Romalotti Case

Romalotti Trial News Archives - 2005
See also: The Fugitive Daniel Romalotti Cassie Newman Lily Winters Neil Winters

Like Rubbing Salt in Open Wound, Trial Aftermath Leaves Nerves Raw

August 26, 2005
by Brent Kellogg

If not for the hugs and kisses and pats on the back for a job well done the end of Daniel Romalotti's trial might have been easily forgotten. Following Judge Jennings' decision that not guilty doesn't mean innocent Daniel almost wet his pants. Gosh, all this time he thought his life was over and who'd have thunk Nick Newman of all people would have come forward at the last moment to save his sorry ass? Was it a dream? Was it possible that someone who hates as much as Nick could have done something so decent?

A giddy herself Christine 'Bug' Blair said it's true. Daniel is a "free man" now and he better damm well thank God Nick did what he did. Daniel was all for that until his mother stepped in to say there's no reason in Hell to be getting all "mushy". Had Daniel forgotten so quickly? Had it not been for Nick and others calling him a killer and a bad seed he might very well be some prison inmate's bitch right now. But before Daniel could offer up more kiss the Newman's ass patronage the phone rang.

In a display of impeccable timing washed-up rock star Danny Romalotti had managed to find time away from his cheering fan to check on how his "son's" trial was going. He couldn't be bothered to actually be there for Daniel because record residuals are far more important, but did somehow know when a verdict had been reached.

As father and son were speaking a huge drop of slime oozed from the Bug's mouth. "I don't think you're sending a healthy message" she had the gall to tell Phyllis. As it pertained to keeping the infernal flame of hatred toward the Newmans burning the Bug said it wasn't nice of Phyllis to hold anyone to a higher moral standard. According to the Bug, Phyllis and Daniel should have fallen on their knees in Nick's glory. If Nick hadn't decided when he did to stop playing God and sprinkle a little "charity" over the boy Daniel would be playing hide the soap with the big boys.

Ending his call Daniel kowtowed to the Bug. "This bitterness has to end," he said, and the moment he did odds makers were betting how many days will elapse before Daniel is unleashing his rage at someone, probably his mother, for trying to keep him and Lily Winters apart. Incredibly, Daniel went on to say that he and Phyllis should be showing "compassion" and thinking about what the Newmans must be going through right now. And with that, Daniel was gone.

Gone? As if he had to be processed out? Gone? As if the release process doesn't take long, yet even OJ had to go through it and couldn't just walk out of the courtroom regardless of who'd told him he's a free man? Gone? As in Daniel might want to go home with his mother and take a shower?

Hell no!

Gone meant going for a stroll in the park - alone!

Did Phyllis object? Did she say don't you think you might want to get cleaned up or spend some time with me before you go back to your old ways?

Hell no!

Phyllis condoned it. She said Daniel's a "free man" with a "new lease" on life.

After thanking the Bug for what little she did and hearing the Bug say "I never wanted to win a case more badly" and only won thanks to a last minute pang of quilt Nick had developed, Daniel was on his way out the door when it struck him to thank God Almighty. Not that he'd ever thought of asking for God's help along the way, the act of appearing all righteous and godly was the politically correct thing to do.

And imagine, as Daniel was drifting through the park who should he find sitting on a bench? Why, of course! It had to be. Lily Winters.

It might have been strange to think Lily would have been at the park at just that moment had it not been for the fact that her parents were, as they always seem to be, out of the loop. The last word Dru and Neil Winters had received was that Daniel had been found guilty. It was funny too, hearing Dru on the phone with Neil telling him "don't stay at work too long" as the last thing these people want is to be seen working. For Lily to act surprised when she got the word was plain crazy given that if she really loves Daniel as she claims, she would have been camped out on the courthouse steps. That she would have found a way to get a blow by blow report of the trial was evident by her ability to just walk out of the Winters' wooden box and go drown her sorrows in the park.

Falling down rolling on the floor hysterically was Lily's muttering of poor Daniel. Now he won't be able to go to college and when he gets out - if he gets out - Daniel will be "an ex-con." Gosh, that never stopped Larry 'Wartman' Warton from getting ahead. It's not like Daniel can't get a college degree from prison paid for by the State of Wisconsin. What's that saying? Make hay while the sun shines? When life gives you a lemon?

And of course Dru had to butter Lily's bruised heart with the standard "get past this and move on" line, which was so odd considering Dru's history and if it's as easy as Dru makes it sound why can't the Newmans do the same thing? Crap happens. Get used to it. Move on.

Then too, was Lily's infamous retort. "I'll never be able to do that," she said, as again odd makers placed their bets. How many days will it take before Lily has moved onto the next heap of trouble?

Funny as all this stuff is, nothing was more doubled-over, gonna be sick from the belly laughing kick in the ass remark Dru made next.

