www.turnto23.com
bakersfieldnow.com
I hate the details but I am not one bit surprised at such abuse. May these children hopefully never suffer such a thing again however I doubt all is great. Isn't it ironic these parents took foster and adopted children and abused them and now their own children are in such a system. Of course they could be with family, hard to say--if so it is more than the boys got (the victims) when yanked from theirs.West Trial Day 16: Trezell's mother testifies last time she saw toddlers was Feb. 2020
On day 16 of the West trial, Trezell's Mother testified about the last time she saw Orrin and Orson and where Trezell and Jacqueline said the boys went.
by David Kaplan, Eyewitness News
Thu, May 4th 2023, 1:22 AM EDT
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/FOX58) — On day 16 of the West trial, Trezell's Mother testified about the last time she saw Orrin and Orson and where Trezell and Jacqueline said the boys went.
Wanda West, Trezell's mother answered questions from attorneys via Zoom.
The prosecution tried to show Orrin and Orson were never seen in California City by family. Wanda said September 18th, 2020 she drove from Bakersfield to the West's home in California City to babysit the boys. She watched the four boys while Trezell and Jacqueline went to Bakersfield to get a U-Haul to move belongings from the Casa Loma Apartments to their home in California City.
She testified that Orrin and Orson were not there at the home in California City.
<snip>
In video of the CPS forensic interviewer’s interview with Trezell and Jacqueline’s second eldest biological son, he told her his Dad would spank the two eldest biological sons and Orrin and Orson with a metal belt. This would make the boys’ rear ends bleed.
bakersfieldnow.com
Thank you for taking the time to keep us up-to-date on this trial!West Trial Day 17: Texas man testifies he did not take Orrin and Orson
On day 17 of the West trial, we heard from a man in Texas, who people said had possession of the boys, three Bakersfield police detectives, and the lead
by David Kaplan, Eyewitness News
Fri, May 5th 2023, 1:24 AM EDT
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/FOX58) — On day 17 of the West trial, we heard from a man in Texas, who people said had possession of the boys, three Bakersfield police detectives, and the lead investigator of this case for BPD.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Details at link. ~Summer
You can't kidnap kids who were NEVER THERE and not a shred of proof in months that they were. Never sighted by a neighbor, the other children, a store clerk, a camera in a store nor anything else. Any doctor's appointments attended by the kids? NO. Etc.West trial: Defense says improper questioning of children resulted in false answers about adoptive parents
A lack of forensic evidence, no confessions and faulty interview techniques will lead jurors to acquit two parents of killing their adoptive toddlers, a defense attorney said Monday in herwww.bakersfield.com
There is no forensic evidence or any confessions by defendants Trezell and Jacqueline West for killing their adoptive toddlers, Orrin and Orson West, said a defense attorney in her opening statements Monday after the prosecution rested its case.
- By ISHANI DESAI idesai@bakersfield.com
- 57 min ago
Alekxia Torres Stallings elected to postpone her opening statements until after the prosecution rested its case. She defends Jacqueline West, and began her opening statements Monday by quietly looking at jurors and beginning her case by painting a cheery, cozy scene unfolding two years ago in December before it all broke apart with the disappearance of Orrin and Orson.
Trezell and Jacqueline West have pleaded not guilty to two second-degree murder charges, involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy, willful cruelty to a child and falsely reporting an emergency in the deaths of Orrin and Orson West. Prosecutor Eric Smith has said the toddlers died three months prior to the Wests’ reporting them missing and their bodies have never been found.
Jacqueline West was wrapping Christmas presents in her new California City home on Dec. 21, 2020. Trezell West had gone to a lot neighboring their backyard to collect wood to get a fire started.
That’s when their adoptive children were kidnapped, Torres Stallings said.
“Their two youngest children were taken,” Torres Stallings said, referring to Trezell and Jacqueline. “But, their four oldest children were taken by the system.”
<snip>
These forensic interviewers were biased, Torres Stallings added. The defense will call upon social workers handling the Wests’ case and a a forensic interviewer to show there was never an unbiased approach when questioning the kids, she noted. A skewed perspective results in improper questions asked to kids, which results in getting misinformation, Torres Stallings said.
A clinical psychologist, Susan Napolitano, will be called to testify about the improper questioning techniques used in this case, Torres Stallings said.
