Courtroom Confidential

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Jump to the Faith Hedgepeth discussion: 26:45.

The defense rested without calling a single witness. What can its lawyers still accomplish in closing? Joshua Ritter and Scott of Recovery Addict examine the decision not to present witnesses, the risks of putting the defendant on the stand, and whether prosecutors’ efforts to establish a connection between Miguel Salguero-Olivares and Faith distracted from their strongest evidence.

Also, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney R.J. Dreiling joins...

The prosecution has rested in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial, but did it leave the defense an opening? CBS 17 reporter Deana Harley joins criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter to examine the DNA evidence, unanswered questions about Miguel Salguero-Olivares’ connection to Faith, and the revelation that a computer image discussed as handwriting evidence was actually an internet meme. Which gaps could matter to jurors, and which leave the prosecution’s strongest evidence intact?

Plus, investigative reporter and YouTube host Gavin Fish joins Josh to discuss Matthew Farwell’s federal trial. They examine communications involving Sandra Birchm...

Can a juror be removed for refusing to agree with everyone else? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions about the Lindsay Clancy juror controversy, the distinction between disagreement and misconduct, and the challenges of protecting jurors in a closely watched case.

In this Sunday Funday Q&A, Josh also explores the difference between “not guilty” and “innocent,” questions surrounding Christa Pike’s failed execution, the federal case against Matthew Farwell, and the limits on pointing to another suspect in the Faith Hedgepeth trial.

0:00 Welcome to Sunday Funday
2:12 Lindsay Clancy: Holdout Ju...

Alex Murdaugh’s defense has been allowed to pursue additional testing of DNA recovered from beneath Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails. But could finding an answer weaken the defense instead of helping it? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter explains why unidentified DNA can create an argument for reasonable doubt, and why identifying its source could change that argument.

On location in Lexington, South Carolina, Josh breaks down the October 16 hearing, including the DNA-testing dispute, requests for ballistics and crime-scene data, and the judge’s insistence on keeping the retrial on schedule. He examines what the defens...

Miguel Salguero-Olivares denied knowing Faith Hedgepeth, but jurors have now heard testimony linking his palm print and thumbprint to a wine bottle found in her bedroom. What do those matches establish, and what remains unresolved? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter welcomes Joel Waldman of Surviving the Survivor to examine the latest evidence and the defense’s response.

Also, Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz discusses the cancellation of Bryan Kohberger’s upcoming hearings, and LA Mag Senior Editor Michele McPhee joins Josh to examine testimony in Matthew Farwell’s federal trial and scrutiny of the orig...

Did Matthew Farwell’s defense open the door to testimony from three other women? Federal prosecutors are challenging his attorney’s opening statement, asking to introduce evidence of other alleged affairs and accusing the defense of citing text messages they say do not exist. What could these disputes mean for the jury and the case over Sandra Birchmore’s death?

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter is joined by attorney Randolph Rice to examine the prosecution’s new motions, the defense’s strategy, and what the judge’s decisions could mean as testimony begins.

Also ton...

Sandra Birchmore’s death was initially attributed to self-harm. Federal prosecutors now allege former police detective Matthew Farwell killed her and staged the scene, while his defense argues he went to her apartment to end their relationship and did not cause her death.

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter compares the competing opening statements, including Birchmore’s final texts, surveillance footage of Farwell’s arrival, the alleged motive and the limits of the physical evidence. 

Josh also examines new testimony in the Faith Hedgepeth trial, including Karina Rosario’s cross-examination and questions surrounding evidence...

23-year-old Sandra Birchmore was eight to ten weeks pregnant when she was found dead in her Massachusetts apartment. Her death was initially ruled a suic*de, but federal prosecutors now allege that former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell killed her to prevent her from exposing years of alleged sexual abuse and misconduct.

In this episode of Five Things You Need to Know, criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter breaks down the people, timeline, and evidence at the center of the case. Why is the original suic*de finding now in dispute? What must prosecutors prove...

