3.Chelsey Koepsell — Direct (Recall)
150 lines(In open court.)
THE COURT: Defense, you can call your next witness.
MR. HENDERSON: Judge, at this time, the defense calls Deputy Koepsell -- or, Detective, excuse me.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL
being called as a witness, and having first been duly sworn,
testified as follows:
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes.
COURT CLERK: Thank you.
THE COURT: Good morning again.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Good morning.
THE COURT: Could you state your full name and date of birth for the record -- I'm sorry, full name and spell it for us.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Oh, okay. It's Chelsey Koepsell, C-h-e-l-s-e-y, last name is K-o-e-p-s-e-l-l.
THE COURT: Thank you.
Counselor, you may inquire.
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. HENDERSON:
MR. HENDERSON: Good morning, ma'am.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Good morning.
MR. HENDERSON: In relation to this case, on February the 26th of 2020, did you have the occasion to interview an Abraham Moreno?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes, I did.
MR. HENDERSON: Was that interview recorded, ma'am?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes, it was.
MR. HENDERSON: Do you remember, as part of that interview, did Mr. Moreno tell you that he had had contact with Sarah Boone on February the 24th of 2020?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Are you asking the night of the incident when the police were called out?
MR. HENDERSON: Yes, the next morning.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: The day that we were called?
MR. HENDERSON: That you were called out on the 24th.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Okay. So, yes, he did have contact with her, but it wasn't in the morning. It was while we were there.
MR. HENDERSON: It was while you were there?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes.
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. What time did you get there? That's probably what's throwing me.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: I got there around 1420 hours, which would be 2:20 in the afternoon.
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. So the afternoon on the 24th?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: No. It was later. I recall -- I believe I was doing paperwork in my vehicle, so it would have been at some point during the investigation, but it wasn't -- I didn't notice him until -- I'm not sure if I noticed him until before or after Sarah was interviewed.
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. All right. But to his interview part, the interview, did he tell you in the interview that he had had contact with Ms. Boone on that date?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes, he did.
MR. HENDERSON: Did he tell you at that time that Ms. Boone had made a statement to him?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes. Yes, he did.
MR. HENDERSON: Do you remember what that statement was?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: I don't wish to quote what he stated. So I don't know the exact verbiage, but he basically replayed what -- I'm not sure if he replayed what exactly occurred that day, but I do know he mentioned something about she mentioned being dragged down the stairs a couple days prior.
MR. HENDERSON: Did he say to you during that interview that Sarah Boone told us that a couple of days ago, they had gotten into a fight where he grabbed her by her hair and drug her down the steps?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: I would assume that he is reading my report and that does sound similar to what my report should say.
MR. HENDERSON: So this statement was given on the 27th of February -- I'm sorry, the 26th of February?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes.
MR. HENDERSON: Would you agree with that?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes, I would.
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. The contact that -- the statement that Ms. Boone made to Mr. Moreno was on the 24th of February; is that correct?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Repeat the question. I'm sorry.
MR. HENDERSON: When Mr. Moreno is saying that Ms. Boone came up to him and made this statement that we just talked about --
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes.
MR. HENDERSON: -- that was on February the 24th; is that correct?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: That 1s correct.
MR. HENDERSON: So when she said a couple of days ago, that would have brought it back to February the 22nd; is that correct?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Potentially, yes.
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. Ma'am, during that interview with you, did Mr. Moreno ever indicate to you that when he had contact with Ms. Boone on the 24th, that Sarah Boone told him what happened was an accident, and did he say that Sarah Boone stated that she was teaching him a lesson and things got out of hand and that she fell asleep?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: I don't recall the entirety of that being accurate. Yeah, I don't recall the entirety of what he just said being accurate.
MR. HENDERSON: Do you remember him saying that at all?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: He did say that she had -- I believe he said on the recording -- passed out, so that's why, like, part of the statements might be accurate, but...
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. Ma'tam, would it refresh your memory if you were to see the recorded statement?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: His recorded statement?
MR. HENDERSON: Yes.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: The transcription?
MR. HENDERSON: Yes.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Sure. Yeah, great.
MR. HENDERSON: May I approach the witness?
THE COURT: You may.
BY MR. HENDERSON:
MR. HENDERSON: Ma'am, take your time and read through that.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Okay.
MR. HENDERSON: And when you're ready, just let me know.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Okay. I don't recall all the statements that you asked or the way you asked it, but...