<snip>
The defense began questioning its first witness, Christopher Armstrong. He specializes in accident reconstruction, which has given him expertise in video analysis, he said.
It is unknown how they ever even afforded that home and it made no sense so my guess is they owned little of it/little equity and most likely lost it. They don't have sh*t to my knowledge and never did. They made money off the kids but I'm pretty sure spent all as well. So....
www.kget.com
West Trial Day 19: Eldest child gave conflicting statements to grand jury
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The eldest child of Trezell and Jacqueline West told the Kern County Grand Jury last year he saw his youngest brothers just days before Christmas 2020, contradict…
by: Jason Kotowski
Posted: May 9, 2023 / 11:15 AM PDT
Updated: May 9, 2023 / 01:18 PM PDT
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The eldest child of Trezell and Jacqueline West told the Kern County Grand Jury last year he saw his youngest brothers just days before Christmas 2020, contradicting earlier interviews in which he said he hadn’t seen the children for weeks before they were reported missing.
It wasn’t until about 30 minutes into his testimony — after being shown an earlier interview with a social worker — that the boy told the grand jury he heard his brother Orrin, 4, gagging one night and the next day his parents told him he had died. As questioning continued, he said he hadn’t seen his youngest brother, Orson, 3, for a long time before he and Orrin were reported missing, and he believed Orson had been staying at a grandmother’s house.
The child’s hour-long testimony was read Tuesday morning as defense counsel for Trezell and Jacqueline West attempted to show the child, then 10, was influenced by improper questioning and his testimony is unreliable.
I agree with you. Trying to rely on a child's testimony - especially knowing their memory will fade with age - was risky. I wonder if they believe they won't ever find the bodies of these precious boys and they should go to trial before the boy doesn't remember anything at all?
Yeah I think that is somewhat it. I think these boys are long gone and likely long buried in a landfill most likely or some such. I think they have got all they are going to get for evidence and no one who knows more is likely ever to cooperate, meaning J and T. While murder is chargeable with no statute forever, the odds in this one of gaining more info, etc. is slim and yah, get the boys while believable and somewhat fresh with memory yet.
www.kget.com
I wonder if this particular social worker works for or has ever worked with the agency that placed these children with the Wests. Or consulted with them. Etc.West Trial Day 20: Defense rests, all evidence presented
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A social worker who interviewed the eldest child of Trezell and Jacqueline West used coercive and suggestive questioning techniques and may have implanted false m…
by: Jason Kotowski
Posted: May 10, 2023 / 01:03 PM PDT
Updated: May 10, 2023 / 01:05 PM PDT
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A social worker who interviewed the eldest child of Trezell and Jacqueline West used coercive and suggestive questioning techniques and may have implanted false memories in the boy’s mind, a psychologist said Wednesday.
Dr. Susan Napolitano, called as an expert witness by the defense in the trial of the Wests, testified to what she said were multiple mistakes the interviewer made as she questioned the then-10-year-old boy about possible abuse in his home and what happened to his brothers Orrin, 4 and Orson, 3.
“There was a great deal of social pressure on this child during this interview,” said Napolitano, a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist who has conducted about 100 forensic interviews with children and reviewed hundreds more.
Her testimony is being used by the defense to cast doubt on the eldest child’s statements that he witnessed Orrin die in September 2020 and Orson disappeared days later.
www.kget.com
They're all winding down in the same week, although this case isn't going to the jury until next week! Praying for justice in this case. I'm really not sure which way this one is going!Continued from Day 20. (Yesterday)
West Trial Day 20: Defense rests, all evidence presented
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A social worker who interviewed the eldest child of Trezell and Jacqueline West used coercive and suggestive questioning techniques and may have implanted false m…
by: Jason Kotowski
Posted: May 10, 2023 / 01:03 PM PDT
Updated: May 10, 2023 / 07:03 PM PDT
<snip>
Under cross-examination, however, Napolitano acknowledged not reviewing the 2,000-page offense report generated in this case or other evidence except for the children’s interviews.
The defense rested after Napolitano testified and Judge Charles R. Brehmer told the jury all evidence has been presented. Jury instructions will be given 2 p.m. Thursday, and closing arguments will be presented Tuesday.
