Local News: Laurean Trial
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Attorneys share their final theories of crime during closing arguments
Several hours before a jury convicted ex-Marine Cesar Laurean of first-degree murder, Onslow County Assistant District Attorney Ernie Lee stood before the 12 Wayne County residents charged with determining the defendant's guilt or innocence -- wielding the crow bar the...Published: Aug 24, 2010 2:35 PM Full Story
Laurean trial: Timeline
May 11, 2007 -- Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach alleges to NCIS Special Agent Megan Grafton she was raped by Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean. May 27, 2007 -- Ms. Lauterbach tells NCIS she is pregnant and believes the father to...Published: Aug 24, 2010 2:35 PM Full Story
Laurean trial: Mary Lauterbach's statement
'I would like to say what a sad and tragic day this is for my family. We will never again hear Maria laugh. We will never again see her smile. We will never again have Maria wake us up on...Published: Aug 24, 2010 2:35 PM Full Story
Laurean trial: Jury profile
The members of the jury who found ex-Marine Cesar Laurean guilty of first-degree murder Monday included: * A middle-aged white woman who used to work at Cherry Hospital. She has three daughters -- the youngest, a 20-year-old -- and two...Published: Aug 24, 2010 2:35 PM Full Story
Guilty; life - Jury finds Cesar Laurean guilty of first-degree murder
Her voice, at times, trembling, and with tears rolling off her cheeks, Mary Lauterbach confronted ex-Marine Cesar Laurean -- the man who had, moments earlier been convicted of murdering her oldest daughter -- late Monday afternoon inside the Wayne County...Published: Aug 24, 2010 2:35 PM Full Story
Monday, August 23, 2010
Ex-Marine Cesar Laurean found guilty
Mary Lauterbach broke down moments ago inside the Wayne County Courthouse, as a jury proclaimed ex-Marine Cesar Laurean guilty of the first-degree murder of her daughter, Maria. The jury deliberated for only a few hours after listening, earlier today, to...Published: Aug 23, 2010 4:56 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Jurors receive instructions before beginning deliberations
When court resumed this morning jurors were prepared to hear closing arguments from Assistant District Attorney Ernie Lee, followed by Nick McNeil and concluding with a second closing argument from the state from District Attorney Dewey Hudson.Before closing arguments began,...Published: Aug 23, 2010 9:00 AM Full Story
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Maria she loved
Before Maria Lauterbach became a household name, she was her mother's little girl. She was a Brownie. She loved to swim. She brought an energy and enthusiasm to things that, to others, might have seemed routine. "You always knew when...Published: Aug 22, 2010 1:50 AM Full Story
Friday, August 20, 2010
The witnesses
Defense Witness No. 3 -- Navy Cmdr. Lynn Carlton: A registered nurse and midwife assigned to the OBGYN section at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, Ms. Carlton told the court Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach was one of her patients from September...Published: Aug 20, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Defense rests
His eyes focused on Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith, ex-Marine Cesar Laurean told those inside Courtroom No. 1 he would exercise his constitutional right to not testify in his own defense. Moments later, his attorney, Dick McNeil, rested his...Published: Aug 20, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The witnesses
Prosection Witness No. 41 -- FBI Special Agent Steve Kling: An agent assigned to find ex-Marine Cesar Laurean in Mexico, Kling told the court that he was charged with working with Mexican officials to capture the defendant after he fled...Published: Aug 19, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Laurean case: Defense takes over
A forceful blow to the left side of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach's head would have caused her to lose consciousness immediately. Then, after a heartbeat or two, she was likely gone. Dr. Thomas Clark III told those inside Courtroom No....Published: Aug 19, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: The defense rests, Laurean does not take the stand in his own defense
9:33 a.m.: Court resumes with continued testimony for the defense's witnesses. Navy Commander Lynn Carlton, a nurse-midwife who is assigned to the OBGYN section of the Camp Lejeune hospital, is called to the stand. Lauterbach was Carlton's patient in the...Published: Aug 19, 2010 9:23 AM Full Story
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Laurean's wife says she will not testify
Through her attorney -- and during a time when the jury was not in the courtroom -- the wife of ex-Marine Cesar Laurean said she would exercise her constitutional right to not testify against herself or her husband if called...Published: Aug 18, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Victim's mom takes stand in murder trial
Mary Lauterbach kept her composure -- even after a forensic biologist confirmed her daughter's DNA was found on the majority of evidence collected inside ex-Marine Cesar Laurean's garage, even while she sat on the witness stand and fielded questions...Published: Aug 18, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
The witnesses
Here is a selection of the state's witnesses who took the stand Wednesday: Prosecution witness No. 35 -- Onslow County Sheriff's Office Sgt. T.J. Cavanagh: A crime scene investigator and former Marine, Cavanagh told the court he was tasked with...Published: Aug 18, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Defense begins questioning its witnesses in Laurean trial
9:30 a.m.: Court resumes. 9:37 a.m.: The state calls Steve Kling, an FBI special agent assigned to find Laurean in Mexico.Kling explained that while in Mexico tracking Laurean down he did not have the power to arrest the suspect, but...Published: Aug 18, 2010 9:25 AM Full Story
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The witnesses
Here is a selection of the state's witnesses who took the stand Tuesday: Prosecution witness No. 23 -- SBI Special Agent Matthew Clifton: A crime scene investigator, Clifton told the court that in addition to his search of Ms. Lauterbach's...Published: Aug 17, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Investigators testify
Mary Lauterbach was unable to hold back tears Tuesday as prosecutors in the Cesar Laurean murder trial unveiled photographs depicting what they look to prove is blood in the defendant's garage and a crowbar the state contends was used in...Published: Aug 17, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Maria Lauterbach's mother takes witness stand in trial