Christa Pike survived Tennessee’s failed execution, and a judge has now ordered evidence preserved. Can that evidence explain what went wrong? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter joins forensic death investigator and Body Bags host Joseph Scott Morgan to examine the questions surrounding drug delivery, execution procedures and the records needed to reconstruct what happened.

Then, Scott from Recovery Addict joins Josh to examine opening statements and roommate Karena Rosario’s testimony in the trial of Miguel Salguero-Olivares, accused of murdering UNC student Faith Hedgepeth. They discuss the prosecution’s DNA allegations, the defense’s respon...

Fourteen years after 19-year-old UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found murdered in an off-campus apartment, the case is heading before a jury. Before opening statements begin, get caught up on the killing, the years-long investigation and the questions at the center of the trial.

CBS 17 reporter Deana Harley joins criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter to break down the background of the case and help viewers prepare to follow the courtroom proceedings. Miguel Salguero-Olivares, who was arrested in 2021, is accused of killing Hedgepeth.

Watch the trial gavel to gavel on our sister...

Serious sexual assault allegations at Cornell University prompted outrage, but no criminal charges were filed. Now, the case is receiving a fresh review. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter joins Paul Mauro to examine the original investigation, the disputed evidence and what prosecutors would need to bring the Cornell 7 case into court.

Then, Josh examines Caleb Flynn’s life-without-parole sentence and his continued claim of innocence. CBS 17 reporter Deana Harley also joins the show to preview the trial of Miguel Salguero-Olivares, accused of murdering UNC student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012, including the DNA evidence, disputed forensic qu...

Can Tennessee attempt to execute Christa Pike again after its lethal-injection procedure failed? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions about Pike’s remaining appeals, the medical and constitutional questions created by the failed execution, and what other states have done after similar failures. Idaho Statesman reporter Kevin Fixler contributes context from his reporting on capital punishment.

Josh also answers questions about Caleb Flynn’s conviction and upcoming sentencing, fundraising for Lindsay Clancy’s holdout juror, Kevin Reddington’s latest defense arguments, Keffe D and Son of Sam laws, and the evidentiary problems facing p...

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Christa Pike survived Tennessee’s attempt to execute her, leaving the state facing an extraordinary question: what happens now? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter examines the failed lethal injection, the legal limits on another execution attempt and what this means for Pike’s death sentence for the murder of Colleen Slemmer.

Then, Josh breaks down the denial of Lindsay Clancy’s motion for a finding of no...

In the final installment of Courtroom Confidential: Idaho 4 — After the Plea, Joshua Ritter sits down with Steve and Kristi Goncalves, parents of Kaylee Goncalves, nearly four years after Kaylee, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were murdered in Moscow, Idaho.

One year after Bryan Kohberger’s guilty plea brought the possibility of a trial to an end, Steve and Kristi reflect on where they are now, the questions that are still unresolved, and what it means to move forward when the legal case is over but its impact remains.

They also tell us about Murd...

Why hasn’t Caleb Flynn’s alleged mistress been charged, and what can jurors actually conclude from the messages they exchanged? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions about the Flynn trial, including conspiracy, the song played in court and the difference between troubling words and proof of a crime.

This Sunday Funday Q&A also covers Lindsay Clancy’s holdout juror, Ethan Crumbley’s sentence review, Bryan Kohberger’s guilty plea, Tomasz Kosowski’s self-representation and the practical reasons defendants may choose not to testify.

0:00 - Intro
2:16 - Bryan Kohberger

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Caleb Flynn promised his mistress a future together, but what do their private messages reveal about the events leading up to his wife Ashley’s death? As the murder trial exposes the affair, the promises and the hostility behind those exchanges, prosecutors face the central challenge: connecting Flynn’s words to the killing he denies committing.

Jay of  @jaybronious   joins criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter to bre...

