I swear I was given the gift of knowing things before they even happen. I can't even explain or describe it, but it's been like this my whole life. I've predicted every major event in my life prior to it occurring.
Let's get back to the appeal. John's attorney filed the brief on August 16th which would now give the prosecutors 20 days to submit there's. I typically check the docket religiously but since we were in the middle of briefs I knew there wouldn't be any change for a few weeks. I used that week to work on his personal stuff opposed to the criminal.
On Sept 5th I was just getting ready to crawl into bed but I got my laptop instead. Since I took the week off I wanted to check the docket to see if there's been any change. I go to the website, type his name in and scroll down. To my surprise the prosecutors submitted a request to ask for a 30 day extension. There reasoning, which was valid was "there are 1100+ pages of transcripts to go through". The request was granted so we were at a standstill for 30+ days.
There wasn't much for me to do during those 30 days so I consumed myself with work and his personal affairs. I have a hard time keeping up with my own stuff and now I'm responsible for someone else. It's tough! Luckily, the week I was drowning with stuff to do my amazing daughter and her friends helped me (actually they did it all) with the one major thing I was worried about. I'll forever brag about them.
Same thing happened on Sept 13th. I was off that weekend so I could visit my youngest at college. I had to be up at 4am so I wanted to be in bed early. I took my shower, crawled into bed and sat there for 3 minutes before I jumped out to search for the laptop. I had to check the docket. At 11pm that night I checked the website and at 11am that morning the prosecutors submitted there brief.
I am exhausted, and excites for my visit with my BEB but I wanted to read it real quick. It was 35 pages with references and other articles to back their claim and to discredit our brief. I got through the first five pages and said "maybe I'm too tired to read this because this doesn't even make sense". I finished reading but didn't grasp one thing or point they were trying to make. I shut the laptop down and crawled back in to bed. Sike, my mind is racing. I had to finish it. I read it again after slapping myself in the face so I could focus. I didn't, but I did give myself a "pep talk".
I read it and thought this doesn't even make sense. What did I do next? I started searching the references they used so I could compare it to John's case. The very first one I searched was a civil case where the defendant lost, but my first thought was "how the heck do you compare a civil case to a criminal case, a MURDER case". So confused. I searched the second reference "state v. Italiano", and that's where I thought they had us. I read that case a few different times and I was like 'wait, this isn't even remotely the same situation". They are now comparing apples to oranges.
It's now 1:00am and I have to be up in 3 hours. I ended it for the night and didn't get to look again until Sunday. I sent John's attorney's an email letting them know the brief was filed and asked about post conviction relief. I did get a response Monday morning letting me know they were working on the brief. They have 15 days to file the response brief and I assumed they were going to take the full 15 days.
After work on Friday I came home to change into my "scrub" clothes so I can start working on things. I couldn't stay too late as I was scheduled for an 8am visit Saturday morning, which would require me to get up at 4am. I hustled and got some cleaning done, made it home by 9pm, took my shower and sat on the edge of my bed to dry my hair. My oldest was in with me talking. I turned the hair dryer on, looked at her and asked her to get my laptop. I said "I just want to check the docket". I continued to dry my hair while she searched the docket for me.
On Sept 20th John's attorney's submitted the final brief before oral arguments. I finished drying my hair and crawled into bed before reading it. It was only 13 pages so I didn't have to stay up all night reading. I read it the first time and thought "yes we finally mention John always thought they had weapons". It was also discussed that John was INVITED to the house by the daughter. He was never told he wasn't allowed there and the text that was sent on two minutes prior to his arrival said "I guess there's a problem now LOL pick me up down the road". LOL?
I was confused on some other points so I had to read it a 3rd and 4th time. When I finished, I was anxious. Not because it wasn't good, but because the chance of an appeal for anyone is literally 0.5% and MCC already has it out for John. They've already lied about the video, the detectives and officers lied about what happened at the scene, lied under oath, and withheld crucial information. Why would this be any different?
For those of you who don't know, I was a witness in John's trial so I missed the first week of it. I was able to read the transcripts in July and I am utterly amazed he got the verdict he did. How the jurors didn't see through the lies and cover-up is beyond me. John's attorney absolutely destroyed every witness the State called. The lead detective who admitted to NOT investigating and having his mind made up rated himself as an 8 on the stand. An EIGHT?
The State's first witness lied through her teeth, was defiant and disrespectful on the stand and the Judge says "if you don't know something just say I don't know". That same Judge also said "you can't diagnose an alcoholic", excuse me? Incompetent is the only word I can use to describe the people in our judicial system.
Every time I think about his case I become angry, maybe that's why I've been distant lately. It truly makes me sick knowing these individuals are in these positions to insert their abuse of power. I could never.
I am begging any one who is interested in "crime" stuff to please go search the docket look at all of the briefs and give me yours thoughts. John's first brief and this last one make perfect sense, it's well written and to the point. They discuss the facts of the case, and the law. The prosecution brings up case laws that have absolutely nothing to do with Johns, they discuss the "duty to retreat" which was never brought up in trial. Just nonsense real
I let John know about the updates and the both of us feel the same way. We are hoping and praying for the appeal, but we ultimately know how corrupt Mahoning County is, so the chances are NOT in his favor. We are 8 months into his prison sentence and as much as I hate it, I've come to terms with this being my new "norm".
For those of you who aren't following me on tiktok you're going to want to if you have any interest in this case whatsoever. I will be posting a bunch of videos of what we have and know. Your opinion matters, so please comment or send me a message with your thoughts! I'd love to hear from you. Until then, keep praying.
2 Timothy 1:7 ~ For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
The picture I included is a section from the prosecutors brief where they bring up the defense's witnesses. Johns son, DIL, myself, and an EXPERT witness testified on John's behalf. Notice the prosecutor didn't bring up the FACTS of what the EXPERT said during trial? Yet he had no problem pointing out that the son, DIL, and myself weren't present for the shooting, but didn't go into detail what the EXPERT said on the stand? Red flag?
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