Brad Compher enters the courtroom Wednesday for day six of the trial. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com
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Day six of the trial for Brad Compher is underway in Bannock County. Compher is charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon enhancement for the 2004 stabbing death of 25-year-old Nori Jones. EastIdahoNews.com reporter Kalama Hines is in the courtroom and will update this story with the latest developments all afternoon.
UPDATES
1:46 p.m. Hall says there are possible errors in process of DNA extraction and exam — human errors are made.
1:45 p.m. Hall explains DNA “extraction.”
chemicals and heat are added to a sample to “break open” sample and allow DNA to “free flow.”
1:43 p.m. In 2014, the ISP lab examined 16 markers — one of which was the male-female marker.
1:43 p.m. Hall examines 21 “locations” in the DNA for those identifying markers.
1:41 p.m. Hall is the second expert to say more than 99% of DNA is the same from person to person. Remaining DNA is unique to each individual with an exception for identical twins.
1:39 p.m. Hall has been working in DNA analysis for around 30 years. She has testified as an expert witness around 70 times — mostly in Idaho. Gabiola accepts request to have the court qualify her as an expert witness.
Fry asks about her education — a master of science in biological science.
1:37 p.m. Hall explains the training required to work in forensic sciences — describes her post-grad education and accreditation.
1:35 p.m. Busch being excused. State’s next witness is Cynthia Hall, senior DNA analyst with a lab based in Florida. She was ISP forensic lab quality manager in 2014.
1:32 p.m. Andrew now asks about the photo Busch used to identify the house to Compher during the interview. Busch says it would have been a wide-angle exterior photo.
1:32 p.m. Andrew will cross-examine Det. Busch. He asks about the photo shown earlier of Nori’s right hand. Asks is Busch sees a ring on Nori’s hand.
1:31 p.m. We are on the record. Jury has returned. Andrew and Radford discussing something with Gabiola in sidebar.
12:16 p.m. Cross will be after lunch. Back at 1:30.
12:13 p.m. Trammell informs the court that the audio from the final 90-or so seconds has been redacted. The entire jury still has its eyes glues to the video, despite there being no sound.
12:11 p.m. Busch explains that Compher lying now (during the interview) will make it so he will never be able to trust Compher later — should there be an explanation for his fingerprint being at Nori’s home.
“We want to work with you; we want to help.”
Busch watches the video of him interviewing Compher in 2011 while Compher appears to be writing a note. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com
12:06 p.m. Busch says he takes it personal when people lie to him — because he “goes out of his way” to be honest in interviews. Busch says, he thinks Compher is being as honest as he thinks he can be.
12:05 p.m. Once that DNA profile is matched, the detectives say the options will be gone for whomever it is that matches. Now is the time to work with someone, they add.
12:04 p.m. Detectives say they WILL get a DNA profile.
12:03 p.m. Detectives say they don’t do their job because they like to put people in cuffs. They say they like putting together puzzles.
12:01 p.m. Compher again reminded that he is there voluntarily and is free to leave whenever he wants. Detectives say, “you have kids” as they continue to work the humanity angle.
Compher is interviewed by police. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com
12:01 p.m. Now they are discussing the jobs Compher was working at the time of the murder. Remember: this interview was done seven years after the murder.
Noon Now he says he doesn’t remember ever being there.
11:58 a.m. Detectives trying to work the humanity angle. “Put yourself in her family’s place” sort of thing. He has not denied being there in while — but they haven’t asked again.
11:55 a.m. Detectives say they want to give Compher to get what ever he knows off his chest. They say that they need his help to give Nori’s family closure. If he didn’t kill Nori, help the detectives to prove he didn’t so they can find who did.
11:50 a.m. Detectives explain, again, that his prints were found at the scene, then give him some reasons they think he may have been there, then leave the room again.
Compher’s posture adjusts during interview after he is informed his fingerprints were found at the murder scene. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com
11:44 a.m. The audio issues in the recording are very frustrating. Keeps cutting out.
11:42 a.m. Asked if there is any reason why his prints would be in the house, Compher adjusts himself for the first time in the video — he turns toward the officer, from his more relaxed, forward-facing position.
11:40 a.m. Busch says he’s embarrassed to ask but has to: “Do you have anything to do with this case?”
He tells Compher his fingerprints were found in Nori’s house.
11:39 a.m. Busch and another detective leave Compher alone in the interview room after asking some preliminary questions. They are likely watching from another room to see how he is reacting.
11:39 a.m. In the video, Compher is wearing a white shirt with a colorful design on the front, blue jeans, a braided necklace of some kind and a beanie.
11:38 a.m. Since it has come up a couple times in this video, Compher changed his name from Ralph to Brad in 2008.
11:37 a.m. Compher says he had been to Job Service — where Nori worked.
11:35 a.m. Compher tells Busch that he is 100% positive he has never been to Nori’s house — acknowledges that he was shown a picture of the house.
11:34 a.m. The video is being played. Busch informed him that he was free to leave at any time and, at least in the video, he was not read his Miranda Rights. Questioning was voluntary.
11:31 a.m. The technical issues have been resolved. Gabiola has returned and is going to bring the jury back now.
11:10 a.m. A visibly frustrated Gabiola calls for recess and walks out of the courtroom. Not sure when we will be back.
11:08 a.m. With the jury outside of the room, Gabiola once agains tells the attorneys to prepare themselves during recesses — and to have technical issues handled so the jurors’ time is not wasted.
11:06 a.m. State requests to allow for technical issues to be handled. Gabiola grants the request, but does not seem happy about it. He has spoken to attorneys from both sides about the delays.
11 a.m. Support staff has been brought in to assist with technical issues.
Former Pocatello PD detective Anthony Busch is called to the stand for the second time this week, Wednesday. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com
10:54 a.m. I believe it is going to be a video, not audio. Trammell explains that some of the discussion was irrelevant to the case and has been removed from the video. Defense will allow the “redacted” video to be published. Now they are working out the technical issues of playing the video.
10:52 a.m. Sounds like the State will play audio from that interview in the courtroom. Busch says that there are some recording issues and that audio “cuts out” for three or so seconds “every so often.”
10:50 a.m. Busch interviewed Compher in June 2011. He ID’s Compher as the person he interviewed.
10:47 a.m. Busch says that during the course of investigating the murder, Robert Spillett voluntarily provided a DNA sample — a buccal swab taken from the inside of his mouth.
10:46 a.m. State is publishing photos of the scene and having Busch describe what is seen in the photo. First shows Nori’s right leg, second shows her right hand/arm.
10:44 a.m. State has re-called former Pocatello PD detective Anthony Busch. Busch previously testified Monday.
9:45 a.m. Trial will start late today. Back on the record at 10:30 a.m. The prosecution announced at the end of proceedings yesterday that it expects to rest its case today — meaning many things will likely be tied together.
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Nori Jones (left) and Brad Compher
The post LIVE UPDATES | Day 6: Murder trial for Brad Compher, man accused of killing Nori Jones appeared first on East Idaho News.
Source: eastidahonews.com
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