Sierra Hoffman, Lily's one and only friend, is back from vacation!

How did Dru know this? Did Sierra call? Wasn't she on a phone-less houseboat so remote private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams couldn't reach her? Wouldn't DA Glenn Richards have been interested in this little tid bit? Might Glenn have gone straight to the judge and said, "Your Honor! We've found a material witness. Don't you want to question her to see if her testify cooberates Mr. Newman's? Shouldn't you give me a second and third chance to win my case like you did that creepy Bug?"

Alas, asking for anything to happen remotely connected to reality would be out of the question. This is, after all, as we've pointed out so many times just this week alone, Genoa City where if the things people say and do aren't the craziest we ever did hear it wouldn't be the same.

What's that? Appeal? Glenn could file an appeal? With all the evidence and witnesses present at long last there might actually be a fair trial? There has never once been an appeal in the history of Genoa City justice. The only thing that gets appealed here is the skin back over our last nerve.

Romalotti Trial Flops Like Dead Fish

August 25, 2005
by Brent Kellogg

If you've been following the Daniel Romalotti trial and seen him rotting in jail when he hasn't been in the courtroom you have to imagine during all that time the defendant was taken to the Probation Department and interviewed and a background check done on him so that some government servant can make a snap decision on what his sentence should be if found guilty. And if you thought Judge Jennings' decision to find Daniel guilty this week was final then you must be new to Genoa City.

As we've seen, when it comes to justice in this wacky town, those who've had the misfortune of being charged with a crime usually go straight to jail without ever having their day in court. On the other hand if you've access to money there's a good chance you'll be able to hire a lawyer with ties so close to the family you're accused of ripping apart by your actions one of them will come forward way beyond the eleventh-hour to save your sorry ass.

Such was the case Thursday. Having found Daniel guilty of vehicular manslaughter just moments earlier the judge was about to set sentence when he remembered the trial wouldn't be complete without statements by the affected parties. There was yet to be heard Daniel's mother pleading for a light sentence and the defense attorney pontificating that while drunk drivers are a menace to society her client shouldn't have to pay the same price as others guilty of the same crime. To balance the scales the victim's family had a right to spew hatred in some futile attempt to seek revenge.

As District Attorney Glenn Richards told the judge his office had been trying and trying to reach someone from the Newman camp and despite having spoken with Sharon Newman approximately two hours earlier during which she was told to expect a call when the verdict would be announced, no one was unavailable. In the meantime Phyllis Summers would be allowed to speak on behalf of her son, the defendant, albeit with a warning from Jennings he didn't want to hear her same old song and dance.

"It would be pointless to try convince me that your son didn't do it," Jennings honked, which was important to note as we will see. It was also interesting to note that if someone had killed her precious son Phyllis would have been demanding heads on a platter. Yet here she was pleading with the judge not to send her son to prison as right on cue Daniel began bawling like a baby.

Phyllis' inconclusive "I couldn't help my son" babble was followed with a plea from Christine 'Bug' Blair. As Daniel's lawyer she agreed with Phyllis. What purpose would be served by putting a nice boy like Daniel in prison? What satisfaction would it give a community out for blood? Why couldn't Daniel be given a few hours of community service and the ever-present he can show other teenagers the error of their drinking and driving ways instead? Why, coupled with a year of probation, and maybe some tutoring of the homeless at a shelter, Daniel would turn out to be a fine upstanding member of society.

Turning again to Richards and learning it didn't appear the Newmans were interested in seeking revenge the judge observed Victor Newman slipping in. As spokesgeek for the family Victor was there to say they'd lost a "vibrant" teen who brought "an enormous amount of joy" to their lives and what a shame Cassie had to be taken at such a young age. The pain, according to Victor, is "incalculable", but if you check back in a couple of weeks you'll find we've pretty much forgotten about Cassie except for the painting Victoria Newman sketched of her from memory which may replace the dinnerware currently hanging on the walls of the Newman ponderosa.

Jennings agreed about the loss, but didn't mention all the kids these people have thrown away without thinking twice. There's Victor Newman Jr., Kyle Abbott, Ricky Carl Williams, Heather Lynch and Nate Hastings to name a few. Perhaps that's why the judge said no punishment could bring dead kids back to life and that nobody should be given a free mistake in life. Had he known the judge might have corrected himself. Jennings might have said, "Wait a minute! Isn't Ms. Newman a guardian angel now? Isn't she up in the sky watching over that cute boy, what's his name, Noah? Isn't Ms. Newman's adopted father having regular communication with the girl? You know, I really don't get what the problem is here."

