From Predator to Prey: The Language War in Sarah Boone’s Opening Arguments

[@marciegill52]

Mr. Jay sir are a excellent attorney! You do a Amazing job!

[@horvathsogranfume658]

quickly becoming one of my favorite content producers of true crime material

[@genkestrel7254]

Yes I agree:)

[@TenaciousP]

Yes because no ego.

[@CrochetLover85]

agreed. also very good: Word Wise

[@ThePretendJudge]

Right?! When I woke up at 3am I was in such a great mood that I'd have this to listen to on my commute ❤

[@moongoddess8568]

This channel deserves so many subscribers. I look forward to watching that happen. I absolutely love it and I’m excited when there’s a new video. Thank you. ✌🏼

[@Nous520]

AGREED! ❤

[@CrochetLover85]

same

[@peggymagruder]

That presentation was amazing! I love your graphics and visual displays. I also love your explanation and analysis. I actually rewatched the opening statements after watching your video with a new "eye". I am not sure what you do for a profession, but I imagine you are extremely successful. I love watching all your videos and learn a lot each time. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Have a wonderful week.

[@caroles5502]

Good analysis. When I first heard the defense's opening argument, the comment that really struck me as ridiculously attempting to paint Sarah as some innocent li'l old southern belle was when he said she didn't know to call 911 because she had had a sheltered upbringing. For heaven's sake, she was a woman in her forties with a child. I find the characterization to be offensive, and as I said, ridiculous. Her lawyer very much sentimentalizes the "down and out" picture of Sarah and Jorge, speaking about them almost as if they were children. I think if I were on the jury and knew nothing about the case these things would set off alarm bells for me.

[@truthhurts2879]

Particularly as Boone had perfected the art of weaponising the police against Jorgé by calling them AFTER THE FACT to come to arrest Jorgé without his knowledge.

[@iwantthe80sback59]

She called the Cops on Jorge 16 times the previous year. The last call being only a few months before she killed him.

[@rebeccajordan4491]

And if it was truly self defense, once she had him restrained in the suitcase, she should have called 911 at that time, not waiting 13 hours. The delay shows callous indifference.

[@AntiBobo1312]

Its the white innocent women narrative feminists not want to talk about... for poc nothing new at all, white womens tears fcked alot of innocent peoples life.

[@genkestrel7254]

I love exploring these linguistic battles between the lawyers with you Chris; they're so snappy and fascinating ♥️

[@CrochetLover85]

check out Word Wise, too

[@ThePretendJudge]

Thankyou for taking the time to type up and explain the vampire analogy. Not gonna lie... I was absolutely lost until now regarding this phrase and also why the state didn't bring up any of the past abuses Sarah did to Jorge.

[@nickinman6025]

Excellent work. Thanks for your analysis.

[@GRMLS5]

Thank you for this video. I could not hear the opening statements on the live feed. I take issue with the defense attorney calling Jorge and Sarah down and out. She had an apartment that looked tidy, and she had her son stay there, she received payments from her ex, and she said Jorge would pay a bill every now & then. They may have drunk a lot but they did it in comfort. Down and out, as low as you can get, is an alcoholic living in a park, drinking methylated spirits( or in America, mouthwash.). I learned that as a small girl in the 1960s. When the jury sees the video his softening down speech will have no effect on them. Reality bites.

[@Justcallmerita]

She would have been living out in the street if her ex-husband wasn’t supporting her and George financially. And that right there is messed up.

[@TopCat8877]

Fabulous video, and I loved your contribution of “ two peasants on a hillside with the sheep”! So hilarious! 🐑🐑🐑 😂😂

[@judyrosy]

Simply EXCELLENT Chris! 🧡

[@TenaciousP]

Owen’s has a book on his desk for theatre - a textbook about Battered Woman Syndrome. I believe in plain sight of the Jury and it should be removed! Made me really angry.

[@dorkydragon5055]

How's Sarah gonna brush up on her speech hit points if she's never cared to notice her effects on her victims? Unfair!

