7/22/09 – VIDEO: Court Adjourned in Tony Alamo Trial Until Thursday
Today’s THV
July 22, 2009
Posted By: Matthew Carroll
Posted By: Charles Crowson
Posted By: Monika Rued
Court Adjourned in Tony Alamo Trial Until Thursday
Court is adjourned in the Tony Alamo case in Texarkana. Jury will return Thursday morning for deliberations.
During closing arguments, government attorney Kyra Jenner said the government had proved all counts of its case beyond any doubt.
At one point, she turned to Tony Alamo and said “Mr. Alamo, you’re crimes have been exposed here.”
Defense attorney Don Ervin contended much of the government’s case was intended to anger the jury to get a conviction, not based on taking girls across state lines for sex.
The government will have rebuttal, and then deliberations will begin either after that or in the morning.
Wednesday started with controversial evangelist Tony Alamo arrived at Texarkana federal court shortly after 6:30 am.
In Wednesday’s federal trial against Tony Alamo, he told his lawyers, “I want to get up there (witness stand).” Alamo is accused of taking young girls across state lines for sex.
Alamo was seen in the courtroom taking several notes, as well as talking to his lawyers about taking the stand in his own defense in his trial.
Earlier, a reporter asked why his attorneys were afraid to put him on the stand. He asked why they (media) were all liars.
Court has recessed until 1 p.m., while Alamo’s attorneys considered putting him on the stand in his own defense.
When court resumed, Alamo did not testify. His attorneys had advised him against it, for fear it could hurt his case.
Instead, attorneys proceeded with closing arguments, followed by jury instructions. When those are complete, the case will go to the jury.
Earlier in the day, the defense’s first witness, Sue Davis, took the Fifth Amendment during her cross-examination by the prosecution.
Court was immediately recessed and Davis was taken to Judge Harry Barnes’ chambers.
Shortly after leaving the courtroom, Davis was served with a removal order connected to the whereabouts of underage children in the church, meaning she could be arrested if unwilling to the reveal this information.