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February 15, 2008

Jury won't hear from Mark Jensen

Posted: 02:20 PM ET

ELKHORN, Wisconsin – Here's what the camera does not show in the courtroom of Wisconsin v. Mark Jensen: The jury is extremely bonded.

ALT TEXT

Julie and Mark Jensen, in happier times.

They almost all wore red on Valentine's Day and brought a special lunch to share with each other. They brought Valentine's candy to the judge and told the attorneys if they were nice to each other they could share in chocolate-covered strawberries.

That was all on the record in court, but what's not on the record are the looks and stares in this courtroom - by the defendant.

Mark Jensen is an innocent man and will remain so until the jury speaks, but it is interesting to watch him. During our last break, he stared intently at Julie Jensen's four brothers, who sit in the front row of the prosecution's side.

The defendant kept staring at the Griffin brothers for several minutes. His eyes would shift away, but then immediately look again. Since it was during a break, Mark was standing up and facing them as he stared. The brothers are just about to take the stand for the first time in what is now the prosecution's rebuttal case.

When Ted Voyt, Jensen's former next door neighbor walked by the defense table to take the stand, Mark also had a lingering stare that followed this prosecution rebuttal witness.

It must be strange, however, to be Mark Jensen, to see people from your past life now all here to testify against you, especially if you truly are innocent as Mark Jensen asserts.

We are not going to hear from Mark Jensen. As is his constitutional right, he told the court he had decided not take the stand to tell his story firsthand.

There are many reasons he made that decision, but one question the prosecution definitely would have asked the defendant is, "Tell me how Julie researched ethylene glycol on the computer in the early morning hours of December 3, 1998, then deleted the search, when she was so sick that you, in your own words, said you had to prop her up in bed for her children to kiss her goodbye?"

Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

Filed under: Uncategorized


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Brenda Johnson   February 15th, 2008 3:05 pm ET

is the smirk expression on Mark Jenson's face just his real face or is he smirking all the time.??

vicki   February 15th, 2008 3:57 pm ET

I would like to hear Mark's side of the story. It seems to me, that he has much to hide. His testimony woud have been intresting to hear.

Brittany   February 15th, 2008 4:20 pm ET

If she was sick (with poison) for three days before she died, why didn't Mark call anyone. If she wanted to committ suicide, would she really have gone through all the trouble to frame him? Who does that? If she was willing to leave a not behind, it would've been a suicide note, not one of fear of death.
I hope they find him guilty.

Mary Morse   February 15th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

I could not convict Mark beyond a reasonable doubt. If i thought for one second my husband was trying to kill me i would take my 4 children and go to parents house, brother or sisters house, friends or motel. I would not stay in the same house with him and i would not write a letter for after i am dead !!!!! There is a phone by her bed, call 911, or tell the 8 yr. old to call 911. I would not eat or drink any thing Mark gave me. It does look like she tried to frame him.

R   February 15th, 2008 4:26 pm ET

You've heard the phrase – "Looking like the cat that ate the canary"?

Sheryl   February 15th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

I can tell you first hand, the expression you see is that of knowing he's been caught. Let me qualify that by stating I went through all of Lance Jr. High & Tremper High School with this guy. Arrogance along with decietfulness are the top two contenders when summing this man's personality traits. He has always been about "Mark" and whats in it for "Mark". This trial being nationally broadcasted, I know that there are other people who would agree with me whole-heartedly. With that said, he is still granted the lawful use of "presumtion of innocence". I would of never been allowed on the jury, then again, we all have enemies of some sort in our pasts. Isn't America great! I will definitely be blown away if he is found not guilty or aquitted. I have been watching this evolve for the past 9 yrs. and still believe justice will prevail.

Jackie H.   February 15th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

Both sides have presented good cases, unfortunately the state has still not proven without a reasonable doubt that Jensen in fact murdered his wife. Even though Jensen is not the most likeable guy and obviously has some indiscretions, as MANYpeople have, Albi has put the reasonable dought out there in numerous ways. We'll See!!!

Gina Susek   February 15th, 2008 5:11 pm ET

If you look behind him, his mother has the same expression and has the same face, only older. Favorite son who can do no wrong????

Pat   February 16th, 2008 12:22 am ET

The Juror's gift worked, after the close of the case, it was even mentioned what better
moods the chocolate covered strawberries had made

Guess Mark was recalling his giving the
Christmas gifts to the brother, after he'd told everyone how she was so out of it, she'd not even started Christmas shopping AND
told the brother, that she couldn't even talk and he'd had to prop her up, on Thur morning, for the boys to kiss her good bye.

