LEANNA TAYLOR TESTIFIES * STAND BY YOUR EX-HUSBAND
She will likely be the star witness for the defense. Leanna Taylor divorced Ross Harris earlier this year, but she is clearly standing by her ex-husband. Although the state objected to any attempts to have her opine on whether Harris would intentionally kill his son, she did get out a comment where she said “I knew this was not done purposefully” before she was cut off.
Taylor told jurors the events of June 2014 “seemed like a dream” and she deflected suspicions that she didn’t act like a grieving mother that day by comparing it to an “out of body experience.” She also said she wasn’t surprised by her ex-husband’s chatty and occasionally argumentative talk with detectives that day, saying he liked to exaggerate and talk big.
She said Ross loved his son. She never saw any hatred or malice from Ross toward Cooper.
Under cross examination, she admitted there were plenty of things Ross was doing that she wasn’t aware of. If Leanna knew he’d been cheating on her, she said she would have divorced him long ago.
She was on the stand all day, and will continue tomorrow. Here are some highlights of her testimony on Monday;
Jurors were treated to dozens of pictures of the happy Harris family and more than 20 home movies. In many, Ross seems like an engaged father. Leanna testified Ross would often want to take charge of Cooper and spend quality time with him.
Jurors seemed to watch the home movies intently, many chuckling at the goofy toddler moments. A few looked pained. Ross Harris cried during much of his ex-wife’s testimony and would not look at her as she went into lengths about their sexual problems.
But he smiled as many as these videos were played;
Prosecutors still have Taylor under cross examination when court resumes Tuesday. They’ll likely be discussing how hard to go on her, so far she’s bent little.
The defense has likely two weeks’ worth of witnesses, including several experts who will testify about Harris’ mental makeup.
Harris Trial: Defense Lawyer to Leanna; "Did Ross love his little boy?" Leanna; "yes very much." @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/EmBdrPfsEe
— Ross Cavitt | WSB-TV (@RossCavittWSB) October 31, 2016