Podcast Update - Murder book, Michael Connelly

If you like Michael Connelly, you'll like.........

If you like Harry Bosch, you'll like.......

The Murder Book True Crime Podcast

Episodes 1-6 Are Available Now

A carjacking, gunshots and murder outside a popular Hollywood 

nightclub. A gun, a fingerprint, and a bullet on the ground hold the key to unlocking a case that would last over 30 years.

Murder Book Season One - The Tell-Tale Bullet.
Episode 1: Hollywood Homicide
Episode 2: San Francisco Calling
Episode 3: Wiretaps, Search Warrants, and DNA Swabs
Episode 4: The King Of Cold Cases
Episode 5: The People vs. Pierre Romain

New! Listen To Episode 6: Reluctant Witnesses

The ex-sister-in-law. The childhood friend. A bullet wound at an LAPD family day picnic. As the prosecution continues their case against Pierre Romain, they encounter unforeseen challenges from witnesses with divided loyalties, testimonies with seemingly faded memories, and new speculation that would bring the LAPD's investigation tactics under question.

A new episode will download every Monday for the next 6 weeks.

Subscribe and listen for free each week.

See photos and bonus material for each episode on the Murder Book website.

https://patch.com/california/hollywood/copy-guilty-1987-carjacking-murder-hollywood

Spoiler Alert

Details of the case

Cop's Job Application Lands Him

In Jail For Hollywood Murder

A federal officer's police department application ultimately led to his arrest and conviction for a 1987 carjacking murder in Hollywood.
By California News Wire Services, News Partner 

Aug 10, 2017 8:04 pm ET

Updated Aug 11, 2017 9:18 am ET

LOS ANGELES, CA — A reputed former gang member-turned-federal police officer was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder in a 1987 killing during an attempted carjacking in Hollywood. Pierre Romain, 53, was tied to the shooting death of 21-year-old Jade Maurice Clark by cold case detectives using DNA from a .25-caliber slug. The seven-man, five-woman jury deliberated less than two days before finding Romain guilty of murder and finding true an allegation that he personally used a gun. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler ordered Romain to be taken into custody while awaiting sentencing, set for Sept. 15. He faces up to 27 years to life in state prison. "It's too dangerous to tempt him to flee," Fidler said, as Romain handed some items from his suit pockets to his lawyer and deputies handcuffed him. Clark's mother, Yolanda, who asked that her last name not be used, cried quietly as the verdict was read and thanked jurors as a group outside the courtroom. "This has been a 30-year journey," she said. "You'll never, ever, ever have any idea of how thankful I am."
One juror stepped up and hugged her. Prosecutors said Romain was a 22-year-old gang member at the time of the June 29, 1987, killing. Police said Romain had crashed a friend's customized Nissan 300 ZX just before he and an accomplice tried to take a nearly identical model from Clark, who was parked outside a club at 845 N. Highland Ave. Romain was wounded in the arm in trading shots with the fatally injured Clark, who had a .25-caliber pistol under his seat, police said.
Romain and an accomplice were arrested about a month after the shooting, but charges were dismissed at a preliminary hearing based on insufficient evidence. At the time of that first arrest, Romain was an active candidate for a job as a Los Angeles Police Department officer. Romain was arrested again in 2003 while employed as a police officer at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo. At the time of his 2003 arrest, Romain had applied for a job with the San Francisco Police Department. A call from SFPD background investigators prompted LAPD Detective Rick Jackson to reexamine physical evidence from the cold case shooting. More sophisticated DNA testing technology allowed detectives to use a bullet fired from Clark's gun to tie Romain to the case. Romain's attorney, Winston Kevin McKesson, denied that his client was ever a gang member. "He was a trained policeman ... Everything he did was inconsistent with gang membership," McKesson said in his closing argument. McKesson said his client's career was left "in limbo" as a result of the "false allegations" against him. Deputy District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef said the DNA evidence was undeniable. "There is no getting around the DNA," Mokayef told jurors. The victim's mother praised cold case detectives for never giving up on her son's case. "It does work .. delay doesn't mean denied," she said.

By ELIZABETH MARCELLINO, City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock

The Late Show - Michael Connelly

One of my favourite authors, and a bargain @ 99p in a Kindle format. Another great read from Michael, he of the Bosch books. A few more quotes that spurred several significant thoughts. I'll leave you to make the connections.

I like the way you can email the quotes to yourself on Kindle.

Hi - I'm reading "The Late Show" by Michael Connelly and wanted to share this quote with you.

"He just wanted a place to be left alone to do his job. The police headquarters downtown was called the PAB, for Police Administration Building. Guys like Jenkins believed that PAB stood for Politics and Bureaucracy, or Politics and Bullshit, take your pick."

"For nearly five years they had been partners in the Homicide Special Section, until Chastain had chosen not to back Ballard in the complaint she had filed against Olivas. Without his confirmation of the lieutenant’s behavior—which he had directly witnessed—there was no case. Internal Affairs concluded that the complaint was unfounded. Olivas kept his job and Ballard was transferred to Hollywood Division. The captain at Hollywood, an academy classmate of Olivas’s, put her on the night shift with Jenkins. The late show. End of story. Ballard turned away from her old partner and looked at the ceiling"

"He was a closer, no doubt, and was deservedly the lieutenant’s go-to guy on the squad. The only problem was that outside of his cases his moral compass didn’t always point true north. He made choices based on political and bureaucratic expediency, not right and wrong. Ballard had learned that the hard way. Dr. J. patted Chastain on the shoulder so that he would move out of the way"

"“What are you talking about?” “I’m talking about when you told me to back off the complaint. About how you said Olivas was going through a bad divorce and losing half his pension and not acting right and all of that bullshit—as if it made what he did to me okay.” “I don’t understand what that has to do with—” “You didn’t even keep my number in your phone, Kenny. You washed your hands of the whole thing. You’re not sorry about anything. You saw an opportunity back then and you took it. You had to throw me under the bus but you didn’t hesitate.” “No, you’re wrong.” “No, I’m right. If anything, you feel guilty, not sorry.” She stood up at her desk to get on equal footing with him. “Why the hell did I ever think you would"

"It wasn’t Ballard’s case but Haddel was her victim and the bond was there. Ballard bent her knees sharply and took several deep digging strokes as she tried to move on from the Chastain loop she kept playing in her head. She tried to think about Ramona Ramone instead and about Officer Taylor saying that she had been at the upside-down house. Ballard wondered what that meant, and it worked on her, becoming the new loop that played in her head. After an hour on the water, Ballard had a layer of sweat building between her skin and the wet suit. It kept her warm but she could feel her muscles tightening."

"“Don’t bother,” Jenkins said. “Sleep late if you can. You need it.” “Just pisses me off that he comes in here to you because he thinks I’m out.” “Look, I’ve been reading about Japan to Marcie, and they have this saying over there: The—” “I’m talking about these men and you’re telling me about Japan?” “Would you listen to me? I’m not one of ‘these men,’ okay? I read her books about places we never got to. She’s interested in Japanese history right now, so that’s what I’m reading to her. And there’s this saying they have about conformist society: The nail that sticks out gets pounded down.” “Okay, so what are you saying?” “I’m saying there’s a lot of guys in this department with hammers. Watch yourself.” “You don’t have to tell me that.”"

"In the courtyard in front of the PAB, Ballard thanked Towson for saving her career. He said she had done that herself. “You following the reporter last night—that was genius,” he said. “That’s all we needed, and the beauty of it is, it will keep Feltzer in line. As long as you have that, you’re in good shape.” Ballard turned back to look up at the PAB. The tower of City Hall was reflected in the glass facade. “My partner on the late show, he says PAB stands for Politics and Bullshit,” she said. “This is one of the days I think he’s right.” “You take care, Renée,” Towson said. “Call if you need anything.” “You’re going to invoice me, right?” “I’ll think about that. This is a situation where the accomplishment is its own reward. The look on Feltzer’s face after he saw the loop? That was worth a million dollars.” “I’m not a pro bono case, Counselor. Send me a bill—just not for a million dollars.” “All right. I will.” The mention of money reminded Ballard of something. “By the way, do you have a business card?” she asked. “I’m going to recommend you to someone.” “Sure do,” Towson replied. He dug into his suit coat pocket and gave her a short stack of cards. “Take a few,” he said. “They’re free.” She smiled and thanked him."

"“Have you ever killed anyone before?” Hinojos asked. “No,” Ballard said. “First time.” “How are you feeling about it today?” “To be honest, I feel fine about it. If I hadn’t killed him, he would have killed me. I have no doubt.” She immediately regretted starting her answer with “to be honest.” Usually when people said that, they were being anything but honest. The session continued down avenues of questioning Ballard had fully expected. As with almost every situation an officer faced regarding internal investigations and procedures, she was well versed in what would be asked and how it should best be answered. The union newsletters carried case examples all the time that were analyzed in depth. Ballard knew that the important thing to say and project with Hinojos was that there was no second-guessing of her actions up to and including the killing of Trent. Showing regret or remorse would be wrong moves. The department needed"

"Hinojos nodded. “I’ve done this a long time,” she said. “I’ve seen long careers and careers cut short. The difference is in how you handle the darkness.” “The darkness?” Ballard said. “I work the late show. There is nothing but—” “I’m talking about the darkness within. You have a job, Detective, that takes you into the bleakest side of the human soul. Into the darkness of people like Trent. To me it’s like the laws of physics—for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. If you go into darkness, the darkness goes into you. You then have to decide what to do with it. How to keep yourself safe from it. How to keep it from hollowing you out.” She paused there and Ballard knew not to speak. “Find something that protects you, Detective Ballard.” Hinojos got up from her chair then and the session was over. She walked Ballard to the room’s door. Ballard nodded a good-bye. “Thank you, Doctor.” “Stay safe, Detective Ballard.”"