Barisone Trial Starting Monday, 3/28

[Knights_Mom]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

Ok. I haven’t participated on the various Barisone threads over the last few years, except for a few comments early on. I have had a few interactions with Lala on the forums… but have avoided any confrontations with her… because she makes me nervous.

But… now that the trial has started, I watched some of the testimony, and have waded through this thread for the last few days.

And at this point, I’m pretty surprised by both the prosecution and the defense’s strategies. The prosecution’s case for attempted murder relies upon the testimony of two VERY problematic witnesses. Prosecutors deal with people who have addiction, harassment, criminal, and other related issues ALL THE TIME. The prosecutor had to know these two witnesses were problematic.

Can one of the legal people following this whole thing comment on whether it might have made more sense to pursue an assault with a deadly weapon charge, instead of attempted murder? Would that have had a better chance of successful prosecution, given the general lack of forensic evidence from the police? For whatever reason, it seems like the police just didn’t gather a significant amount of forensic evidence immediately following the crime - that evidence MIGHT have shed more light on this case, and made it a much more clear cut matter when deciding what to charge (or what not to charge ). But… the evidence wasn’t gathered. Soooo… is the prosecution stretching with the attempted murder charges in this situation given their two witnesses?

As far as the insanity and self-defense arguments… we haven’t seen the defense’s case yet. So I’m withholding judgement, except to say that insanity is VERY hard to prove. And even though Barisone was clearly harassed, depressed, and now appears to be a completely broken man… that doesn’t necessarily mean he is not guilty by reason of insanity. The self defense argument makes more sense to me, and seems more within the realm of possibility… but mainly because I do not have any idea right now as to what exactly transpired when he arrived at that house the day of the shooting, and the confrontation ensued. I don’t believe the testimony of the two other witnesses. Two many inconsistencies, and they are both obvious liars. So… I think it is POSSIBLE he acted in self defense, and they are both lying about what happened that day. But… I have yet to see what sort of evidence the defense can present to support their case.

The two things that REALLY trouble me right now about this case…

1. The video camera at the house being turned off (I think it was turned off?) by RG literally within the hour immediately prior to the confrontation. That is really bothering me. I don’t buy RG’s explanations… at all.

2. MB choosing to take RC’s gun with him when he drove down to the house that day. It seems like the defense has essentially admitted that he is the party who took that gun to the scene, on some level, by pleading self defense. But other comments on this thread seem to be saying that it’s POSSIBLE LK somehow obtained that weapon, given her alleged access to the office, m and it was with her and RG at the house before MB showed up. I don’t know. I find that theory a bit outside of the realm of reasonable for me. But… the defense has yet to make their case.

Anyway… the whole thing is tragic. And bizarre. The major takeaways I have from it all right now:

1. Be very careful when managing evictions of any kind. Follow legal processes, document everything, and be prepared for a long and ugly process. And safety must come first. Safety of people involved, and safety of animals.

2. There are some people in life that are best avoided. Period. No exceptions. Because they are “wired” differently than other people. If you’ve ever gone through prolonged stress and conflict with one of these sorts of people … you know what I am saying. They lie and gaslight and think nothing of it. They do not feel guilt or remorse or other things that normal people feel. They do not operate within the same boundaries of normal human behavior as other people do. Do not EVER get into an escalatory conflict with one of these sorts of people. Take measures to deescalate until you can completely walk away.

Last thing… some insight as to how some of the male jurors might be thinking right now.

My DH was watching some of LK’s testimony over my shoulder last night, just out of curiosity. He knows absolutely ZILCH about this case, and is not a horse person (except for what he has learned over the years by virtue of our relationship). After a few minutes of watching her go back and forth with the defense attorney, he commented, “Holy $hit. That lady is the sort of person you walk by in the grocery store, and you get a cold shiver up your spine before she even opens her mouth, because you just KNOW that something wicked this way comes.” I then explained to him that she is actually the VICTIM in this case, and when the camera panned to Barisone, I explained that he was the “perpetrator.” My husband looked at him and said, “Wow. Poor ba$tard. That guy is utterly wrecked. He seriously was an Olympian? He’s clearly destroyed.”

Anyway… just some food for thought.

I said the Assault thing many times and so I agree with you there completely.

Now I’ll read the rest LOL

Rest read and I agree with you.