But for the sake of getting in some flag waving credit Jennings blathered on about family values. "The wholeness of families depends on drivers understanding that society doesn't easily forgive them for careless mistakes," he actually said, adding that putting Daniel in prison won't stop drunks from driving or minors from buying beer at 7-11. It would, however, send a message to those out there right now drinking and driving. Just think. If only one doper or alcoholic got the message they would have "saved" a life! Didn't someone say recently that it's better to go on letting people die so that the 1,800+ who have already died might have closure? Besides, Jennings rambled, stiff penalties cause the death and injury rate to go down. So if you bought that line of crap we've got a Mexican border to sell you, the judge did not say, but you know the drill.

And then... right as the judge was about to sentence Daniel who should stumble into the court?

Nick Newman!

It would have been the proverbial Perry Mason moment had it not been so convoluted.

Seeing Nick the judge sputtered that the time for speaking had passed. Nick said he knew, but he just had to say something.

"Oh, what the hell," Jennings must have thought to himself. What harm would letting Nick jabber do?

It's a wonder Nick didn't bring a flag with him to wave too. He did bring a bucket of horse manure which he proceeded to pour over the courtroom floor. Nick said he knew the judge had seen much pain and sadness in his court and that the Romalotti case must have been pretty much run of the mill. But for Nick it changed him forever. Regardless how badly he wants Daniel to pay Nick said he'd decided on this day not to play God.

Daniel did not immediately fall on his knees in prayer. He did not say, "Oh thank you Massa Nick. How can I ever repay you Massa Nick?"

Nick went on to confess how he'd withheld evidence, but kindly soul that he is, will be willing to take the consequence of breaking the law. With that said he handed over the so-called evidence which really didn't prove anything at all except maybe that Cassie was in desperate need of a good deodorant.

A giddy Bug jumped to her feet and matched the boot Cassie wore to the heel found under the gas peddle. Glenn Richards agreed it proved without a doubt Cassie was driving that fateful night. Jennings agreed then pronounced Daniel not guilty "on all charges" apparently those of jumping bail and flight to avoid persecution too.

As if more proof was needed that this trial will go down in the Genoa City history books as the most farfetched ever Jennings told Daniel directly that being found not guilty did not mean he's innocent. Innocence is something Daniel will have to come to terms with himself like he should give a rat's ass so long as he's free of the madness.

As for Nick the judge made no further comment leading to the standard conclusion that Nick won't be charged. Nick won't have to worry about his rights to a fair trial because they are not rights. They are privileges of the rich and powerful. For the powerless and poor they are daydreams that vanish once one reaches out to claim them.

Better Safe Than Sorry

August 25, 2005
by Brent Kellogg

Judge Jennings renders verdict take 2.
Roll camera...
... and action!

Like a bad movie Jennings' first decision to find Daniel Romalotti guilty was the wrong one. Not for just the obvious reasons like, no evidence, but because the judge rolled the dice when he said in so many words it's better to find someone guilty of a crime they may not have committed then to let him/her go free.

Jennings' mindset is like that feeling you get when you smack your head into a brick wall and your skull vibrates and your eyes roll and you have a painful flash that something very important is about to happen. You get the impression that just as Daniel is being processed into the general prison population some superior court judge will have got wind of Jennings' legal blunder and called his friend the Governor of Wisconsin to order Daniel's immediate release.

And then, if the City of Genoa still wanted Daniel put away, if its citizens were still screaming and hollering about being sick and tired of underage drinking and drunk driving, let it for once build a rock solid case and run Daniel through the court system again.

But no! Not in Genoa City. There will be no last minute scenes of Daniel wiping the sweat off his brow and saying how close he came to becoming some inmate's bitch and damm there really is justice. There will be no iota of reality as predictably a Perry Mason moment must be how Daniel's trial comes to a final conclusion when Nick Newman makes it to the court in time to say he's been withholding the evidence which proves Daniel's innocence.

Without question Jennings will accept the evidence at face value. If Newman says it's the clothing his daughter was wearing on the night leading up to her death it must be. So therefore Jennings will overrule himself and Daniel will go free. Not that it's a bad thing, Daniel should be free. But not scot-free.

There's still the little matter of Daniel's jumping bail and fleeing to avoid persecution. There's still a need for Newman to be charged with hindering persecution and have his righteous do-gooder my-daddy-must-pay attitude shoved down his throat until he chokes.

Justice in this city is the most curious thing. There are many sadly prosaic criminal trials and deciding the fate of young and lost-looking rich kids and powerful adults. There are many courtroom outbursts and unprepared lawyers swearing on Bibles and being told what "amazing" jobs they're doing when just the opposite is true. There are kangaroos, flying monkeys and dog and ponies putting on their respective sideshows. There are slaps on the wrists and in those rare cases when someone actually goes to prison the influential friend or parent of the guilty need only go to the prison warden to arrange special treatment and private cells while deals are cooked up to buy freedom only to have some of those freed work their fingers to the bone drumming up support to have their liberators sent to prison.