The state continued its first-degree murder case against ex-Marine Cesar Laurean this morning with more witnesses expected to testify about the handling of evidence and their knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. Laurean,...Published: Aug 17, 2010 8:57 AM Full Story
Monday, August 16, 2010
Testimony continues in Laurean murder trial
Testimony in the trial of an ex-Marine charged with the murder of a pregnant comrade was expected to continue today in Wayne County Superior Court. Cesar Laurean accused of the first-degree murder of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach. Laurean faces life...Published: Aug 16, 2010 2:12 PM Full Story
Wayne County seeking funds for GATEWAY project
The public will have a chance to comment Tuesday morning on Wayne County's plans to seek $255,488 in state transportation funding for the GATEWAY transportation system. The county Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposal...Published: Aug 16, 2010 2:12 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Crime scene testimony in Laurean trial continues
9:30 a.m.: Court resumes with the continued testimony of Special Agent Matthew Clifton.Clifton told the jury that in addition to his search of Lauterbach's vehicle, he was present at the Laurean home crime scene investigation on Jan. 11, 2008. He...Published: Aug 16, 2010 9:15 AM Full Story
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Internet searches, ATM, fire focus of testimony
Prosecutors zeroed in on several Internet searches, four failed ATM withdrawal attempts and a "bonfire" Friday, as the state continued to unwrap its first-degree murder case against Cesar Laurean. But the ex-Marine's defense team seemed more interested in painting the...Published: Aug 15, 2010 1:50 AM Full Story
The witness list
A selection of state's witnesses who took the stand Friday: Prosecution, Witness No. 13 -- Frank Davis: A former Marine and current vice president of Marine Federal Credit Union, Davis told the court his duties at the bank include managing...Published: Aug 15, 2010 1:50 AM Full Story
Friday, August 13, 2010
From the witness list
Here is a selection of the witnesses from the first day of testimony in the Cesar Laurean trial: Prosecution, Witness No. 1 -- Daniel Durham: Durham, a Marine with 10 years in the service, told the court the victim, Lance...Published: Aug 13, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Witnesses take stand in Cesar Laurean trial
Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson wanted the jury to see the crime scene -- the "shallow grave" from which the remains of United States Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and her unborn baby were excavated Jan. 12, 2008. So...Published: Aug 13, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Second day of Laurean trial concludes
Court proceedings in the second day of the state's first-degree murder case against Cesar Laurean continued at 9:30 a.m. this morning when the state called Frank Davis, the vice president of Marine Federal Credit Union, to the witness stand.Davis is...Published: Aug 13, 2010 9:25 AM Full Story
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The jury
THOSE CHOSEN TO SERVE AS JURORS FOR THE TRIAL INCLUDE: * A white woman who used to work at Cherry Hospital was chosen to serve on the jury. She has three daughters -- the youngest, a 20-year-old -- and two...Published: Aug 12, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Jury is picked; now trial begins
After only two days, jury selection for Cesar Laurean's first-degree murder trial was completed Wednesday afternoon inside the Wayne County Courthouse, leaving both the defense counsel and prosecutors satisfied not only with the makeup of the panel, but with the...Published: Aug 12, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Witness testimony continues in Laurean trial
9:35 a.m.: Shortly after 9:30 this morning, the jury in the first-degree murder trial of ex-Marine Cesar Laurean was seated in Courtroom One at the Wayne County Courthouse and opening arguments were set to begin. Laurean is on trial for...Published: Aug 12, 2010 9:40 AM Full Story
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Countdown to a jury
Jurors excused because of hardships: * A white male was excused after he told the court he was hard of hearing, so much so that if selected, he could miss critical testimony. * A white male was excused after he...Published: Aug 11, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Lawyers down to 50 potential jurors
A jury pool of 50 was pared down Tuesday inside the Wayne County Courthouse, as Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith and attorneys representing the state and alleged first-degree murderer Cesar Laurean had their first interactions with potential jurors. And...Published: Aug 11, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: Jury selection continues
The second day of jury selection in the first-degree murder trial of Cesar Laurean began with a white elderly male potential juror requesting he be excused from the pool because of an overnight medical emergency involving his wife. The potential...Published: Aug 11, 2010 9:46 AM Full Story
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Jury selection expected today
Cesar Laurean spent less than an hour in Courtroom No. 1 Monday, as Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith recessed the former Marine's high-profile murder trial well before noon. But during that time, those few dozen in attendance saw...Published: Aug 10, 2010 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom: First round of jurors dismissed
Jury selection began this morning in the high profile first-degree murder trial of Cesar Laurean in Wayne County Courthouse Courtroom No. 1. A jury pool of 50 people was first reduced to 39 potential jurors when 10 were dismissed because...Published: Aug 10, 2010 11:33 AM Full Story
Jury selection expected to start today
Jury selection for the first degree murder trial of Cesar Laurean is expected to begin today inside the Wayne County Courthouse....Published: Aug 10, 2010 9:51 AM Full Story
Monday, August 9, 2010
Live from the courtroom: Laurean Trial: Day 1
Jury selection for the case against accused murderer Cesar Laurean is likely to start Tuesday. Today, the first day of the high-profile case was short, and spent primarily in pre-trial motions. The concerns over security and a clogged courthouse did...Published: Aug 9, 2010 9:36 AM Full Story