Essay On The Trial Of Julie

Per Julie’s request I have made a summary of some of the witnesses that were called in the 2001 hearing transcript for a motion for a new trial. The specific witnesses in question are Donavan Rouse, Thrista Rouse, Lucritia Rouse, and Rosemary Rouse. All five of these witnesses maintained the same general story that they had lied in order to go back home, and that their uncles had never touched them in an inappropriate manner. All children also stated that the line of questioning from the FBI was the same for every child questioned. As well, they stated that none of the family members have pressured them into testifying.

Donavan Rouse age 16 at the time of the hearing, and roughly age 9 when he was taken from his home was adamant that

Later Donna Jordan, the owner of the foster home many of the children ended up in, questioned Donavan, and he told her that his uncles had never touched anyone. When Donavan’s mother brought him and Thrista to see Dr. Underwager, Donavan told the doctor that he believed the government had brainwashed him into lying about what his uncles had done. He got to a point where Donavan had stopped talking to the people who were trying to interview him so he wouldn’t tell anymore

She also admits that she did not understand the severity and consequences that her uncles would face because of what she said. Lastly addressing other instances that potentially demonstrated violence, Lucritia said that none of her uncles ever threw a knife at her, and that the cut on her head was due to an accident when she was playing outside. She also claimed that her uncles never tried to touch her mother’s genitals. Lastly, she did state that she had read a couple letters from her uncles in prison.

Rosemary Rouse age 13 at the hearing, didn’t have as much to say as the other siblings. She was in foster care for a short period of time, then she was transferred to Jean Brock’s residence, and then she was finally moved to Donna Jordan’s. Like with the other siblings she was also asked the same questions repeatedly during the investigation, and then lied to make the questioning stop so she could return home. Rosemary confessed to her brother Derrick Weston that she had lied, and this is then confirmed in the testimony of Derrick