CARDONA HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
Thus ends (for the moment) this tragic case which has consumed South Florida for almost thirty years.
And let us never forget at the heart of this, was a small, innocent child, who was abused, who suffered, and who rarely knew the happiness and joy every child should know.
May Lazaro rest in peace.
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As of 6:40 or so, as per @davidovalle305 the jury has asked to work tonight, which means Judge De La O is buying them dinner.
David Ovalle thinks there will be a verdict tonight. Rumpole says tomorrow.
Jury had one question about the definition of aggravated child abuse if it meant a history of abuse, which Reid Rubin clearly proved with his picture of the emaciated body of the child, or if it meant the striking of a fatal blow- the proof of which is less clear.
The jury also wanted the late Dr. Hyma's testimony, which they cannot have. They can have it read back to them.
Stay tuned.
Justice is served. Congratulations to Reid Rubin, Christine Hernandez and Chris Zahralban for a hard-fought and well-deserved victory. The Public Defenders did a great job for their client, but there was no way to overcome the mountain of evidence against her. Kudos also to Judge de la O for his diligent work on this emotional case. He was the epitome of what a judge should be.
ReplyDeleteJustice for little Lazaro.
This trial exemplified professionalism beyond words. Both sides fought hard for their positions yet were courteous and respectful towards each other. Lawyers from both sides of the aisle should take a page out of these attorneys book and realize you can be on opposite sides of an argument and still be professional. Kudos to the State, that was one fine trial team. They should be very proud.
ReplyDeleteAlvarez is a good lawyer but the other guy is a government hack. Any first year lawyer wins that case. Fucking savage deserved death.
ReplyDeleteHow many times does it take to put such a horrible woman in jail for life?
ReplyDeleteThis case is a perfect example of the hubris of Steve Yermish. Steve thinks he is such a superior lawyer, so wise and skilled in the practice. He truly believes he is among the best of the best. This case was about him. He wanted to try to it. He wanted to win it. But a responsible and wise defense attorney would've cut a deal. One was on the table. Cardona would be released in a few years under the 1990 sentencing guidelines. But Yermish bumbled through his closing, his client did poorly on the stand and once again she is a convicted murderer with no release date in sight. Let that be a lesson to young defense attorneys. This isn't about your ego or you winning a big case. Sometimes the best work you can do as a defense attorney is getting your client to see the light and cutting a deal that is ultimately in their best interests.
ReplyDeletePretty shitty to let the anon posts go through critiquing the PD. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteHe happens to be correct, however.
DeleteReally?!? What was the deal oh fellow anonymous one?
ReplyDelete8:47 -
ReplyDeleteI am not critiquing the lawyers in this case. From what I saw, everybody involved did a fine job. I think the evidence was pretty overwhelming, and notwithstanding the emotional component of a dead child, I don't know too many defense attorneys who could have pulled off a not guilty.
I will never partake in the bashing of attorneys post-trial on this blog considering 99% of the lawyers at the REG don't go to trial. A handful of lawyers regularly try cases and hats off to them. Everybody is a Monday morning quarterback but very few suit up at game time.
As for the comment about cutting a deal - I will agree with you there. Sometimes the hardest part about working up a case is getting your client the good deal. Sometimes, it is much more laborious and time-consuming to get that great plea than it is to win at trial. So I agree that we defense attorneys should always keep our clients' interests at the forefront. And in our line of work, more often than not, a good plea is the right outcome.
8:47 am: Steve works very hard for his clients and is a good guy. He had a horrible client to have to defend, and I have no doubt he did everything he could for her. Have YOU ever had to defend someone who did the indefensible? A woman who tortured her child to death? With all the media watching? Did you see what a manipulative conniving monster she was, even during the trial? Do you really think that he told her to turn down a deal, just so he could try this case? I'm pretty sure that this beast of a woman makes up her own mind. Look at how her lawyers could barely contain her big mouth after the verdict.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that if you are at the PD's office, that you are discovered and fired. You have no business working at the PDO if you are so disloyal to your colleagues. He did the best he could under tremendous pressure. You, on the other hand, are nothing but an anonymous jerk with an obvious axe to grind.
She was only ever offered Life as a plea deal.
ReplyDeleteGet your facts straight before you bash anyone.
Don’t use Rolling Stone as your source material.