[@MR-gl9xu]

@TenaciousP I think Mr Jay should point out the book, and how since Sarah has changed her story so often it may have indeed been used to facilitate her last story change???!!!

[@artfan3118]

I feel the prosecution was confused and a little weak. Thank goodness the video speaks for itself.

[@lisacreuzer]

He keeps calling her Sarah, like an old friend, Mr. Jay called him out before trial. He used it more than any other word. Would love your opinion on that! ETA Owens constantly said "as you know" just like he did with the judge so far, Love you opinion on that as well!

[@genkestrel7254]

Yes I remember Mr Jay complaining also. But it seemed like a bit of a half effort I thought. And Mr Owens received no meaningful admonition if I remember correctly. In my opinion, I think Mr Owens is quite chuffed with himself because he knows it frustrates the State. If they (Mr Jay and co) complain about it before the jury, the jury may perceive this as being a bit pedantic and groveling. Further, Mr Owens is attempting to present Sarah as a familiar and likeable kind of a... neighbour... A mother even. It's all performance

[@seriously6649]

​@@genkestrel7254It's akin to Abramson picking lint off a Menendez sweater.

[@RobertaReal7980]

Great review as usual. I have to laugh at how Owens portrays Sarah as this adventurous yet humble starving artist that has alcohol issues as if she were Hemingway. I wish the cameras were more on Sarah's face. It would have been interesting to see her reaction to Owens saying what a hopeless alcoholic she was/is. I don't think her oversized ego would like that very much. 😅

[@CharlesWhite-j4f]

21:38 adding petals to beautify the plain flower of unlikeable Sarah Boone was sheer genius!😂

[@WalkawayyyRenee]

Great video, I learned a lot from your breakdown. Thank you for inviting us into the house, showing us around and letting us look under the hood as we cook with Granny and follow this recipe together! lol

[@victoriavancartier7379]

Hopefully the Monster will rot behind bars for at least 20 years.....imagine that haggard face at 60.....

[@longwhitecloud8059]

the jowls will be jowling!

[@bern84]

22.5 years minimum 🥳☺️

[@iwantthe80sback59]

I’m thinking more like 30 years minus (almost) 5 years she’s already served so would be 25 years. No way Kraynick is gonna let her serve the minimum (22.5 years).

[@cantsay]

Love the breakdown!

[@pennythpmas5787]

Sarah doesn't seem to be at all self aware. It's fascinating to hear her delusional distortion of reality. According to Sarah's she is an outstanding Mother, who has wine with Dinner except for the weekend. After a fun whimsical day of playing games like children, she went to bed after ensuring Jorge 2as able to get out and she fell asleep. Jorge COUKD HAVE CHOSEN TO GET OUT, BUT INSTEAS HE CHOSE TO STAY IN AND DIE. According to Sarah's account, the 1st time. The second time, who knows how she will lie about Jorge and that night in trial.

[@RobertaReal7980]

I've heard her description of herself as an occasional glass of wine (so much classier than Dr pepper & vodka don't you think?), a dedicated busy working mother. She does it all & expertly at that. All of which is the absolute opposite.

[@Nous520]

I do agree with you on one level. However, It’s quite weird because on some level she DOES display self awareness. She has enough self awareness to motivate her to put forth these lies as arguments against her guilt. She is self aware enough to know where her deepest flaws need to be painted over with a lie of a picture of the complete opposite of the flaw. That shows a level of complete and absolute awareness. She lacks the capacity to consider how people can put pieces of the puzzle together to reveal the truth - it’s like she thinks if she gives you a version that she prefers then that becomes the truth in the eyes of the person she is lying to. But even then I don’t think she’s that stupid. It’s more like she refuses to consider how others have the capacity and ability to look beyond the version she has presented. She won’t relent from her ideal version of herself or the situation because the truth is the enemy.

[@CrochetLover85]

i quite enjoy this content

[@ricci4878]

Baie dankie vir die opsomming die klank was egter baie swak.

[@caroline-brisbane8577]

I appreciate this so much, I didn't watch the opening. The prosecution opening was confusing, what a shame.

[@beverlylawyer9692]

When I get your notification, In like Flynn

[@chrisparkes7395]

Thanks Chris

[@addie_is_me]

Yea, when he brought up the Constitution it was pretty funny and certainly in no way sounded like a huge desperate reach. 😂

[@mereyemsuzanne8635]

Thank youuuuuuuu

[@AirmanIsMyFirstName]

Thank you for covering the language in this and other cases. I'm very interested in language in general, and true crime here and there. (As many others are too!) Do you take suggestions of cases on which to do a case study? I would love to hear your analysis of the Chandler Halderson case, specifically the prosecution's opening statement and the defense's closing argument. In my opinion, the prosecution did a beautiful job of painting the picture Mr. Jay struggled with in this case. The defense's closing in the Halderson case was the most unprofessional argument I've ever heard. (I have watched many trials back to Caylee Anthony, and I've served on four juries, two criminal and two civil.) Thank you for your consideration.

[@peggymagruder]

Thanks!

[@truthhurts2879]

Omgosh @The lovely Chris, is that wee cats playing on your shirt 👚??!? I luuurve cats and rescued thousands of cats and feed numerous feral cat colonies in my poverty stricken area in Manchester, England. I trap, neuter and release them (TNR) them and those who cannot survive on the streets, I care for in my home providing life time care for over 20+ feral cats at any one time ❤. You're shirt perfectly illustrates my home as its a full time job doing it all by myself, and no offence, but I much prefer animals to that of humans, your present company excepted of course 😅❤😅❤😅, kind regards, Jane XxxX

[@Nous520]

I think the cookbook analogy either will work in implying that the defence has cooked up their defense or it will fall completely flat going over peoples head. I do hope it’s the former.

[@ldolan4051]

Oh ya, do you walk to work or take your lunch. Your phrase works: "please use your words wisely and well". 😊

[@robynmarler1951]

I'm not sure I've ever heard anything stupider than the thought of Sarah zipping him into a suitcase in self defence. If he had been at all in an attacking mood, he wouldn't have let it happen. It reminds me of those scenes in Scooby Doo, when a monster is chasing them and they self defend from it by making it sit down and have a haircut.

[@HumDingaDoozy]

Another interesting break down! Thanks so much :)

[@AshorneinAotearoa]

I was trying to think of what it was called in Kamala's speeches, when she repeats the beginning phrase, pause, then maybe again going a bit further into sentence, pause, then lastly the full sentence. I don't feel it's parallel structure. But has similar effect, and she is a lawyer, used to writing in this style. Your thoughts. As to the analagies, bit ambiguous. If your brain itches hearing or reading it, don't use it. Sometimes it is good to use KISS...keep it simple, stupid. All & all, I am a little disappointed in the state, and mildly surprised by defense. Go him, for using actual, recognised, writing skills. I really underestimated him.

[@seriously6649]

I always appreciate your analysis. The vampire analogy fell flat. The DSM/staute/recipe was confusing, at best. I felt like this was a man who knew his case so well that he struggled to distill the facts down for an audience with no prior knowledge. Props to him for the bon mot "to the extent that you believe they would have wine leftover" Owens was more cogent in his opening than previously seen in his arguments before the court. His description of SB as smart, but unworldly contradicts the image before them. That will be the niggling sensation at the back of their brain. Once the case unfolds, they will likely feel deceived by whichever of his statements they remember. Because words matter, we need to stop using the euphemism "went to sleep" as a substitute for passed out stone cold drunk. IMHO BTW, Reed (?) going hard for the soft-spoken crime scene analyst was an enormous miscalculation. Another, albeit unintentional, phrase that will live on beyond the trial "Are you an expert in zippers then?"

[@victormclaine721]

Thank you.

[@MrsGator7]

Imho Sarah was a domestic ab*ser. I believe the prosecution missed out on not bringing that up when her ex was on the stand. As she a’d him. She was a drinker when they married but became a horrible drunk after their son was born.

