|
April 15, 2008
Posted: 12:04 PM ET
DETROIT, Michigan — Well, it finally happened like a lot of local attorneys predicted it would: Jean Pierre Orlewicz took the stand in his own defense Monday and testified that he feared for his life.  The way Orlewicz told it, alleged victim Daniel Sorensen pointed a gun at former codefendant and star prosecution witness Alex Letkemann, but said he wanted to kill Orlewicz. At one point, Orlewicz testified, Sorensen aimed the gun at him. It all took place in the defendant’s grandfather’s garage on November 7, 2007. Orlewictz testified he and Daniel Sorensen were going to try to rob another teen of some money that Wednesday. Orlewicz said he decided to foil the plan when Sorensen appeared to be gaining control of the situation. Orlewicz directed a lot of his testimony toward the jury as they listened intently to his every word. Jurors who normally wrote notes sat with notebooks on their laps and just listened to the 18-year-old defendant. Some jurors were expressionless but the looks on the faces of the others seemed to say, “Let’s hear what you have to say…” Watch the testimony On cross examination, prosecutor Robert Moran got the defendant to admit continually stabbing Sorensen even after the gun was out of the victim’s hand and out of Orewicz’s sight. The defendant admitted severing Sorenson’s head, torching his fingertips and burning the 26-year-old man’s body so he would not be able to be identified. On cross examination, prosecutors brought in audio tapes of jail house phone calls between the defendant and his parents. Jurors heard Orlewicz tell his mother, “So what’s the defense here? My attorney tells me I have no defense.” They also heard Orlewicz sternly tell his mother: “I’m not going to do any time for this…” These audio tapes came in because they show the defendant’s state of mind and there is no confidential privilege between a mother and son. Closing arguments are under way. – Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent Filed under: Beheading Trial • Jean Casarez • Trials |
 
About this blog
 Contributors
      Categories
 |
|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
|
|
Add a comment
