February 6th, 2012
When I get up on the 9th floor, there’s a huge line waiting for the
security station to open up. Most of the mainstream media has arrived
before me. Some members of Lazarus’ family are here as well as
Rasmussen’s. My friend Katie is here along with her friend Lisa. I’m
not worried about getting a seat, I’m just worried about “which” seat.
I had a hint on Friday that the media would be in the first row. I am
surprised by this because usually, the family sits in the front row.
The station is opened and we file into the hallway. The reports form
little groups, chatting with friends or greeting colleagues they
haven’t seen in a long time. I hadn’t seen Los Angeles Times reporter
Andrew Blankstein since the Robert Blake trial in 2005 when I was
still just a member of the general public. I give him a big smile and
pointing to my press badge I say, “Can you believe it?”
I try to inconspicuously point out to some members of the press and my
friends who various people are on each side of the case. My face
lights up when I see Steven Mikulan and I give him a big hug. Steven
was with the LA Weekly for 20 years but is now with Los Angeles
Magazine. I also met Steven at the Blake trial and he’s been a friend
ever since. The Public Information Office (PIO) staff tell the press
with passes to start lining up. My name is called fourth and I’m
surprised that I will be in the front row. Usually, the victim's
family is placed in the front row. In front of me is the sketch artist
Mona, another sketch artist and Investigation Discovery’s Pat LaLama.
Behind me I meet Ann O’Neill, with CNN. When I introduce myself she
tells me she works with Beth Karas and has read my blog. I immediately
thank her. It’s still quite a shock to hear that the mainstream media
is reading what I write.
Although my seat is in the front row, it’s not a great seat. I’m too
near the jury. I think I will forever be affected by that time in
Judge Fidler's court room where I was accused of speaking so loud in
the gallery (I did receive an apology.) that the jury heard me, so I
don't like to be too close to them. For me, my ideal seat is sitting
right in line with the witness box but the podium is directly in front
of it in this courtroom. That's where legendary writer Dominick Dunne
liked to sit.
Dateline produce Robert Dean is here, Matthew McGough, Miram
Hernandez, Patrick Healy and AP reporter Linda Deutsch. Linda is such
a respected institution herself, she tells the PIO ladies where she’d
like to sit: second row on the aisle. When we’re let into the
courtroom, Pat and Mona are talking about DDA Shannon Presby. Pat is
certain that Presby had a career as a child actor and she wants to ask
him about that. I see a few people from the DA’s office in the back
row as the courtroom is packed with as many people as the PIO can
fill. The victim’s family is sitting right behind me. Lazarus’ family
is sitting on the right side of the courtroom, behind the bailiff’s
desk. I see Steven Mikulan wrangled a seat even though he wasn’t on
the media list.
It’s 8:40 am and counsel finally arrive. The detectives on the case
are sitting directly behind the prosecution table. There is a small
narrow table in front of them covered with case file materials. I’m
trying not to listen in on Pat and Mona’s conversation about
restaurants. It’s then I note that Pat is a lefty like me and she has
very interesting handwriting. Many of the letters are written in a
flamboyant style. I have a hard time pulling my eyes away from her
spiral notebook. Nels and Loretta Rasmussen are sitting almost
directly behind me, their attorney John Taylor beside them.
Sprocket's Trials & Tribulation Blog
