Eyewitness News
We’ve been lax in keeping our media page updated, partly due to the steady stream of reporting from the Moutlrie Courthouse over the past four weeks. Although Jagger/Richards wrote, “Who wants yesterday’s papers?” for the sake of a complete record, we’ll try our best to update it.
Every day in the media section of room 310, there are faces and bylines familiar to any case watcher: Keith Alexander, Emily Babay, Mark Seagraves, Rend Smith, Pat Collins, Paul Wagner, Steven Tschida. The print and broadcast coverage of the case has been constant and thorough.
The TV coverage in particular has been a challenge, long hours, rain, heat and no shortage of competing stories. Our thanks to those reporters and their crews for their continued interest and dedication. For those outside the DC viewing area who have not seen their daily reports (although online streams are available), we present a showcase of some screengrabs of their hard work from this week.
AUSAs T. Patrick Martin and Homicide Chief Glenn Kirschner depart the courthouse
Bernie Grimm and his client Joe Price depart the Moultrie courthouse
Bernie Grimm stops to answer reporter questions
Bernie Grimm. Photo courtesy Washington Post
Defendants Ward and Zaborsky arrive at the courthouse with legal counsel David Schertler and Tom Connolly
Dylan Ward counsel David Schertler deflects question from WRC-TV's Pat Collins
Defendant Dylan Ward
Defendant Victor Zaborsky
Defendant Victor Zaborsky flanked by counsel Amy Richardson and Tom Connolly
Amy Richardson, Joe Price and Veronica Jennings (Schertler & Onorato)
Victor Zaborsky and Tom Connolly
Judge Lynn Leibovitz
Defense hair and fiber expert, Nicholas Petraco. In background: Joe Price and Tom Connolly
Waad Counsel David Schertler. Sketch courtesy of William J. Hennessy, Jr.
Judge Lynn Leibovitz. Sketch courtesy of William J. Hennessy, Jr.
wmrw.com reward posters. Photo courtesy of Washington City Paper
Why are Joe and Dylan wearing sunglasses!
The pictures show that the sun was bright. I don’t think that we can infer that they didn’t want their eyes read or that they had been using drugs to dilate the pupil.
Maybe it was sunny out?
Personally, Dylan’s glasses look to be very similar to the pair of sunglasses found on the shed, that the defense has focused on as evidence that an intruder broke into their home that night.
David
The meter is running Victor. Time is short Victor. A few years in prison Victor or a lifetime of pure HELL Victor. You must act Victor …
You have to wonder if Joe allows Victor to view this website and the reports in the media.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
What a tacky and cruel post – shame on you!
Bill:
Whose post was tacky and cruel?
I hope I can assume it was “Ex Swann”‘s?
I think the question about why were they wearing sunglasses was simply off-topic and non-beneficial because maybe it was sunny. So I guess my assumption hopefully leaves me and the first poster out of it?
Your comment on the shed sunglasses similarity: is there a photo in archives? I would SO love to see that!
As far as Victor being allowed or disallowed to look at something (such as this blog), I think it is probably not black and white. Victor may well be emotionally abused, which involves manipulation and coercion frequently, but I don’t think Victor seems to be lacking conscience or compassion.
That said, I do think “Ex Swann”‘s post was tacky and cruel.
“Murder will out”, they say, so “Let it be.”
Picking on someone who is no doubt multi-level scared is, I think, not the way to do it.
Makes the Picker-Onner as manipulative and coercive as the abuser.
And Mama don’t like it.
Peace be with you,
Deb
“I don’t think Victor seems to be lacking conscience or compassion.”
If that’s the case, please explain what he’s doing sitting in that courtroom across the way from Kathy Wone, knowing what happend to her husband and pretending that Robert was killed by an intruder. If he had the slightest hint of a conscience or compassion, he would tell what he knows.
Kathy’s right there, but they’re more concerned with their freedom than allowing Kathy closure and justice for Robert. One would like to believe it’s because they’re innocent, but it’s hard to fathom.
Yes, my comments were directed to Ex Swann.
I’d have to agree with Bill2 (and Ex Swann). I have no sympathy for the guy whatsoever. If he knows anything at all about what truly happened, how can he be anything other than someone who completely lacks a conscience and compassion? A friend, husband, son was brutally murdered. Anyone who knows even the tiniest inkling of what happened, yet chooses to remain silent (or worse, chooses to help others cover this up), is a truly, bad, evil person, in my book at least. Victor’s a grown man–he isn’t being forced to do anything Joe may or may not be telling him to do. He has a choice. Kathy and Robert’s parents deserve the truth. Any truly decent person would tell the truth about what they know. I can’t imagine how anyone could feel otherwise (I just don’t buy the mental abuse excuse–he’s not a child, he’s not stupid, and surely he knows right from wrong; and surely he could discern mental abuse and get away from it).