As testimony continues in Caleb Flynn’s murder trial, how strong is the case against the former worship pastor and American Idol contestant accused of killing his wife, Ashley? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter welcomes Kathy from Gossip, Rumor & Innuendo to examine the latest courtroom developments, questions surrounding Flynn’s mistress, and the evidence both sides want jurors to focus on. Is the prosecution connecting the dots, or is the defense finding room for reasonable doubt?

Then, Scott from Recovery Addict joins Josh to discuss today’s guilty verdict in the Tomasz Kosowski case. The Fl...

Patrick Clancy is speaking out about the loss of his children, his forgiveness of Lindsay Clancy and the online accusations surrounding their family. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter reacts to Patrick’s “60 Minutes” interview and examines the legal developments following Lindsay’s mistrial, including the motion seeking a juror investigation and the anticipated double-jeopardy challenge to a retrial.

Plus, Angenette Levy joins Josh to break down the latest testimony in Caleb Flynn’s murder trial. Flynn says an intruder killed his wife, Ashley, but an investigator’s testimony about the garage door raises questions about that a...

Can Lindsay Clancy prevent another trial, and what happens when jurors give conflicting accounts of deliberations? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions about the Commonwealth’s options, jury selection, holdout jurors and the legal arguments that could shape what happens next.

This Sunday Funday Q&A also examines Caleb Flynn’s defense and the messages discussed in opening statements, Tomasz Kosowski’s self-representation, questions about experts in Bryan Kohberger’s case, and the financial issues viewers are asking about in the d4vd and Barry Morphew cases. Plus, a guest contribution from R.J. Dre...

Caleb Flynn told police an intruder killed his wife, Ashley, but prosecutors opened his murder trial with messages they say he sent to his mistress before her death. His defense acknowledges the affair while arguing that anger, betrayal and a possible motive do not prove murder. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter examines the competing opening statements, the first day of testimony and the questions the evidence must answer.

Also in this Weekly Roundup: Tomasz Kosowski challenges DNA testimony while representing himself in his murder trial, Lindsay Clancy’s holdout juror offers a competing account of...

Nick Reiner will not face the death penalty, but major questions remain about his defense and the evidence the public has yet to see. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter joins Los Angeles Times reporter James Queally to examine the decision, potential mental-health arguments and the fight over keeping grand jury materials sealed.

The episode opens with retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Fox News contributor James Gagliano examining the security failures alleged in Charlie Kirk’s family’s notice of claim. Later, Josh breaks down Tomasz Kosowski’s self-representation, the police-car footage and his unusua...

Florida plastic surgeon Tomasz Kosowski is representing himself in the murder trial arising from attorney Steven Cozzi’s disappearance. Cozzi’s body has never been recovered, but prosecutors say blood evidence, surveillance footage, vehicle records and a collection of tools and medical supplies connect Kosowski to the alleged killing.

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter and Jay of  @jaybronious   examine the first day of testimony, Kosowski’s decision to waive a jury and counsel, and whether prosecutors can prove murder without recovering the victim’s body. 

Plus, Josh previews cases on the docket this week...

Caleb Flynn called 911 to report that an intruder had broken into his home and killed his wife, Ashley. Investigators say the former American Idol contestant and worship pastor shot her himself, then staged a burglary. What evidence will determine which account jurors believe?

Ahead of jury selection scheduled for September 17, criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter breaks down five things you need to know about the Caleb Flynn case. We examine the alleged crime-scene staging, the questions surrounding his 911 call, his daughters’ expected testimony and what prosecutors will need to prove at trial.

Ca...

Jurors from the Lindsay Clancy trial are speaking publicly about the deliberations that ended in a mistrial. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter joins former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani to examine what their accounts reveal, what remains disputed, and what the Commonwealth may do next.

The discussion also explores a larger legal question through the cases involving Nicole Linton, Royce Moser and Corie Walshe: when does severe mental illness change criminal responsibility, and can evidence of planning coexist with psychosis?

