TK0JUT1%NIU.BITNET@uicvm.uic.edu (jt) (07/26/90)
Weds, July 25: The prosecution continued presenting its witnesses. The most damaging to the prosecution (from a spectator's perspective) was the testimony of a Ms. Williams from BellSouth whose primary testimony was that the E911 documents in question were a) proprietary and b) not public information. Following a lunch break, defense attorney Sheldon Zenner methodically, but politely and gently, attacked both claims. The "properietary" stamp was placed on *all* documents at the source without any special determination of contents and there is nothing necessarily special about any document with such a statement attached. It was established that it was a bureaucratic means of faciliting processing of documents. The proprietary claims were further damaged when it was demonstrated that not only was the content of E911 files available in other public documents, but that the public can call an 800 number and obtain the same information in a variety of documents, incuding information dramatically more detailed than any found in PHRACK. Also in the afternoon session, Secret Service Special Agent Timothy Foley, in charge of the search of Craig Neidorff and others, related a detailed account of the search and what he found. A number of files from PHRACK and several additional e-mail documents were introduced as government exhibits. The testimony of Agent Foley continues on Thursday. The attornies are a contrast of styles. Bill Cook appears slow, meticulously detailed, and methodical. He seems a master at eliciting images and descriptions of events. Sheldon Zenner, by contrast, has a subtle razor-sharp style that, while precise and methodical, is deceptively gentle and reassuring. From their performance on Wednesday both seem to be expert courtroom players, and each, in their own way, is fun to watch. The jury seemed alert, never inattentive, and no "MEGO" (my eyes glaze over) effect was apparent. If the issues were not important and the future of a young man at stake, one could take more pleasure in enjoying the drama as intellectual combat. The prosecution is expected to continue at least through Friday and probably into next week, followed by the defense, so it is likely the trial will last at least until next Friday (Aug 3).