Cross-examination is somewhat low-key in Martin case

BENTON—When you have crisp clear audio and video of your client selling POUNDS of dope and the guy who sold it for him ratting him out, there’s not a whole lot you can do for cross-examination…but one must try.

John O’Gara, Raymond Martin’s court-appointed defense attorney from Belleville, was able to take the stage this morning after about another hour of testimony from Jeremy Potts, as well as with the playing of a recorded phone call and a video of Martin handing Potts no fewer than five bags of marijuana—during which they casually discuss that the cannabis “looks and smells good despite some brown dried up older stuff mixed in.”

Subsequent estimony also included a brief explanation of the money put into the case, as far as Potts’ moving and living expenses that came up when he was forced into hiding following death threats.

The threats came about as the result, say Jackson County (and now, federal) prosecutors, after Martin had been jailed for several months but was considering doing in Potts and another witness, David Woods, in the case so they wouldn’t be able to testify during the federal matter.

O’Gara began his opening salvo as expected by bringing up Potts’ checkered criminal history.

The criminal history didn’t lead very far but O’Gara’s picking away at the seems of Potts not telling officials the “entire” truth when he first met with them in April of 2009 appears to gain a bit of traction.

Potts admitted he didn’t tell ISP inspector Glenn Rountree and Mike McConnell the truth when he first met them because he was “scared.”

Potts said for all he knew the two officers could have been working for Raymond Martin.

O’Gara appeared to be gaining a bit of ground when Potts admitted he embellished his story when he told Roundtree and McConnell that Martin had held his 357 Magnum revolver to his head.

In fact, Potts, admitted, “He never actually picked up the gun and pointed it at me.”

The closest thus far is that Martin placed the gun on the console between he and Potts as they took one of several drives through the country roads of Gallatin County discussing their marijuana business and swapping pot-growing tips.

O’Gara appears to be picking away at the edges of Potts credibility by implying Martin couldn’t have drawn his weapon if he was wearing his seatbelt, thet Martin never actually pointed a gun at Potts and implied Potts has told more than a few lies along the way because it was more convenient.

More updates in a little while…including video of Brian Mann meeting Martin and allegedly providing him with marijuana, which he turned around and gave to Potts to sell, this on May 11, 2009.

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM ANG: There’s something we have to clarify: Martin has been appearing in street clothes this whole time. The miscommunication between us occurred when Jack was describing what Martin was wearing on Monday…and the description sounded like jail-issue clothes. He didn’t make it clear that it was civvies.Ang asked specifically, “You mean he’s wearing jail clothes?!?” and apparently that question didn’t get through (very bad cell phone connection, as it turned out.) So we apologize for that confusion.

Back to it…check for updates this afternoon!

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Posted by Jack Howser on Sep 15 2010. Filed under Franklin, Gallatin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry