Background Diane Zamora's Trial Graham Motions Overview Discuss the case Clara Tuma Chat Transcript Live Video Video Index April 20 (Pretrial) April 21 (Pretrial) April 22 (Pretrial) April 23 (Pretrial) April 24 (Pretrial) Zamora's Confession Graham's Confession Chronology July 15 (Openings) July 16 July 17 July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 (Closings) July 24 (The Verdict)

Clara Tuma: He mad an exception for a few minutes of Diane on the stand because there was such interest for seeing her there.

Clara Tuma: And by the way, just so you know, I'm not actually typing this. A wonderful colleague of mine at Court TV agreed to type these in for me.

Daffy831698 asks: Hi, why didn't Diane just say the same thing today as she said in her own trial, what would be wrong with that?
Clara Tuma: Nothing would be wrong at all. The problem for her would come if she varied in any of the details if her conviction were overturned and she based a new trial testimony from the Graham case could be used to impeach her.

Clara Tuma: I think this is a great question, and I spent a fair amount of time today researching that very issue.

Molbloom asks: Will Diane be sanctioned for taking the Fifth after being given use immunity?
Clara Tuma: No because the immunity offer was not accepted. The judge ruled that offer was not sufficient to force Diane to waive her fifth amendment rights.

ProBullrider98 asks: where can i get all the info in this case
Clara Tuma: Watch us at Court TV. We've also got a terrific website.

Jon Bonne: (shameless Plug)

JBR1967 asks: Why in the world would the defense rest in a case in which its strategy is to refute a written confession without calling a witness...especially Graham?
Clara Tuma: That is the question of the day.

Clara Tuma: Word from the defense team is that they believed David might hurt more than he helped on the stand.

Dr_k_ asks: It seems to me that the prosecution is trying to go two ways at once. First they say that Diane's hand was too injured for her to subdue the victim, then they say that she had the strength to wield a 3lb weight...can it be both ways?
Clara Tuma: They hope it can because their argument is that her hand was injured but not totally incapacitated.

JERLIE62 asks: DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE ANYTHING MADE OF THE FACT THAT ONE COPY OF THE CONFESSION HAD A TIME ON IT AND THE OTHER COPY DID NOT?
Clara Tuma: That was an issue during pretrial but the defense seems to have dropped it at this point.

Clara Tuma: During pretrial hearings, the defense suggested the Grand Prairie officers released the confession to the news media almost as soon as it was given. But that is another issue that did not make much of a wave in front of the jury.

CitizenFish98 asks: What do you think about the death penalty option not being able to be sought? Eric - Mansfield, Texas
Clara Tuma: Actually, the state could have chosen but elected not to because the family of Adrienne Jones asked them not to seek it.

Janswizard asks: if diane had testified today, would it have jeopardized her chances of an appeal?
Clara Tuma: It would not have hurt her appeal, but it certainly could have hurt if she had told a different story and if her conviction were overturned. Then she would have been in a world of hurt.

Jeanie38703 asks: Will Diane Zamora actually be able to be granted parole after she serves her forty year sentence? or could she be paroled before her forty years is up?
Clara Tuma: The way the law is now, she has to serve forty years before she is even eligible.

ChaosOrb303 asks: why did zamora trial go first instead of graham?
Clara Tuma: And even then it is not a guaranteed parole, its only eligibility. The prosecution made that decision. Parrish said, "But for her, there was no murder."

Cissy_1960 asks: Wouldn't it have been better if David's Attorny's called witnesses instead of closing?
Clara Tuma laughs hysterically.

Clara Tuma: I guess we'll see what the jury says. It's only good to call witnesses if it helps your case.

Jon Bonne giggles inanely.

Clara Tuma: And some of the people he was saying he was going to call such as, the guy who gave Graham a polygraph, had potentially harmful information the state could have brought out on cross examination.

Kritterkritter asks: Do you think David and Diana are still involved?
Clara Tuma: Not right now.

Clara Tuma: If for no other reason than their lawyers would skin them alive if they dared communicated before these trials are over.

SAS_78201 asks: If he is found innocent can he be tried for knowing about the muder and saying nothing l
Clara Tuma: No. There's no duty to report a crime in Texas althought theoretically the state could have charged him with obstruction of justice. If prosecutors believed he did nothing but tried to prevent Diane from being arrested.

Abbydon asks: Did Diane's atty answer for her when asked if it was true David was not involved because he was afraid she would cover for him?
Clara Tuma: I dont think so. I think she answered the first question because she did not realize her attorney planned to speak for her. He jumped in and cut her off when asked the second question about David's involvement.

Too_hott_chics_that_r_13 asks: Do u like reporting about court??????????
Clara Tuma: Love it. As a child, I always thought that I would go to court on my days off to see what was going on. Then I lucked into a job where they pay me to go to court and see what is going on.

Rbrb87 asks: do you have any idea why Diane was allowed to "dress up" , use make-up etc when she is suppose to be in prison?
Clara Tuma: Strictly for her court appearance. That was agreed upon before she walked into the courtroom..

Codine asks: Where is Dsavid's alibi for not being with Diane on the night of the murder?
Clara Tuma: Your guess is as good as mine. I suspect the defense will point out that they don't have to prove anything.

Clara Tuma: And will suggest the state did not prove David was there. Yet another reason to watch the closing tomorrow. I expect them to be pretty good.

Jon Bonne: These questions are great! Don't be shy -- ask away...

Gloriamada asks: Don't you think the defense, for all the admiration of his style that even you expressed, was a bunch of nothing with a lot of histrionics?
Clara Tuma smiles.

Clara Tuma: Absolutely right. I have enjoyed watching Dan Cogdell in court. He has taken one of the hardest cases to come along in a while. And apparently made a horserace out of it. But as to whether it was histrionics or not, I'll stand moot.

Clara Tuma: I'll stand mute, i mean.

Beverlyjc asks: Do you think not putting on a defense was a ploy so that later David Graham can ask for a retrial stating he had inadequate defense?
Clara Tuma: I doubt it.

Clara Tuma: He's got some legitimate points of appeal if he is convicted but he would be hard pressed to claim that ineffective assistance of counsel is one of them.

Anadora2 asks: Are you from Texas Clara?
Clara Tuma: You betcha.

Stephsnell asks: Clara, do you think that Zamora would want revenge? If she's in prison, why not David, too?
Clara Tuma: It's possible of course, but she hasn't spoken to anyone that I know of but her lawyer and her family since she has been to prison so its hard to know exactly what's in her mind.

Clara Tuma: I did not see hatred coming from either of them when they were in the courtroom together today.

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