Lauren Johnson-Norris speaks to @CourtTV

Transcript

[Speaker 2]

The defense also claimed in their opening statement, they had a number of people they could point to, to commit this crime, which is one of the reasons why, you know, they've got a shot, I believe, in this case. And one of them is the maintenance man, because he had access to the apartment, he was the one that cleaned up. He also told someone, I don't know if this was the witness or not, but apparently he told someone he had something heavy on his heart.

Then he commits suicide. All of these things the defense is using to suggest maybe he was involved in this.

[Speaker 1]

Well, absolutely. And I think that what's important to note here is the defense does not need to prove who murdered this individual, but needs to create reasonable doubt. And so if the prosecutor can't prove beyond a reasonable doubt who did it, and that Nicole was the person who did it, and a juror says, you know what, I'm not sure.

It sounds to me like the maintenance man could have been the one. What did he have heavy on his heart? Why did he take his own life?

I think the defense can walk away with that reasonable doubt.

[Speaker 3]

Yeah, I agree. It's that defense of some other guy did it in this particular case. Both of you.

Yeah, exactly. They do. All right.

If you'll both stand by, please. We need to take a break.

---