Day 2: Laying the Foundation

Today started out with Retired SJPD Ofc. Keppler back on the stand. The defense started to cross-examine him about the incident outside of his apartment. They peppered him with questions about the incident, and about his tactics as a police officer using lineups to ID suspects in crimes. The defense kept trying to get him to tell the story as if he was the instigator of the situation. He remained very calm on the stand and told the jury of what happened to him. He said he was awoken at 12:30 am by a neighbor who said someone was trying to mess with his truck. He went outside in his bathrobe and asked the two suspects if he could talk to them. They turned around and one of them (Campbell) started to get aggressive with him. During the back & forth conversation they had Ofc. Keppler tried to place Campbell under arrest for creating a disturbance & being drunk in public. As he grabbed Campbell by the arm Campbell then performed a "leg sweep" and knocked Ofc. Keppler to the ground. Once he was on the ground Campbell then pulled out a 4-cell Mag-Lite and hit Ofc. Keppler in the head, and then the two suspects ran away. Ofc. Keppler then filed a police report and had the sketch artist make a sketch. The sketch didn't resemble the suspect Ofc. Keppler saw that night(Campbell). The next time Ofc. Keppler saw a picture of Campbell it was on a wanted bulletin at the SJPD headquarters for murder. That is when Ofc. Keppler put 2 and 2 together and realized Campbell was the person who assaulted him that night.
Sgt. Wilson.
Sgt. Wilson was the first police officer to respond to a call from the Good Guys electronic store on 06/22/01 for someone using a fraudulent credit card. Sgt. Wilson was on duty that night around 8:45pm when this call came over the radio, and since he was just across the street, he responded and arrived within 45 seconds. Since it was a felony case he decided to wait till another officer arrived on scene, but kept a vantage point to see inside the store. That would be Capt. Spagnoli (who testifies later in the day). Both officers then entered the store, and were pointed by the staff to the person trying to use the stolen credit card(you're catching on if you guessed it was Campbell). Once inside the store they try to make contact with the suspect who is walking away from them. They get the suspect to stop and ask to pat search him, which he wouldn't allow. When they try to then pat search him for their safety and the safety of the others in the store, he runs( yes, a reoccurring theme). As Campbell and Capt. Spagnoli run around the store, Sgt. Wilson runs to block the entrance/exit. As Campbell runs toward the exit he runs right over Sgt. Wilson (who is 6'1 190). They both fall to the ground and start "fighting". Campbell is kicking and punching, Capt. Spagnoli (6'0 200lbs) then jumps on Campbell trying to grab his arm to place him in handcuffs. During this "fight" Campbell is yelling "help help". They all make it up to their feet and are still fighting each other, so now Sgt. Wilson "leg-sweeps" Campbell to put him back on the ground. Capt. Spagnoli has Campbell in a "headlock" and when the leg sweep occurs also falls to the ground hitting his head. Sgt. Wilson then falls to the ground too and sees another man approaching. At this time another officer (Ofc. Kendell) has arrived and Sgt. Wilson tells the officer to stop the oncoming man(Campbell's father). After a few more minutes of fighting, additional help comes and they finally put handcuffs on Campbell. The "fight" lasted about 3-4 minutes. They had to put on leg restraints because Campbell didn't want to be put in the police car. The defense asks about the paramedics responding and the care that Campbell got. Then they asked about the "leg sweep", trying to say that the officers kicked Campbell. They also pointed out that the cops injuries weren't exactly caused by Campbell, but were caused by the falls to the pavement.
Capt. Spagnoli- SJPD
Capt. Spagnoli testified about the incident above. His testimony was similar to Sgt. Wilson. The only difference is when Sgt. Wilson performed his "leg sweep" and Capt. Spagnoli fell to the ground. When Capt. Spagnoli fell to the ground Campbell then fell on top of him, on his right side where his gun is. He testified that he then felt a few tugs on his belt. He thought Campbell was going for his gun. The defense made a point to say that the Capt. never saw Campbell's hand on his gun.
Staccato Clarita
This is Campbell's baby's mama brother. I don't' know if Campbell is still with this girl( Tamisha), but they have a kid together( her name is Tavia), and this is her brother. He was asked many questions about Campbell, and Campbell after the murder. He didn't remember anything.
Officer Biersdorff- SJPD
This officer pulled over Clarita(see above) at 7am 10/28/01 because he was linked to Campbell. In his report Officer Biersdoff said that Clarita told him Campbell said he was going to an "E"(the drug Ecstasy) party in Almaden the night of the 27th. No cross examination by the defense.
Sgt. Pete Ramirez-SJPD Homicide unit
On 10/29/01 he interviewed Clarita and found out that Clarita urged Campbell to turn himself in for earlier warrants. This was in August. He wanted him to take care of his warrants because Campbell was the father of his niece. Campbell said he would after his daughters birthday (it didn't happen) and that Campbell is was afraid because he thought he would go to jail for like 3-5 yrs and he couldn't go to jail for that long. (I'm think he made a mistake in this thought). No cross examination by the defense.
Regenald Synagol II
He is a "friend" of Campbell. He attended the party on Rotterdam Ln. the night of Oct. 27th(allegedly). He says he has had a lot of concussions and as an electrician he shocks himself a lot and doesn't have a good memory. He says if he was at the party he was drunk(he was always drunk during his late teens early 20s, and he did a lot of drugs). Doesn't remember anything. Electric shocks from work and falls off his dirt bike make his memory bad. He was funny at least.
Sgt. Simpson
On 10/30/01 he interviewed Synagol. Back then i think his memory was better. He said Campbell was at the party, and that he saw him in the back yard. He said to the officer that he didn't know who Campbell was until the media coverage of the murder. Synagol said that he saw Campbell at other parties and thought he was a knucklehead. Sgt. Simpson thought Synagol was holding some information back and didn't totally believe his story.

more to come tomorrow.....