13th Juror   February 17th, 2008 5:59 pm ET

While Albee is a most impressive attorney, and has poked a hole or two in the prosecution's case, only a fool would believe in Mark Jensen's innocence.

Perhaps a video of the murder would put some past the "reasonable doubt" but I doubt it.

Even OJ & Scott Peterson have supporters, and Mark Jensen supporters are in the same group.

Danica   February 18th, 2008 12:05 am ET

After looking over the evidence the prosecution presented, and reviewing the reply from the defense, I think that I would be able to return a guilty verdict. He had plenty of motive, opportunity, and there is no evidence to suggest that she was suicidal, or that she had taken anything that might have accidently caused her death.

The idea that she could/would have left him if she suspected him of planning her murder (as evidenced in the photo of the planner she included in her post-humous letter to the police) is laughable. How many women are severely beaten by their partners and cannot leave, she had no bruises to point to, only a 'suspicion' that apparently turned out to be spot-on.

Tim   February 18th, 2008 10:16 am ET

To Mark Jenson.
If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck. It must be a duck!

Jenny BP   February 18th, 2008 3:15 pm ET

This is a difficult decision–based on "beyond a reasonable doubt" not guilty
would be an easy verdict. However, based on the "circumstantial evidence"
guilty also would be easy. I'm anxious to hear the jury's verdict.

Pat   February 18th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

Jambois' closing with a check list, was brilliant

Klaatu   February 18th, 2008 8:41 pm ET

I have to admit I was on the fence until today when the DA was reciting the websites, times they were searched...etc...

Melanie   February 19th, 2008 7:31 am ET

Let us no forget the Phil Spector case... I always hear of women taking their purse putting it over their arms sitting in a chair by the front door and then pulling the trigger on a gun placed in their mouth...OOPS, hung jury !!!!! Oh what money can buy. I wonder if Mark Jensen's mother put up her home the pay for the attorney. I just love miracles wher Julie was too sick to pick up her head to kiss her children, but managed to reach the poison take it, and not spill any to kill herself and frame her husband.

Elaine   February 19th, 2008 11:34 am ET

I think this woman would never have killed herself with her kids around. The DA has not shown her actions in front of her children as anything but a hard working mom. The sons friend said nothing about her being crazy. I have friends with crazy moms and I would have said it if I thought it true.

READ WHAT SHERYL WROTE SHE WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIM !

Estelle, San Bruno, CA   February 19th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

Prosecutor Jambois is doing an excellent job.

susie fisher   July 23rd, 2009 1:36 pm ET

Where is the original pathologist who say the body and did the autopsy ????

bill   July 24th, 2009 12:10 pm ET

what is with this wormy looking creep winking when the cameras on him,a little cocky i think.if they turned this into a movie kevin bacon could play jensen....

danielle white   July 27th, 2009 10:39 am ET

a question was asked, "why didnt julie leave if she thought he was trying to kill her?" Because he manipulated her so much she still wasnt confident he really was trying to kill her. She still had enough question in her mind about it to try and stay to see the relationship would work out.The other side of the coin is, after everything, her intuition was still there enough to question it and send her little red flags, enough to say something to people.

Paul   July 27th, 2009 1:22 pm ET

I thought the jurer that was un-employed in the blue jean jacket was very cute and no I do not have a job for her but I would like to make myself availible to her. I am in hopes that she reads this and makes effort to contact me. She seems to be a fine young lady. Good verdict from all the jurer's!

R. Gordon, Brunswick, Georgia   July 28th, 2009 2:22 pm ET

Hooray for Wisconsin! My faith in our justice system has been renewed!
Of course Mark Jensen watched while his wife was dying and when it wasn't fast enough for him, he finished her off! I'd give him the death penalty to see how he liked dying!
Yes, I would have planned an exit WITH my children before it reached that point if she had those premonitions. I had to do it myself once and it takes some doing, getting the kids out first to a save place, then somehow getting out alive, even if I crawled after being beaten, as I was, to a nearby refuge. We all know "Cruelty" when we encounter it, and one has to act quickly or they will become a statistic like poor Julie.
Thank you, jurors, and Judge!

rachel   August 27th, 2009 10:58 am ET

after his legal fees were paid, because they still would have been married, how much money would she have stood to gain? it's an absurd argument that his parents make, that she staged the whole thing. ridiculous.

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