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YT: https://www.youtube.com/@WestCoastTrialLawyersLA/featured 
IG: h...

After Lindsay Clancy’s 11-1 mistrial, the questions are shifting from what happened during the first trial to what the Commonwealth and defense must do differently in a retrial. Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter explains whether double jeopardy applies, why prosecutors changed their portrayal of Clancy, whether planning rules out legal insanity and how another impartial jury could be selected.

Josh also answers viewer questions about Barry Morphew’s reported bond trouble, D4vd’s request for a public defender, victim-rights counsel in the Tyler Robinson case, Caleb Flynn’s 911 call, the Laura Owens plea dea...

The Lindsay Clancy murder trial has ended in a mistrial after seven days of deliberations and more than 36 hours without a unanimous verdict.

Clancy’s defense says 11 jurors were prepared to acquit her, while one holdout juror prevented the panel from reaching a verdict. After the judge declined to remove that juror and the jury reported that it remained deadlocked, a mistrial was declared.

What caused the impasse? Did the holdout juror properly apply the law, and will the Commonwealth put Lindsay Clancy through a second trial?

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Jo...

Verdict watch in the Lindsay Clancy trial has entered a sixth day after more than 30 hours of deliberations and two previous reports that the jury could not reach a unanimous decision. Can they finally reach an agreement, or is the trial headed toward a mistrial?

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter breaks down what the jury is struggling to decide and whether a mistrial is becoming more likely. Join us LIVE for the latest developments, legal analysis and your questions.

00:00 Welcome
01:07 Where things stand
02:40 Signs that point to a potential verdict<...

The Lindsay Clancy jury remains in deliberations after reporting that it could not reach a unanimous verdict. Then a woman was arrested outside Plymouth Superior Court after allegedly filming jurors, leading to a warning from the judge and individual questioning of every juror.

Reporting from outside the courthouse, criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter explains why the jury’s silence may suggest movement, what happens if jurors again say they cannot agree, and when Massachusetts’ Tuey-Rodriguez instruction could lead to a verdict or mistrial.

Later, Josh breaks down the decision ordering Tyler Robinson to s...

The jury returns Monday to continue deliberations in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial after two days without a verdict. NewsNation senior correspondent Laura Ingle joins former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter to discuss what happened inside the courtroom, what jurors may be weighing and whether their requests to examine the knife and prescription bottles offer any clues about where deliberations are headed.

Plus, Josh breaks down Bryan Kohberger’s latest attempt to undo his guilty plea, including new motions seeking to disqualify the judge and move his post-conviction proceedings back to Latah County.

Fo...

True crime, legal analysis, and YOUR questions—LIVE! Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter answers viewer questions on the biggest cases in true crime, including Lindsay Clancy, Shanna Gardner, Karmelo Anthony, Laken Snelling, Keffe D and more. 

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Lindsay Clancy’s fate is now in the hands of a Massachusetts jury. Live outside the courthouse, Joshua Ritter shares who he thinks prevailed in closing arguments as verdict watch continues.

Lindsay Clancy is accused of killing her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, inside the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. Her defense does not dispute that she killed the children but argues that she was not criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Prosecutors contend her actions were planned and deliberate.

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The Lindsay Clancy murder trial has reached its final stage, with testimony concluding and closing arguments expected Thursday.

The Commonwealth’s final forensic psychiatrist told jurors that Clancy acted methodically, exercised control and remained capable of distinguishing right from wrong when she killed her three children. The defense challenged that conclusion, emphasizing Clancy’s severe mental-health decline, repeated efforts to obtain help, medication history and its claim that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and obeying a commanding voice.

East Idaho News Courtroom Insider reporter Grace Wong joins criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter to r...

The Lindsay Clancy murder trial is approaching its final stage as the Commonwealth presents rebuttal testimony challenging the defense’s claim that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis when she killed her three children.

