In Conspiracy Trial Defendant Speaks for Himself After TSA Juror Falls Asleep

In Conspiracy Trial Defendant Speaks for Himself After TSA Juror Falls Asleep by Matthew & Russell Lee, Patreon Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 30 – In a conspiracy trial involving a 2022 shooting in East Harlem, on March 26 the defense launched a series of objections to the testimony of a former NYPD Detective.    As he recounted watching NYCHA video streams at his desk in the precinct and not "in some dirty basement or bodega," the defense objected. Then he described the defendant or person of interest as having "cabbage patch doll" hair and being suspicious because he wore three different coats in one night.    The objections were sustained. When he said unlike the defendant, showing up on an ebike, most delivery people don't go into the housing project because they are afraid of being robbed, both the objection and the "sustained" were more pointed.    Some wondered, didn't the DA's prepare this witness? He is retired now and lives in Orange County. Asked by Judge Laura Ward if he is enjoying his retirement, he said, "Not yet." On March 30, a different NYPD witness was on the stand, narrating a video compilation from the housing project up the Harlem River Drive to 143rd Street. A Wingyiu backpack was seized, searched and photographed pursuant to a warrant, along with an ebike battery and a face mask.   After the direct examination was over and all but one juror were let go for the day, Juror 3 was asked to stay behind and explain why it appeared he been falling asleep. He had submitted his tax information and explained that given recent events, he had to back to work. Judge Ward asked, the Trump action? That is, the funding of TSA. Yes.    Judge Ward asked what people thought, if the juror should be removed. A woman spoke up from the small gallery and said Yes, he should be removed. She herself was almost removed.  The juror was let go. After that, the defendant himself spoke "to make a record," as he put. "This is my assertation," he announced, citing state and Federal cases and questioning the CoC or Certificate of Compliance. His lead defense counsel, generally active, asked for more time - and a PDF - to support his client's argument. The trial continues.  After he left, the defedant     The trial continues. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material / documents on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. And/or join on Substack here, for Extra like on X for Subscribers Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com