The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
Jurors in the Ryan Frederick murder trial got a lesson on growing marijuana Monday, as prosecutors hauled in cart loads of equipment, including high-powered heat lamps, hydroponic planting trays and how-to books.
Defense attorneys pointed out what they did not produce - any actual cannabis plants and only 2.6 grams of marijuana.
Frederick's trial entered its second week Monday. He faces charges of capital murder, use of a firearm and manufacturing marijuana. He is accused of fatally shooting Detective Jarrod Shivers the night of Jan. 17, 2008, when police went to his Portlock home with a search warrant.
On Monday, jurors could be seen smiling and smirking as prosecutors passed around books, such as "The Best of Ask Ed: Your Marijuana Questions Answered," and "Spliffs 2: Future Adventures in Cannabis Culture." (Spliff is a slang term for a marijuana cigarette.)
Magazines titled High Times and Skunk also were shown.
After the shooting, police found the items in the attic of the house and detached garage. Later testimony is expected to show that Frederick was tipped off to the police investigation and got rid of any plants he had and dismantled his growing operation.
Steven Rene Wright, a police informant who sparked the investigation, was scheduled to testify Monday afternoon about buying marijuana from Frederick, seeing the plants growing in Frederick's garage and even stealing some of them.
But his testimony was delayed while the attorneys argued over a legal issue involving what Wright could and could not tell the jury. He is expected to testify today.
Also Monday, prosecutors flew in from Georgia a former Chesapeake detective who testified that Frederick had no problem understanding his questions after the shooting.
Edward Winkelspecht, now in training with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said Frederick appeared coherent and responsive after being read his Miranda warnings. He testified that Frederick agreed to speak without a lawyer present.
The defense tried to show the jury that Frederick's demeanor was normal and that he was not "stoned out of his mind," as a prosecutor suggested in opening arguments.
"You had no concern about his ability to understand those rights?" Frederick's attorney, James Broccoletti, asked the detective.
"No, sir," Winkelspecht answered.
The rest of the conversation was not relayed to the jury. After the initial questioning, which took place in the back of a patrol car outside the house after the shooting, Frederick was taken to police headquarters, where on video he stated that he fired in self-defense. That also has not come out at trial yet.
Jurors on Monday also were scheduled to visit Frederick's home, but that was postponed to later in the week. Circuit Court Judge Marjorie T. Arrington, the attorneys and Frederick are scheduled to go to the house this morning to determine if any items were lying around that would be inappropriate for the jury to see.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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continued
My last line was cut off..I wouldn't shoot someone standing on my front lawn. That's not self defense.
bobdobbs & Ptown
First, you both need to get the facts straight. Ok, bobdoobie I have fired guns in "real Life", you need to understand a small caliber firearm like a 380 used by RF to murder shivers doesn't make a lot of noise. Fired in a house, the sound is absorbed by the walls, furniture, carpeting, curtains etc. A 380 fired in a house would not be as loud as a cork popping on a champagne bottle. So, although you could hear it outside it would make a distinctive popping sound. Every officer testified to hearing the gun shot and recognizing it as a gun shot. Wright broke into RF's house on his own, unkown to the police. I'm not surprised you have friends with grow ops, that makes perfect sense.
Ok, Ptown 8:30 is not the middle of the night can we at least get that straight. If someone came to my door and knocked and yelled police, and I looked out 2 windows seeing the police I'd open the door. I don't have friends with grow ops and I don't use drugs, so the police are welcome at my house. If I thought it wasn't the police I'd call the police and at least get them started to my house. If someone came IN my house, I'd give them warnings then defend myself. You can bet I wouldn't shoo
rukiddingme...
I can appreciate your contempt for drug dealers. I cannot, however, agree with your "what we know" portion of your argument. You failed to mention that his door was partially broken in the middle of the night by an unknown entity. Let's assume that someone were breaking down your door in the middle of the night, is that not enough of a reason to be fearful of your life? He was just robbed a few weeks earlier as well. As for the drug dealer part, had the CPD just waited until this kid went to work this whole thing would have been avoided. I honestly can't think of a worse time to carry out a search warrant than the time they chose. Just remember, those ol' hillbillies during prohibition that everyone credits with the start of NASCAR are no different than RF. The only difference is that one product was made legal because prohibition was a joke. The amount of pot he was growing is a joke, and the war on drugs is a joke. I am sorry for the loss of our officers, but breaking down doors at four in the morning is bad policy, simple as that. If this were an old lady who shot the cop we would look at this differently. That actually happened in Georgia not too long ago.
rukiddingme..
He may have killed a cop but in the various articles released by Pilot Online.. they quote a cop saying they banged on the door, yelled CPD... then vaguely heard a gun shot. Have you ever shot a gun in real life? If you can barely hear it, there is no way in hell that he was able to hear Chesapeake Police Department.
They had the informant BROKE INTO HIS HOUSE! For all RF knows is they are trying to get the rest and his money. With the lack of evidence they have, he will only be able to be charged with manslaughter.
I had a friend growing hydroponics, they busted him at work and kicked his doors in at his house at the same time. That was the Virginia Beach Police out in Pungo. Even the country folk know how to properly do things, they found him by Infrared camera on a helicopter.
Legally drug dealer or not he had every right to shoot first. If someone is trying to invade your house trying to kick your door down what's your first reaction? Calling the cops would do nothing but get you shot. It takes 10-15 minutes on average for a cop to arrive. Takes 5 minutes for someone to rob you and kill you then say no witness no problems.
a lot of heartache
over what an apparently unreliable source claims were twenty or thirty 18 inch pot plants.
founding fathers
The question that needs to be considered is: "What would the founding fathers say about this case (and the insane drug laws)?"
Most of us know the obvious answer... they would clearly side with Ryan. They understand all too well the dangers of a police force that could invade your home on a moment's notice. Also, many of them used drugs that are now illegal... such as Opium!
hat tip to Mark
markg69046: Thank you! I agree 100 percent with your comments.
Peace
The real question
Regardless of whether or not you think RF is innocent or guilty or whether or not you condone pot smoking, the real question is why was such an elaborate sting operation necessary for this particular case. It's been widely documented that RF was a skinny frail young man who was timely to and from his job. I'm sure some average detective work would have figured out his regular schedule of coming home from work and it would have been easy to confront him peacefully in the daylight hours. It seems that the CPD & especially the SWAT team commandos were bored and needed a dramatic operation to use their fancy battering ram and night vision and turned a routine midsdemeanor pot bust into a tragic situation where one family lost a husband and father and another has now lost a son and brother.
Keith is not making sense
FR Has not changed his story? Are you kiddding me? They aren't quite denying the marijuana plants like he was when he was sobbing on TV. It's quite entertaining to me how people fell all over him a year ago like a precious,innocent of all things darling. The poor kid was growing Japanes Maples and smokes pot occasionally........ Yeah it's pretty obvious what was really going on and your sweet little angel isn't so sweet. Nobody has that sort of equipment to grow marijuana for personal use. Those lamps and generators cost a ton of money and your not going to buy all that unless your making your money back. It doesn't take an informant to figure out he was selling his tail off.
libbysays right on
Libbysays, your comment was right on. Way to go.