in his strength and professionalism as a lawyer. He knows Seymour Amster and informed me that he is not a public defender as I'd thought. He is appointed by the Court or State or something like that when a p.d. isn't available. Therefore Amster does get paid quite a bit to represent Lonnie Franklin. I was utterly shocked and didn't hold back in letting him know what I thought of this blundering fool by the name of Seymour Amster. The lack of professionalism and complete disrespect to everyone in the Courtroom on Amster's point is what gets me the most. Mr Haig and his partner Dean Steward and Brandon Fox and Ed Hardy (spelling) all showed complete professionalism and comradeship when they were working alongside each other during the Tanaka Trial. It was like night and day.
After about 50 minutes of sitting with him, he offered me his card which I gladly accepted, and then I went up to the 4th floor where the Cafeteria is. Look I"m still learning the building so I wasn't to know that the Cafeteria wasn't on the second floor.
I sat with the rest of the media and we all had coffee and breakfast sitting at the same table then we moved around a bit to get signal on the phone which is virtually impossible in that building. I had been told that this Judge, Percy Anderson, sometimes receives a note when the Jury are ready to come back with a Verdict and that's all he will inform his Clerk. The Clerk doesn't call any media to inform them and there is only 10 minutes between the note being received and the Jury coming back to reveal their Verdict.
At 9.32am this morning, someone in the room was told there was 'a note that had just been passed to the Judge'. I then told everyone that this means for sure that the Verdict would be read. I was told that I may be wrong about that, but I kept trying to say...."No, on this I think I'm right.". I started to run down the corridor, throwing my un-sipped coffee away as I left, Steve, Judge Anderson's lawyer was walking down the corridor and I asked him "Is it going to be read now?" Knowing that he doesn't like to talk to any media (and I"m not media), I took a chance. He just turned to me and said with a wink, "I'd go straight to the Courtroom if I were you!" I then did as I was told and then I told the media that 'the note' is definitely going to be the reading of the Verdict!
I think what helped was that after Jury was selected about 10 days ago, I placed a call in to the Clerk of Percy Anderson's Courtroom and left a message for 'Steve' as his name was on the machine. I wanted to know what time the Trial would start the following Monday morning (April 2nd I think), I left my number but stated that I don't expect him to call me back and have a nice weekend. Within 10 minutes he called me back telling me that they aren't in session that Monday, he told me the hours of the Court day which ends daily at 1.30pm and no lunch. I said to him on the phone how much I greatly appreciated him calling me back that day and he went way above his call of duty to do that. So, I feel this is why today, almost 2 weeks later, he was more apt to tip me off than others who may not show appreciation quite as much.
So after less than a total of 3 hours, today and yesterday, the Jury was about to come back with a unanimous Verdict. We all landed on the front row, media and all, keeping our same spots as we had done throughout most of the Trial in fact. A lot of people weren't there as no one could really inform them, especially in a building with very little signal.
Within 10 - 15 minutes the Jury came in and the Clerk read the Verdict.
"Guilty on both counts: Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice and Obstruction of Justice."
Tanaka sat stone faced and stoic with his head firmly in the same position as it was when he sat down, facing the Judge. His wife sat next to me across the aisle with her mother. She looked stoic for the most part until you could see tears welling up in her eyes and, at the same time, a look of utter shock came across her face. Yet the whole time she didn't move a muscle. His brother, who is a Judge, was also in the Courtroom along with his sister. They seem like a lovely family. They are the innocent victims in this whole mess.
Judge Anderson went down the row of all 12 Jurors and 4 alternates and each one agreed that this was their unanimous decision. I left the Courtroom and wanted to get a shot of Tanaka, as I had done yesterday which was aired on the ABC7 News. I also wanted to hear the press Conference with the lawyers from both sides and the FBI. They all gave very good statements especially Jerome Haig, Tanaka's Defense and David Bowdich from the FBI. I recorded as much as I could and will try to attach it to this Blog.
I will close here in saying this. The Tanaka Trial was important to me on a very personal level which is why I attended every day (except one) due to my personal involvement in this case.
I'm glad, however, that this Trial is now over and I hope that his Conviction will help the wrongly convicted Sheriff's who served underneath him. I have already started my book on this case. However due to being commissioned for my Grim Sleeper Book first by my Publisher I am committed to attend the Grim Sleeper Trial as much as I can. These past 10 days I have been torn in half and running between 2 Courthouses for different reasons.
The Grim Sleeper Trial is not personal to me at all. I have been commissioned to write my 4th book (2 I co-authored and this one is my 2nd as a sole author). I have the exclusive life story from the 'alleged' serial killer and I am covering that Trial almost every day too. This Trial will be going on for at least another month or two however my livelihood is wrapped up in the Grim Sleeper case.
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