[@rsh793]

LOL love that Mr Owens didn't have time to "soften" the suitcase before the end of Friday's day - I agree, he is quite good at that - which is what is wanted in a defence attorney - I kind of hope he doesn't have the booming Mr Henderson doing any - he's not the most sympathetic inducing person around as he booms and shouts .......

[@CharlesWhite-j4f]

14:29 When the seller tells you he personally re-wired the entire house, run for the hills! Similarly when the seller of a car tells you he rebuilt the engine. 16:46 "Analogy Quagmire" great term! I have learned after many years of honing my argumentation skills right here in YT comments sections (now I am never wrong about anything!😂) that using analogies in your argument is generally a bad idea. If you choose one which is not 100% appropriate for the case you are arguing, your opponent merely needs to destroy the argument operating within the analogy and he has destroyed your case. You can't come back and say "OK, that was a bad analogy, try this one instead", that just sounds lame. I am surprised that isn't taught in the first year of law school, apparently

[@phoebehill953]

It’s not difficult to know what kind of chocolate you’re going to get. The shape of the chocolate indicates the general kind of filling (don’t choose a round chocolate if you want a caramel!), and the squiggles of chocolate on top further mark the contents. Thirdly, most boxes have a chart somewhere with exactly which chocolate is where!

[@danielvine2982]

Great analysis as always, Wow what an untalented prosecutor, leading the jury with cryptic inferences that hardly help the prosecution. Stick to the facts, its pretty simple, no need to complicate it.

[@RobinHood_62]

In truth, however, Mr Jay clearly had no planned opening statement. He shot from the hip and winged it. Seemed to think he was so knowledgeable of the facts that a cohesive, impactful opening statement would just contemporanously evolve. So incredibly disappointed. He'll probably do the same when he cross examines Sarah! Ugh

[@cathyprosser1050]

Very interesting presentation 👍 I didn't watch the opening statements and I am not planning to watch much of the trial. This case isn't one I am all that concerned about as far as the evidence showing, and Sarah's own unstoppable mouth telling, will lead to her conviction. I just don't see that reasonable people are going to buy into Jorge, who Sarah will claim was the aggressor, would allow themselves to be zipped up in a suitcase. Whether or not she'd let him out. An aggressor, a controller wouldn't put themselves in a position of powerlessness intentionally. Anyway, I just know too much about the case to believe she's going to be successful at talking her way out of this one. Her story isn't believable and she's not likeable.

[@stevielove4778]

“cold and calculating”? Hmm, I DON’T think Sarah was calculating at all. Cold? Yes. But she’s never calculating very far - just trying to maintain control over whatever is RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER. Her narcissism acts IN THE MOMENT, I don’t even know if she is capable of finding motivation toward anything unless her narcissism sees it as a DIRECT THREAT in THAT moment. If it’s on her mind RIGHT NOW, she will act in whatever way her narcissism can find to get control (scream, lecture, put someone in a suitcase , write a letter to a judge…). But she doesn’t calculate in advance. She loses steam as soon as she feels “in control” again. ^**Which, I think, is what happened once she had George in the suitcase, begging for his life. Sarah had the power! - Narcissism was back in control! - So then she turned off. Felt safe to go to sleep, winning. …no thoughts about tomorrow. No calculating prison sentances. Like an angry gold-fish, holds just one thought at a time.

[@narellegoddard7672]

I worry the state is putting all its eggs in the video basket. This is dangerous. Why doesn't the state know that sarah told jorge to "wriggle around some for the video"?. Cos they don't check the internet. The jury needs to know her character.

[@elinorlee1539]

I'm going to try to word my constructive criticism in a way that doesn't offend because I appreciate the work you do to give us information. You have good info and you're obviously intelligent but if you put a little bit more cadence in your voice when you're speaking more inflection more excitement not your exactly what words to use here but basically if you're a little more animated you will draw in more people. I say that with peace and love and thank you for your content

[@seriously6649]

Respectfully, if you are looking for the histrionics, there are a vast array of channels out there.