[MHM]

@BrendaJane

can I email you a bottle of wine?

Can I chip in on that bottle? Lol.

[Ghazzu]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

There are some people in life that are best avoided. Period. No exceptions. Because they are “wired” differently than other people. If you’ve ever gone through prolonged stress and conflict with one of these sorts of people … you know what I am saying. They lie and gaslight and think nothing of it. They do not feel guilt or remorse or other things that normal people feel. They do not operate within the same boundaries of normal human behavior as other people do. Do not EVER get into an escalatory conflict with one of these sorts of people. Take measures to deescalate until you can completely walk away.

Trouble is, with these people, they often come across as charming, or at least harmless, until you cross them.
At least that’s been my experience.
I can understand somewhat how things unraveled based on experience with one of these types that led to a cascade of awfulness, the repercussions of which persisted long after said person was actively involved, and the damage to both people and business was considerable.

[Dragonfly90]

RC testified that MB was the last known person, referring to having possession of her gun, the gun that testimony has been presented by experts was the one used in the shooting.
She didn’t know or say that anyone else had the gun after MB.
And I can’t remember if she knew for sure he locked it in his safe or he just said that he did.
There is no other evidence so far (but lots of speculation here) that anyone else was seen or had the gun up to the time of the shooting except MB, after RC gave it to him.

[eggbutt]

@CurrentlyHorseless

@rothmpp

Fair enough, I seem to remember LK/RG saying that VK had not come back to the farm after the second winter in FLA but I very well could have misunderstood her and/or not remember correctly.

For some posters - see how this works? I’m admitting that I very well may be wrong. Some others could benefit from this practice as well.

The issue is not whether VK came back in 2019 (after the second winter). It’s whether she returned to the farmhouse in 2018 when LK was there as well.

I REPEAT!!!

LISTEN UP

Without question Vera moved out prior to Lauren coming to the NJ farm! Lauren NEVER was on the NJ farm when Vera was there!!
MH was MB’s girlfriend before she was a trainer at Michael’s farm.

[MHM]

@Knights_Mom

The next element to Judge Taylor’s allowing certain testimony is the idea that the victims are not on trial.

I don’t really get that part. We know they are not ON trial but their testimony is certainly being evaluated.

I think the relevant part of the testimony is not whether they are horrible people (no comment) but whether there is any credibility to their statements, since their statements are basically the foundation of the entire case for the prosecution, based on the lack of corroborating evidence from the scene.

I certainly hope to see more on that subject as the defense presents their case.

[rothmpp]

@eggbutt

I REPEAT!!!

LISTEN UP

Without question Vera moved out prior to Lauren coming to the NJ farm! Lauren NEVER was on the NJ farm when Vera was there!!
MH was MB’s girlfriend before she was a trainer at Michael’s farm.

I totally hear you - and I’m going to stop trying to explain to those who can’t seem to read for comprehension.

[Scribbler]

@hut-ho78

@Knights_Mom

@CurrentlyHorseless

@eggbutt

@MorganSercu

I still chuckle at two grown adults, in tbeir 40’s no less, one of whom is renovating a house and owed $50,000 (per Lauren Kanarek) and yet apparently didn’t know how to UNPLUG A DRYER.

Yet the “renovator” was prohibited from presenting his bill! Didn’t La-La say the older couple involved in one of her law suits said they acknowledged the debt was owed and would pay? But wait, she also said they “begged” them to stay on the property. Sure they did.

It was IM who said that SGF acknowledged the debt to RG, not LK.

We no longer believe anything posted on social media due to LKs sworn statement that she lies on SM.

So we cannot also trust any post in which she is the source of information.

I’m looking forward to the testimony on the FB post you have told us about, the one you described as LK saying she owned a Ruger, the one LK said she never made. Haven’t heard anything on that yet. Maybe when the defense lawyer starts the defense portion, if any evidence exists.

If you watch the testimony this is dealt with. LK admits upfront that she lied on SM about owning 2 guns. Folks on COTH were referencing her SM posts. Now we know by her own admission that she lied constantly and couldn’t even remember why she was saying when some were pointed out to her.

Do watch her testimony, if you re not on court order to stay away from it. It’s very very interesting and much worse than I expected.