Then again, for those without influence, God help people like Izzy Brana, Tricia Dennison McNeil and members of the Mob. Brana and McNeil remain stashed in a gulag somewhere without ever having the benefit of a lawyer, or bail they could jump two or three times, or a trial. Mobsters, "professional killers" and Frito Banditos are tossed in jail too without regard for their rights and never heard from again.

One-size-fits-all law and order is the Genoa City way. Got money? Got power? Here's a Get Out of Jail Free card. What? Used it already? Here's another. Got nothing? No low friends in high places? Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO.

Close Only Counts in Horseshoes

August 24, 2005
by Brent Kellogg

It's so easy to get all caught up in the spit and hiss and blank legal smirks of a divorce attorney acting like a criminal defense lawyer. Isn't it? For a minute or two on Wednesday one watching the Daniel Romalotti trial might have thought that sleepy Judge Jennings was actually going to buy into Christine 'Bug' Blair's eleventh-hour legal crap when she pulled private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams out of a hat holding an alleged witness with knowledge of what happened on the night Cassie Newman is thought to have driven Daniel's prized automobile.

At first the judge said he didn't want to hear it. He'd made his decision and by God he was going to rule. The Bug had plenty of time to gather evidence, prepare her case and now, at the last minute, when closing arguments had been heard and the trial all but over she was bitching.

"This case was rushed to trial!" the Bug belched.

Jennings was flabbergasted. What Kool-Aid had the Bug been drinking while he was deliberating he may have wondered. The Bug went on to say that the District Attorney had been tainted. Glenn Richards is nothing but an "over zealous" persecutor who had been influenced by "powerful people" with a vested interest in the outcome of the trial. That powerful person was none other than the Bug's personal friend, the great, saves women from fates worse than death, old man Victor Newman.

A hush fell over the courtroom. Victor Newman? THE Victor Newman? The same Victor Newman who had recently been convicted of Commercial Bribery and got off with a slap on the wrist so long as he agreed to build a wreck center for the city's disadvantaged youth which rich kids subsequently took control of and then lost all interest like a drug addict loses interest in marijuana?

The Bug said it was true. She even had the audacity to ask the judge to ask Richards himself. Did not Victor demand that the case be expedited? And oh, Your Honor? Please do not ask if I didn't agree to go along with the expedition because I'm just that loyal to the Newman family.

Like all men who do when they're told by the Bug to sit, stay, lay down and roll over, the judge did just that.

Richards' reply was mind numbing. Why, your Honor. I'm but a lowly "public employee". People waltz into the DA's office everyday looking for ways to write their own laws. Look at the credit card companies. They went to the Congress of the United States and got the bankruptcy laws changed so as to protect their profits and the gullible in their back pockets Senators and Representatives did as they were told. So what's the problem?

"This is not about Victor Newman, but an entire community that is sick and tired of underage drinking and drunk driving," Richards spewed in an effort to spin the sheepish into thinking that defenders of justice are really looking out for the Nation's children and grandchildren because isn't that what really matters?

Jennings wasn't so easily swayed. The question was whether the Bug had time to prepare her case and if she didn't should have said something long before the trial started. Instead, the Bug thought she could win a case by doing as little as possible, asking the wrong people the wrong questions and generally making an ass of herself which is kind of hard when you're a bug in need of being squashed. Still, the judge gave the critter a chance. What was this new evidence?

Squealing she didn't know the Bug was nevertheless given 15-minutes to produce the evidence.

During the brief recess that followed the defendant's mother made a brilliant observation. Clueless just might have the "icing on the cake" and anyone who disagreed was filled with the "negativity" Phyllis Summers had suddenly remembered was so despised by opium den guru Damon Porter. Despite that things were looking grim, that the Bug has lost and the judge about to rule her son guilty, Phyllis praised the Bug for doing a "great" job.

Pitching herself and wondering why the skin on her body looks like rubber, Nikki Newman's personal court reporter Katherine Sterling snapped to long enough to ask again if the Bug could plea bargain at this late stage in the game.

At last the judge returned, asked to see the Bug's evidence and seeing none declared that Daniel had had his day in court. It was then Clueless burst in with a witness described only as "Ali". The judge capitulated. What did this Ali know? The Bug blathered on about Ali knowing that Cassie had boots on the night of the car crash and that the heel of one found under the gas peddle proved beyond a shadow of doubt Cassie was operating the vehicle. As such the Bug demanded the judge reinvent his verdict.

Richards objected. Since there is no boot how in god's name could the judge be certain there was one? It's not like it would be listed on the private forensics report which too, was never entered into evidence. It's not like both sides know Nick Newman took possession of the clothing Cassie wore that night and later concealed it. The damming evidence can't be found and not a single legal whiz has dared suggest a bulldozer be driven onto the Newman ponderosa and the place turned upside down until they are absolutely sure.