The Commonwealth’s experts argue that Clancy was seriously depressed but not psychotic, and that she still understood the wrongfulness of her actions and retained control over her behavior. Under cross-examination today, one prosecution psychiatrist acknowledged that Clancy displayed symptoms associated with postpartum depression while continuing to reject a postpartum diagnosis and any evidence of psychosis.

With closing arguments and jury deliberations appr...

Can someone suffer from psychosis and still be held criminally responsible for murder? Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter explains the line Massachusetts law draws in the Lindsay Clancy trial, why mental illness alone does not establish a lack of criminal responsibility, and what jurors must decide even if they believe Clancy was psychotic.

In this Sunday Funday, Josh also answers questions about Massachusetts’ two-part insanity test, the possible verdicts and what happens after each one, Patrick Clancy conspiracy theories, courtroom conduct and comparisons between Lindsay Clancy and Chad Doerman. Plus, Josh examines Bryan Kohberger’s at...

Two psychiatrists reviewed much of the same evidence and gave the Lindsay Clancy jury completely different answers. The defense says Clancy was psychotic and acting under the control of a commanding voice. The Commonwealth says she was severely depressed, methodically carried out a plan and understood that killing her children was wrong.

Former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter is joined by trial attorney and legal commentator Lawyer Lee to test those competing opinions, explain Massachusetts’ criminal-responsibility standard and identify the evidence most likely to decide the verdict as the Commonwealth completes its rebuttal.

Pl...

Did Lindsay Clancy hear a persistent male voice ordering her to kill her children, and if she did, does that establish that she was not criminally responsible? Trial attorneys and former prosecutors Joshua Ritter and Randolph Rice examine the testimony that could decide the case as closing arguments approach.

Defense psychologist Dr. Paul Zeizel told jurors that Clancy had bipolar disorder with postpartum psychosis and could not appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions or conform her conduct to the law. The Commonwealth challenged the timing and corroboration of the alleged voice, while hospital chaplain Sheila Kavanaugh testified...

One question from the Commonwealth prompted an immediate sidebar in the Lindsay Clancy trial. After confirming that Clancy’s mother-in-law was Catholic, the prosecutor asked whether murder is considered a “mortal sin.” Did that moment help establish that Clancy understood right from wrong, or did it risk turning jurors against the prosecution?

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter is joined by jury consultant and body language expert Susan Constantine to analyze the controversial exchange, Clancy’s emotional reactions in court, the defense’s first witnesses and whether Clancy should testify.

Justin Shepherd from JustInTheN...

Nearly 30 years after the murder of Tupac Shakur, Duane “Keffe D” Davis is going on trial. Opening statements are scheduled for Monday, August 17, in Las Vegas.

Davis has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors do not accuse him of firing the fatal shots. Instead, they allege that he orchestrated the retaliatory attack and provided the gun used in the 1996 drive-by shooting.

Ahead of opening statements, Courtroom Confidential presents an updated edition of our Case Notes investigation into one of the most infamous unsolved murders in music history.

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter exam...

Luigi Mangione admitted in federal court that he planned and carried out the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pleading guilty to two federal stalking charges without a plea agreement, sentencing promise or guarantee of leniency. The plea exposes him to a possible life sentence, but it may also give his attorneys a basis to argue that New York’s broader double jeopardy protections bar the state murder prosecution.

Criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter explains why Mangione may have chosen to secure the federal conviction first, what his courtroom admissions could cost him if th...

Joshua Ritter is joined by attorney Elyse M. Hershon to break down Day 12 of the Lindsay Clancy murder trial.

Jurors heard from mental health counselor Latiesha Dukes, who treated Clancy in the weeks before the deaths of her three children. Dukes testified that Clancy reported intrusive thoughts but showed no signs of mania, paranoia or psychosis. Later, graphic medical examiner testimony caused Clancy to openly sob, prompting the judge to call a recess.

Then, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani joins Josh to discuss major developments in the Luigi Mangione cases. A judge ruled that the...