[KurPlexed]

What are your (anyone’s) thoughts on the search for “exploding bullets”. Any ideas why that would have been searched for?

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Ghazzu

Trouble is, with these people, they often come across as charming, or at least harmless, until you cross them.
At least that’s been my experience.
I can understand somewhat how things unraveled based on experience with one of these types that led to a cascade of awfulness, the repercussions of which persisted long after said person was actively involved, and the damage to both people and business was considerable.

Agreed. I will add, that these sort of people are INCREDIBLY adept at “triangulation” … so even if you spot them, if one of your loved ones, friends, or business associates are still under their spell… you are still at risk for damage.

I hope everyone watching this whole case gets a better understanding of just how dangerous these types of personalities can be.

Last thing… my personal experience with narcissists/sociopaths is that the #1 tell you get is their propensity to lie. They lie in the most casual, strange ways. And don’t get anxious about it like normal people do when telling a small white lie. I have pretty intense radar when it comes to these sorts of people… and it’s always the weird lying that i can spot first.

[MHM]

@Dragonfly90

There is no other evidence so far (but lots of speculation here) that anyone else was seen or had the gun up to the time of the shooting except MB, after RC gave it to him.

That is not the same thing as anyone seeing the gun in his possession that day before the shooting.

There’s also the matter of LK‘s posts, linked upthread, describing a missing gun on the property prior to the shooting. Was there a gun missing? Did she just invent that story to stir up trouble? Or was there something else going on?

All interesting questions that I hope will be answered in the near future.

[hut-ho78]

@BrendaJane

Oh the safe sport
LK’s lovely attempts to weaponise them and turn the threads regarding SS to support pitiful her…didn’t land as well there…

And through testimony or on this forum MB or MH did the same back with the same results.

MB was listed after he was arrested for shooting LK twice and shooting at RG once.

[MorganSercu]

Possibly too addled to type in “hollow points” but searching for the effect.

[Dragonfly90]

I don’t believe anyone has stated they saw the gun the day of the shooting except the person that was shot and the one shot at….agree.
So ruling out their testimony at this time we only know according to RC testimony MB was the last person she knew that had her gun. I don’t think the defense will argue anyone else had the gun or did the shooting, it seems he has admitted MB did the shooting, but justified or insane. I too am interested to see what happens next weeks.

[CanteringCarrot]

@soloudinhere

What you are seeing on cross at this point in the trial is not the defense presenting their case

Louder, for the people in the back!

[CurrentlyHorseless]

@rothmpp

@eggbutt

I REPEAT!!!

LISTEN UP

Without question Vera moved out prior to Lauren coming to the NJ farm! Lauren NEVER was on the NJ farm when Vera was there!!
MH was MB’s girlfriend before she was a trainer at Michael’s farm.

I totally hear you - and I’m going to stop trying to explain to those who can’t seem to read for comprehension.

Rothmpp. If you’re saying that VK was not on the property during summer 2018 or summer 2019, I believe you. Apparently I misunderstood your previous posts as to whether she was there in summer 2018.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

@Dragonfly90

I don’t believe anyone has stated they saw the gun the day of the shooting except the person that was shot and the one shot at….agree.
So ruling out their testimony at this time we only know according to RC testimony MB was the last person she knew that had her gun. I don’t think the defense will argue anyone else had the gun or did the shooting, it seems he has admitted MB did the shooting, but justified or insane. I will too am interested to see what happens next weeks.

This is a key issue I am watching this week as the defense makes their case.

[MHM]

@Virginia_Horse_Mom

As far as the insanity and self-defense arguments… we haven’t seen the defense’s case yet. So I’m withholding judgement, except to say that insanity is VERY hard to prove.

Perhaps the legal experts can answer this question. Is the insanity defense in this case related to the fact that MB says he does not remember the events of the day? Which means he cannot testify to the events of the day?

Also, I find it very interesting to hear the comments from the husbands of the posters who have mentioned them. I do wonder what the male perspective is on all of this, since most of the jury members are men, so it could easily be an all male jury when it is time to deliberate.

[Knights_Mom]

So is everyone ready to take the Court Clerks test yet? Or The Bar exam?

[MHM]

@Knights_Mom

So is everyone ready to take the Court Clerks test yet? Or The Bar exam?

I would need to watch My Cousin Vinny at least two more times. Maybe three.