The clothing? To hell with the clothing Jennings all but said as he was anxious to get back to "why we are here." Over the objections of a begging for justice Bug Jennings actually said that no matter how he sliced it "it's a close call either way" and with that, with that declaration of reasonable doubt if there ever was doubt, Jennings found Daniel guilty. It is far better that a man should go to prison for something he may have done than to let him go free.

The Fugitive (Trial)
Stubborn Bug Holds Out Against Odds

August 23, 2005
by Brent Kellogg

I knew it! I just knew that when Judge Jennings returned Tuesday to render his decision in the Daniel Romalotti case he'd be confronted by that god-awful Christine 'Bug' Blair asking that he postpone the verdict until Paul 'Clueless' Williams returned with some pie-in-the-sky evidence he'd conjure up.

That a judge would consider such a notion once closing arguments had been heard was even too much for Jennings. Without asking what evidence the Bug was talking about he flatly dismissed her request and warned he'd throw her out of the courtroom if she interrupted again. Jennings has a decision to announce and by God he's going to announce it. Only then will he allow the mysterious evidence to change his decision which is, isn't it, what everyone watching this trial has prepared themselves for?

The evidence the Bug squeaks of is the clothing victim Cassie Newman was wearing on the night of the accident. Thanks to the Bug's brilliant and amazing process of deduction she's come to understand that high school kids these day routinely swap clothes and therefore Cassie was wearing boots when she was driving Daniel's treasured automobile. Now, if only the Bug had said evidence, she'd be in a powerful position to show the world that law degrees from Sears are worth their weight in gold.

Confused as always, private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams didn't make the connection until the Bug explained how she's laying the straws she's been grasping at "out one by one on the camel's back." If only, right as the judge is about to render a verdict, she can "create doubt" in Jennings' warped mind she might pull off another miraculous win.

A bit giddy at hearing this stunning legal tactic Clueless cautioned the Bug. "You have to keep a legal framework."

Clueless should have known better than to tell someone who knows the law like the Bug does how to do her job.

"Let me be the lawyer. You be the PI," the Bug snapped, as Clueless obediently heeled.

Incredibly, ain't it always, the Bug then said her theory was "just a hunch" as she understood that without the evidence she's dead in the war. Still, the critter said, "something is better than nothing" as Clueless went off to fetch the evidence which by now - so long as the Bug can find a way to stall the judge, Nick Newman can be easily guilted into turning Cassie's clothing over to Clueless and the judge is willing to wait the minimum more than two hours it would take Clueless to find out where Nick is, convince him to do the right thing and get back to the court - is all that's needed to reverse the verdict. This is, after all, Genoa City where if it's the dumbest thing anyone ever heard, it's bound to happen.

Romalotti Trial
Judge Jennings Delays Justice

August 22, 2005

It happens all the time. It especially happens when closing arguments have been submitted to the judge and there so many witnesses in a high profile court case who were never called to testify and so much critical evidence was overlooked or ignored. It so happened in Genoa City on Monday. While Judge Jennings was trying to reach a verdict in the Daniel Romalotti case he was called away on a matter of great personal urgency. Just like that the parties involved were made to walk around on pins and needles speculating as to what the outcome might be. Just like that the defendant was left to agonize over what might become of his meaningless life.

The delay also caused much personal second guessing for defense attorney Christine 'Bug' Blair. No amount of being told what an "amazing" job she did during her closing argument could make her smile. No idiotic questions like, "Where did that goon take my son," by Phyllis Summers could make the Bug tell Phyllis to just shut her pie hole when a child of four knows that while the judge or jury deliberates the defendant is not allowed to chat-chat with courtroom spectators. Regardless of the fact that Phyllis is now certain Daniel will get off didn't change what she'd been told before; stop trying to have contact with Daniel in the court.

As for what the Bug thought the pending verdict would be, as always, the critter refused to speculate. Nor did she react when Phyllis asked where District Attorney Glenn Richards got his law degree possibly out of fear that somebody might ask her the same question and she'd maybe have to say "Sears" and everyone would gasp and then wonder how a divorce attorney ever became a criminal defense lawyer. No, the Bug was interested in more important things.

Where did Sharon Newman go? Where was the mother of the victim the Bug's client is accused of killing? Isn't this what all defense lawyers ask? Isn't it their duty as officers of the court to keep tabs on those who would like nothing more than to see their clients locked up forever?

As to where Sharon was it came as no surprise to learn that for the second time she'd left the city and driven the one hour back home only to get a personal call from the DA letting her know the judge had been called away and that Glenn would call her again when the judge was ready to render a verdict. While in the presence of her mother-in-law Sharon made no attempt to tell Nikki Newman what had transpired during the court proceedings only that she was waiting for the hammer to fall. So concerned, so wanting to know what was going on, but not permitted by her goofy son to attend the trial, a now displaying symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder Nikki did not ask Sharon for a report. She did, after all, have Katherine Sterling for that.

