The Colts Neck Murders Trial: Defense Attorney Says Best Opening Argument By A Prosecutor… EVER
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Welcome everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ Presents. We are following the Colt's Neck Murders Trial. Last week we gave you all basically an overview of what week one was like in this long anticipated trial. This is almost eight years in the making from when these horrific murders happened in this rural New Jersey town to actually now getting to trial. We have Paul Canero charged with the murders of his own brother, Keith Canero, his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, eight-year-old Sophia and 11-year-old Jesse, and then setting fire to their home and his own home to cover up the crimes. This is... Such a difficult case to hear, but obviously so many people want to get to the truth.
And to help us as we've been following this case each day, we have criminal defense attorney extraordinaire Alison Treasel with us once again to help us go over what we've seen and heard so far and what her legal story. expertise thinks about what's happened so far.
What happened during the Colt's Neck Murders trial?
Allison, TJ and I are so excited to have you back on the podcast.
Thank you. I love being here. And this is a hard one to hear, right? This is a story about two brothers that at some point were the best of friends. They were business partners. They cared deeply for each other and their families. And wow, did this go horribly wrong. I have to start by saying that of all the opening statements in my 30 years that I've heard that I've been a part of, none has been more explosive than the one given by the DA, Nicole Wallace, in this case. It was riveting. It was concise. It made sense. It wasn't too long. It laid out their case. And if, in fact, What she said is true. It was one of the most sinister, sinister murders ever committed. And this is a family. So, I mean, what stood out to me is when she talked about
the killing of the niece, the 45-pound niece, the 17 stab wounds of the niece, and then the lengths that you go to light the house on fire, that those children didn't immediately die, that there was smoke found in their lungs to indicate that they were alive after those brutal stabbings. So whoever did that and the the people obviously contend that it was Paul Canero, the brother, and that he had every motive, including many dollar signs to do away with the entire family. It is one of those cases where you're shaking your head saying, well, this is true. This is a case of greed, of despair, and a family just ripped apart.
Allison, you talk about how emotional and devastating, how sinister the crime is. That's on the prosecution side. That's what they have going for them. Is there anything you heard from the defense? I know they maybe have an uphill climb, but what did you hear from them that makes you think maybe they have a decent case to put on?
Well, I'm not going to use the word decent, okay? Because I'm going to be straight with our listeners, right? I mean, there are times where I say, wait a minute, we got something here. Let's talk about it, okay? What their theory is, at this point, before they have put on their case, through the defense attorney at opening, was that the police did a really shoddy job, that they rushed to judgment, that there was a third brother that also stood to make a substantial amount of money if this entire family was wiped out. Because Keith Canero's blind trust if something happened to his entire family would be split between Paul and the third brother, Corey. And Corey was not involved in the business and Corey was never thoroughly investigated.
So their argument thus far seems to be blame it on the police. The police did not thoroughly investigate this case and therefore there are potential other suspects that were never questioned. The police put blinders on, they immediately honed in on Paul, and therefore it is their fault that there isn't somebody else sitting here as the defendant in this case.
Allison, generally among defense attorneys, pointing the finger at another suspect, is that usually something that is looked at favorably or unfavorably with a defense attorney?
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:19
2
What happened during the Colt's Neck Murders trial?
1:19–5:29
3
Why is the prosecution's case considered overwhelming?
5:29–19:33
4
What is the defense's theory regarding the third brother?
19:33–23:04
5
How did the defense challenge the prosecution's evidence?
23:04–24:03
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
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