If my partner or my brother *killed* someone, I can honestly say there is no way in hell I would cover up for them. I’d want nothing to do with either one after that, and I’d want justice to prevail in any case. Again, any truly decent person would act the same way. I’m sorry, I just couldn’t love a murderer or someone who facilitated it.
I can imagine that they think they’re doing the right thing — they’re protecting the family. I can imagine JP telling VZ that a person is already dead and we can;t do anything about it. One family is destroyed, why destroy another family.
Not saying that they’re right, but they could be convinced that they’re right.
Deb,
“Picking on” the innocent would indeed be cruel, and if Victor is totally innocent of knowing anything at all about this murder, then you are correct. On the other hand, if he does know even the slightest bit of information and chooses to remain silent, how can you possibly think he is a decent person who has any compassion whatsoever? (wouldn’t a compassionate person take into account Kathy’s, Robert’s parents, and his friends’ suffering, not to mention Robert’s). You make him out to be a scared child–he’s not, he’s a middle-aged man. If he is “multi-level scared”, couldn’t he just tell the police what he knows and ask for protection from those who may wish him harm? *That’s* what a decent, caring person would do. If he knows and is not saying anything, how can you characterize him as anything but a very, very bad person totally lacking a conscience? Victor’s not the victim here, Robert, his family, and friends are.
Amen, Wulfila.
Deb, nothing in this case can be read as “straightforward”: accordingly, even the dress and deportment of the defendants should be and may be interpreted in an array of ways. Thus, the wearing of sunglasses to me (at this point in the trial) suggests either a front of confident nonchalance in the face of dwindling odds, or a cover for the effects of last night’s indulgences. Just sayin’!
Truth will out.
Well it was a tacky and cruel murder. If this comment raises your hackles, best not read more.
Bea pointed out that even if Victor decides to “roll”, the prosecution may not be willing to make a deal because his testimony will not be enough to ensure a murder conviction, and the prosecution has no reason to ask leniency if the murderer will not be convicted. At this point, no matter what originally happened, all three may be in too deep to get out. After four years, it is likely that the cover-up (unless there really was a Chinese ninja) has been sufficiently effective that the truth will not be known. Obstruction and conspiracy convictions may be as close to justice as is possible.
My thoughts are with Robert’s father today as he awaits justice for the loss of his son.
I keep thinking Sarah Morgan has to know a lot more than she’s saying. She’s close enough with the troup’ to call and say she won’t be home that evening, etc. She may live in the basement and they may have called it an apartment, but it doesn’t seem she lived very separately from the threesome. In her testimony I think she said that she didn’t use a private entrance to reach her living quarters but entered through the front door of the house–and exited that way too.
Surely she had to walk in on some intimate scenes from time to time. Surely she witnessed cameos by the trouples periodic guest flings, etc. Aside from the trips taken with the guys, etc. Sounds like she was entwined in their lives.
I agree that Sarah Morgan has to know a lot more, and being away that night was a bit too convenient.
I hope that someone on the team has given thought to a movie. The script could be both this blog as well as the “facts.” The profits from such a movie could go directly to Robert Wone’s wife. Any thoughts?
It is the modern day “In Cold Blood” minus the blood of course.
A friend of mine told me she saw a portrayal of a similar crime on one of Law & Order’s “Ripped from the Headlines” episodes, a couple of years ago.
In reading about Joe Price taking notes all through the trial, it would not be a surprise to learn that he thinks he’ll get a book deal.
Easy question for youse Legal Wonks or Courtroom Watchers:
If JUDGE LEIBOWITZ RULES THIS WEEK WITH GUILTY VERDICTS RESULTING IN JAIL TIME, WILL THE DEFENDANTS be immediately taken into custody or do they have until sentancing?
Or, worse, even more time to organize after the sentancing?
If after sentancing, how long do we have before sentancing?
3 months? More or less?
This is an educated guess, since I am a lawyer, but do not have experience with the DC criminal courts, but I do not believe the defendants would be taken into custody immediately. In fact, I think these three defendants would remain free on bond while the case is on the appeal which will follow as inevitably as night follows day (assuming one or more of the defendants is convicted).
Dylan looks absolutely nothing like his mugshot. What’s up with the orange tan? And is he a bottle blonde? Zaborsky looks like a movie star and Price is the least attractive of the three. Shallow and irrelevant comments, I know, just observations.