Summer Heat, German Knives and Ninja Turtle Sandboxes
The trial began today promptly, as is Judge Leibovitz habit, at 9:45am with defense attorney Bernie Grimm advising the court that setting up a video Skype call for one of the defense experts was not an issue anymore. The witness would be on a plane and at...
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5:00pm Update: Adjournment
Defendant Dylan Ward’s mother, Diane, took the stand this afternoon and said the missing knife from her son’s cutlery set never was in DC and was in Tacoma all the time. Nervous and weeping on the stand, she actually produced two knives. One of them fit into the case. She says she...
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Dr. Henry Lee Has A Vision
The involvement and expected testimony of celebrity forensics expert Dr. Henry Lee has long been a topic of discussion here. First word of his work on behalf of the defendants surfaced at last November’s status hearing.
At the time, it wasn’t clear if he would become a permanent member of the...
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Housekeeping…and Keeping on Track for May 10
It was a full courtroom, and relatively upbeat defendants, that greeted Judge Lynn Leibovitz as she gaveled in Friday’s status hearing at 3pm sharp. On the agenda? “Housekeeping and setting dates…” said the Judge.
First up: the government’s objections to defense experts Dr. Smith, Dr. Englert, and top-biller Dr....
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Defense Rips The Bark Off Kirschner’s Experts
What evidence don’t these guys want spiked? Wow.
Just into the DC Superior Court Clerk’s office (don’t all the posts these days seem to start that way?) is the latest defense motion: Defendants’ Joint Motion In Limine to Exclude Argument and Testimony that the Crime Scene was Cleaned and to Limit Argument and...
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Henry Lee wants to get his eyes on the white towel
When we last heard about Dr. Henry Lee, famed forensic expert for notorious defendants, now convicts, such as Scott Peterson and Phil Specter, he would be unable to test physical evidence in the Robert Wone case because trial deadlines were interfering with his packed travel...
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…Except At Swann Street.
Evidence is everything at trial. Cases rise and fall on available evidence, regardless of true justice. Most often, it’s the presence of evidence (DNA, ballistics, a bloody glove, etc.) that determines the prosecution’s path and the defense’s opportunities. In the Robert Wone case, it’s clear the absence of evidence will figure...
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Hey, Hey DNA! What Can You Do For Us Next May?
There’s quite a bit to pick through after last week’s motions and status hearing.
Start with the headline from Friday’s status hearing, “Win, Lose or Draw.” Just what did Bernie Grimm mean by that? Was he revealing a defense strategy?
A large part of Friday’s hearing had the...
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On August 2nd, 2006, Washington attorney Robert E. Wone was murdered at 1509 Swann Street. Over two years passed before any criminal charges were filed - and then only conspiracy, obstruction of justice and crime scene tampering charges were brought against the Swann Street housemates, all present in the home on the night of the murder: Joe Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky.
On May 17, 2010, a DC Superior Court trial got underway and all three defendants were all acquitted in that bench trial on those pending charges.
Nearly four years later, very little seems clear about what happened that night and who murdered Robert Wone. A cloud of suspicion remains over the Swann Street defendants who have denied any involvement in the murder of their friend or in the alleged cover up.
Judge Lynn Leibovitz found a moral certainty in their collective guilt, but not evidentiary certainty. Civil proceedings in a wrongful death suit filed by Robert's family is the next chapter in this tragic story.
We continue to work together seeking answers to the mystery of Robert Wone's murder and in finding justice for his memory and legacy.
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