Mr. Stallons was a Kentucky journalist who chose to run an escort service in the federal capital — well into his own middle ages: is there a large Kentuckian diaspora in the metro Washington area, Editors?

1. WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN: Robert Wone was murdered in cold blood, stabbed three times in the chest, sometime between 10:30 and 11:49, and apparently there was sexual activity which resulted in his semen found in his rectum (not anus). Three other men were present that night – two who claim they were with Robert until 11:00. So from 11:00-11:49, Robert was murdered – and we don’t know by whom, and THAT is not the question for you. The question for you is whether the three (live) men conspired, obstructed, and tampered both before and after they called 911.

2. WHAT THE DEFENSE WANTED TO HAPPEN: All of the same facts above BUT having to put forward a theory of how Robert Wone died, spend a serious amount of time either strongly suggesting that it could have been one, two, or three of the defendants and/or another party (Michael? Sarah? Trick?). And in that, losing the jury entirely by the defense’s game of “if you don’t know who killed Robert, then how can these men be convicted” by muddying all waters.

Big difference.

My biggest hope is that Robert’s integrity or his reason for being there fear is if Robert’s ingegrity doesn’t become a concern of the jury, and that he isn’t put on trial in the minds of the jurors. I wonder if a conservative-minded DC resident with no prior knowledge of the case will form a biased opinion when presented with the basic facts (married man staying with three gay friends, apparent sex involved, etc.).

Please don’t take me wrong – I am not questioning Robert’s sexuality or anything like that – he is 100% victim in my mind. But I have explained this crime to some married, middle-aged co-workers, and the first thing most of them said was “well, there was probably something going on between them all”. I don’t believe that for a minute, but I do have concerns that a jury will be able to get past that idea and see the evidence for what it is.

Bea – Does this get to Meto’s earlier point about Kirschner wanting to keep things simple for the jury?

And can the Govt’s straight and simpler narrative make it harder for the defense to wreak havoc in terms of seeding doubt with the jury?

We have a March 12 status hearing set, possible Frye hearings too ahead of the trial’s start and expected motions in limine “by the millions.” as Leibovitz said. We’ve got a couple busy months ahead.

I loved the video, guys. The judge reminded me of a cross between Cartman’s mother and Sarah Palin. With a brain.

As Clio mentioned, DC (and McLean) is getting hammered with a blizzard, alternatively called Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse and the Great Snowgasm.

If it gets any worse, this site could remain our only link to the outside world. In the event of an actual emergency, the authentication codeword will be “Culuket.”