Better late than never Katherine had at that moment hauled her rubberized body into court to say that the last time she was there things weren't looking good for Daniel. Had anything changed? The Bug said only that the DA wasn't there and that she didn't know where Sharon was as if Katherine could have given a rip when supposedly Katherine has an interest is seeing Daniel set free although nobody would have known it given her desire to keep Nikki informed.

That this trial amongst friends pretending to be enemies hadn't already become skewed beyond recognition private eye Paul Williams stumbled into a blame game. If only he had found the evidence "out there somewhere" the Bug would have already won her case and they might be celebrating in some bedroom having "rough" sex. If only he could have located that infamous houseboat. Incredibly, moments later, the Bug would tell Paul that he's "the master of the positive spin".

Adding insult to the madness a bailiff asked permission for an audience alone with the Bug. Hadn't she heard? The judge got called away on a family emergency. Gasp! The Bug returned to the small circle of vultures to repeat what they supposedly had already known. The judge had been called away and with any luck would return later in the day or, until Paul found some new evidence or, Nick Newman decided to confess to having obstructed justice or, the Bug figured out there's a new trend going around these days at Walnut Grove Academy.

The trend? But of course! High school kids these days exchange clothing! They go to school wearing one thing and come home wearing something completely different. Lily Winters and Devon Hamilton know this as fact. It fully explains why Lily this day was wearing a blouse owned by her one and only friend Sierra Hoffman who is with her parents vacationing on the aforementioned houseboat. It makes sense too that school has been out on Summer break for weeks and Lily hasn't seen Sierra in as many. Is this the miracle the Bug needs? Will this explain why Cassie Newman left home wearing sandals and at the park later swapped the sandals for a pair of boots the heel of one found under the gas peddle of Daniel's car? A heel that an expert forensics evidence team did not see, but a private forensics team did see?

There will be no sleeping in Genoa City tonight as the townsfolk lay awake in their beds rolling this information over and over in their minds and thanking God the judge was conveniently called away for justice not delayed would be justice denied.

Romalotti Trial
Real Closing Arguments Not Addressed

August 19, 2005

I'm sitting here as usual waiting for the news to come in. I'm second-guessing what idiocy will manifest itself at the Daniel Romalotti trial and whether Lily Winters will testify and if the persecution and defense will ever explain why they didn't call those kids who may have witnessed Cassie Newman behind the wheel of Daniel's car when the case first began. Christine 'Bug' Blair did say she interviewed the teens partying in the park, but that they had no knowledge beneficial to Daniel's defense. Then, days later, there were suddenly at least three teens at the scene with significant information.

Sierra Hoffman was one of those teens. Yet the Bug said yesterday Sierra can't be located now. The Bug does know that Sierra is with her parents vacationing somewhere on a houseboat, but that there's no phone on which Sierra can be spoken with. Neither Sierra, nor her parents, carry cellphones either. In their rush to get out of Genoa City - who can blame them? - the Hoffman's took off without informing anywhere where they might be reached in case of an emergency. Sierra, said to be Lily's one and only friend, has made no attempt to call Lily to ask how the trial is going, nor has Lily tried calling Sierra.

In these times of great fear that terrorists could be sleeping in backyards, are almost sure to attack America again and taxpayers must fund the biggest Department of Homeland Security bureaucracy ever to keep us safe, there is, apparently, no way to find a houseboat. It's like this boat could be loaded with WMDs and the authorities are helpless to find it. Did it set sail? Do the people who own it really not have a way to communicate with the outside world?

What in hell is going on here?

Why must every trial in Genoa City be filled with such blatant errors and unbelievable sideshows? The list is too long to go over them all, but let's flashback just for a moment to one. Where is Lily's car? The one she abandoned. Haven't her parents noticed? Do Neil and Dru Winters just keep paying the insurance on it, or, did they just say thank you when AAA found the car and towed it back to Genoa City? Did it have to be towed at all, or did Lily leave the keys on the front seat?

So when the news came in on Friday that closing arguments in the case would be heard I could only shake my head in disbelief when the Bug cackled she still needs a stinking "miracle" to save Daniel's ass. Finding Sierra or putting Lily on the stand to effectively dropkick the persecution's case straight to hell would have been too easy. That Nick Newman will come forward even as the judge is deliberating his verdict will be much more dramatic and everyone knows that for Richards to object to last minute testimony is out of the question because somebody saw a similar situation on TV once and the judge allowed it in the interest of justice and the American way.