MR. HENDERSON: Would it help if I repeat it?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Sure, yeah. You asked -- like, you said multiple statements, so --
MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma'am.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: -- this was, like, an 11-minute interview.
MR. HENDERSON: All right. The statement would be that Sarah Boone stated to Mr. Moreno that she was teaching him a lesson and things got out of hand and that she fell asleep. And I'm wanting to know --
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Did you say -- okay. I thought I heard you say passed out the first time. I'm not sure if you said passed out or fell asleep.
MR. HENDERSON: Fell asleep.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Fell asleep. Okay.
MR. HENDERSON: And what I'm asking is, is there any indication that he told you that statement on the date of that interview on the 26th?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Sorry. I'm trying to go to the part where we talked about that.
MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma'am. Take your time.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Okay.
Okay. So like I had stated, there were certain things that I thought was accurate from your statement. He stated -- I don't really -- do I just read exactly what it says? Do you need, like, the number next to it or anything like that?
MR. HENDERSON: Yes. I have no problem with you reading what he said.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Okay. Then --
MR. CACCIATORE: Your Honor, I would object.
THE COURT: Approach.
(At the bench.)
THE COURT: She's refreshing her recollection as to the statement. She can't read it.
MR. HENDERSON: I'm sorry, I agree.
THE COURT: The objection is sustained.
(In open court.)
THE COURT: Ma'am, you cannot read the statement at this time.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Okay.
THE COURT: Thank you.
You may continue, Mr. Henderson.
MR. HENDERSON: Yes.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: He described --
THE COURT: Hang on. Hang on. Just wait fora question, okay?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: I'm so sorry.
THE COURT: It's okay.
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yeah, sorry.
BY MR. HENDERSON:
MR. HENDERSON: Ma'am, in anywhere in that interview, do you see a reference statement that Sarah stated that she was teaching him a lesson and things got out of hand and that she fell asleep?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: No to the two parts -- the first two parts of your question. I heard passed out the first time you asked me this question and that's why I said that part of it was accurate, because he did say that she passed out in his statement. That was what Sarah told him.
MR. HENDERSON: Okay. Did she say she was teaching him a lesson? Is that in there?
MR. HENDERSON: And things got out of hand. Is that in there?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: No. I don't recall that.
MR. HENDERSON: May I approach the witness?
THE COURT: Yes.
BY MR. HENDERSON:
MR. HENDERSON: And, again, ma'am, this interview was on February the 26th of 2020; is that correct?
CHELSEY KOEPSELL: Yes, it was.
MR. HENDERSON: Thank you. I have no further questions.
THE COURT: Any cross-examination?
MR. CACCIATORE: No other questions, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Thank you.
Can this witness be released?
MR. HENDERSON: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: State?
MR. CACCIATORE: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: All right. Thank you.
(Witness excused.)
THE COURT: Defense, call your next witness.
MR. HENDERSON: I believe Dr. Brannon is here now, Judge.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. HENDERSON: Making sure.
Judge, may we approach?
THE COURT: Yes, sir.
(At the bench.)
THE COURT: Yes, sir?
MR. HENDERSON: Judge, I had two other witnesses scheduled this morning, Scott Lowen, who, because of the testimony of the past deputy, we do not need anymore.
THE COURT: Okay. So you're not going to be calling Detective Lowen?
MR. HENDERSON: He's being released.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. HENDERSON: And I also have Abraham Moreno. He's being released. He's not going to be called.
THE COURT: All right. Do you need either of them, State, for your rebuttal case?
THE COURT: Okay. Thank you.
MR. HENDERSON: And then, Judge, that's going to leave us this morning with Dr. Brannon, and Mr. Beck and Dr. Brannon are talking at this point, so...
MR. OWENS: What about Scott Lowen?
THE COURT: Scott Lowen was just released.
MR. HENDERSON: He's released.
THE COURT: All right. Mr. Beck just re-entered the courtroom.
THE COURT: All right. Very good. We'll just --
MR. OWENS: Should we take a break before we get started?
THE COURT: No. We'll just hang out. We'll just hang out. Thank you.
MR. OWENS: I don't know how long he's going to be.
THE COURT: It's okay.
(In open court.)
THE COURT: Members of the jury, we're just waiting on a witness. They are using the facilities outside. So as soon as they're done, we'll bring in our next witness. Thank you for your patience.
(Pause.)