Before the closing arguments were heard it was funny to see that Sharon Newman had made the one hour trip back to town in time to be recalled to the stand only to recant her original testimony. Yes, Cassie was a devious little slut-in-training. No, she doesn't know what her husband did with Cassie's clothes; are you guys still interested in that little detail?

Richards was. He asked if the clothing had value as evidence. The Judge asked the Bug. The Bug said, gosh, it looks like they'll never know. Well then, okay. Let's just get to hell on with the trial then. And so they did.

Richard summed up his case as one in which there are "no complex issues." There was a car crash, a death and clearly Romalotti is guilty. End of story."

The Bug summed up her case as one in which Daniel is a good boy with no history of "antisocial" behavior. That he's been in as much trouble as psycho Kevin Fisher doesn't matter. Daniel does well at Walnut Grove Academy, a "challenging school" where students are free to attend class when they want and come and go as they please. Daniel has so much "potential", so much to offer society. Why, it would be a shame to lock him up. True, Society hates drunk drivers, but who's to say Daniel was driving drunk? Yeah, the persecution says that, but what does Glenn Richards know? Know too, Your Honor. If you convict Daniel it will be you who is committing the real crime, the Bug actually threatened the sleepy judge, saying, "I cannot allow that to take place in this courtroom."

So there you go. More than a week of mindless faux legal mumbo jumbo comes down to what the Bug will, or won't, allow. Will the Bug allow Nick to escape being brought up on charges of hindering prosecution? Will Richards dare suggest it? The real closing arguments in this case should have addressed where these people got their legal training, why they continue practicing law when clearly no amount of practice improves their skill and why they haven't been disbarred.

Fugitive (Trial)
Star Witness Goes Nova

August 18, 2005

Nobody knows yet how it was that Sharon Newman was recalled to the witness stand when, at about the time that was happening in day #5 (Day #2 GSTW) of the Romalotti trial, Mrs. Newman was at her home a one hour drive as the SUV sucks $3 per gallon gasoline away.

Not that it matters, but following Nick Newman's visit with Alice Johnson on Thursday in Madison during which Cassie Newman's adopted mother said the now dead Cassie was such an honest kid who would never have allowed anyone to take blame for something she did, it's expected Sharon will confess that her husband concealed evidence germane to the case possibly with Nick's blessing, not that the defense or persecution has bothered to give such damming evidence a second thought.

Prior to Sharon's testimony a kicking and screaming Devon Hamilton was literally dragged into the courtroom and presented to observers as the defense team's "star" witness. Christine 'Bug' Blair saw Devon as key to her case because he allegedly overheard Cassie say on the night of the accident thought to have contributed to her death that she would get the defendant home safely. Sure, there are less hostile witnesses the Bug could have picked from who might testify Cassie made such a statement, but one, Sierra Hoffman was reportedly on vacation with her never before seen parents aboard what was described as a "houseboat". And not just any houseboat. One without a phone! Thusly, Sierra could not be located as everyone knows houseboats often set sail at about this time of the year in Wisconsin. Furthermore, private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams, with his many operatives and illegal contacts within the credit card industry could not locate the girl or the houseboat.

On the witness stand the Bug's star went nova. Devon said what the Bug wanted him to say, but on cross District Attorney Glenn Richards made the point that Devon felt guilty about leaving a young girl in charge of a drunk, would have said anything to clear his guilt and moreover couldn't remember the DA's name. Richards surmised Devon's obvious memory failure made him a poor witness and did not think to ask if Devon had actually seen Cassie - or anyone - behind the wheel of Daniel's prized automobile or that he even saw the car leaving the park.

The Bug was so satisfied she didn't bother to redirect. Had she the forethought the critter could have made Devon upchuck ardent damage to Richards' case, greatly impressed the sleepy judge with her knowledge of the law and spat in the faces of those who say law degrees from Sears are meaningless.

Shocking Testimony in Romalotti Case: Defendant Liked His Car!

August 17, 2005

Ah, the violent march of justice. Did you see it coming? Did you watch day #4 of the Daniel Romalotti trial? Did you witness the mindless testimony? Beautiful thing, really, seeing the repressed and weary and I can't win Christine 'Bug' Blair getting all giddy and breaking out her dancing shoes to stomp all over Cassie Newman's grave and thus avoid having to come up with any clear and reasonable doubt that her client didn't do what he's accused of.

For those sticking by their pledge to never watch again because the antics and the convulsion give them headaches and it's much better when this reporter takes the pain directly through his eye sockets for you here in the nuttiest of nutshells is what happened.

Ignoring those who have told her to stay the hell away from Daniel because to do otherwise is a violation of her bail agreement teenager Lily Winters did just the opposite by strolling into the recessed courtroom to say she suddenly has testimony so important it'll probably get the man she loves off and maybe save Abby Carlton the trouble of becoming an angel at the same time.

Lily explained what the persecutor and the defense already knew yet thought it so unimportant they did not call a single witness other than the defendant partying in the park on the night of victim Cassie Newman's auto accident. Lily said she could tell the judge all about the party and how she was with Daniel when he got his memory back lost to a six-pack of Bud. That what she had to say might be considered conjecture did not matter insomuch hearsay had already been allowed into evidence as fact by sleepy Judge Jennings.

At first the Bug said no way Jose. Lily's testimony would jeopardize her upcoming trial and incriminate her further as if there's some dispute Lily did not aid and abet a fugitive. Lily said she didn't care if she went away to prison for life if it meant her man would be free. The Bug wouldn't hear of it and Lily left the court with the impression she'd be doing more harm than good. This didn't change Lily's mind, however. She zoomed home to tell her parents that come hell or high water she fully intends to testify at the trial and that her adopted brother, Devon Hamilton who was at the party that night yet hadn't been called as a witness, would too.

Before it dawned on the Bug she'd made a terrible mistake it was time for Act 3 of her most miserable portrayal of a criminal defense lawyer to date. Calling Daniel to the stand the Bug asked the following:

Bug: Did you drink alcohol at the party?
Daniel: Yes.
Bug: Drinking at your age is illegal.
Daniel: I knew that.
Bug: Yet you did it. Why?
Daniel: I was upset with someone.
Bug: A parent?
Daniel: No, my girlfriend.
Bug: Did drinking help?
Daniel: I wish I'd never touched the stuff.
Bug: I'll take that as a 'no'. How much did you drink?
Daniel: I had a six pack of beer. I drank it pretty fast. That's the last thing I remember.
Bug: What's first thing you remember after the party?
Daniel: Waking up in the hospital.
Bug: Did you have any idea how you got there?
Daniel: None.
Bug: Did others tell you?
Daniel: Yes. They said I was driving my car and there had been an accident.
Bug: Who told you?
Daniel: Everyone.
Bug: Everyone except the person with you; Cassie Newman.

To ask why District Attorney Glenn Richards allowed this babble to go on for as long as he did when the Bug had already stipulated her client was drunk as a skunk that night would be rhetorical. Richards did ask the Judge, "Is the defense going to present evidence of what Ms. Newman would have said had she been able", only to have Jennings throw it back in his face.

"Let's listen [to the hearsay] and find out," Jennings said.

At that point the Bug went on and on with what Daniel dreamed about subsequent to the removal of his pickled brain from the I was too stoned to remember theory in which Daniel saw himself in the backseat of the car and Cassie behind the wheel. Her mind-numbing questioning concluded the Bug returned to her seat where private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams, told only moments earlier to get his ass out on the street and find a miracle so the poor Bug wouldn't go down in defeat, was sitting, thumbing through some hen scratching on a notepad.

"What are you doing" the Bug asked.
"Checking my notes. Just like you told me to do," Clueless replied.

Asked if he'd found anything, Clueless said no! To ask what he was doing there then would have been rhetorical.

Then it was Richards turn to grill Daniel. Did Drinking solve his anger problem? The Bug didn't object. The Bug did not say, "Your Honor, it has not be established my client has an anger problem."

Richards rambled on asking some of the most bizarre questions ever asked in a court of law. Did Daniel like his car? Did he ever let anyone drive it?

Emerging from her delusion for a moment the Bug noticed there was no jury present and asked the judge to make the DA stop picking on her client for just that reason. Jennings did not ask, "What does the lack of jury have to do with your objection? Isn't badgering, badgering? Please stop waking me up."

At the end of the day it was Newman court reporter Katherine Sterling who got in the last lick.

"I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job, but I think you should consider a plea bargain of some kind," she told the Bug.

"Have another drink you old drunken sow," the defendant's mother did not say, but did order Sterling to leave the building just as Clueless let off a brain fart. What was it exactly Lily had said earlier? The Bug was much too busy to play his game. Besides that her cellphone was ringing. Lo and beyond Dru Winters was calling with an order. Don't even think about putting Lily on the stand. Told to stay where she is, that they were coming over, the first words out of Dru's mouth when the Bug and Clueless came calling were, "What are you doing here?"

Is it necessary to go on? Is it not heartwarming to see a brutalized and disheartened people flex their ignorance and spew their implode-at-any-moment mentality? Was it necessary to go through all that moronic testimony when all along Lily was destined to save her man? Isn't it enough to know Daniel liked his car?

The Fugitive (Disorder in the Court)
Mistrial Sought in Romalotti Case

August 15, 2005

Maybe I'm just making this all up. Maybe I have no idea what the hell I actually remember because maybe my brain has been scrambled and my memories replaced with images of what a real court trial looks like. Maybe what happened Monday at the trial of Daniel Romalotti was an illusion implanted by defense lawyers who got their law degrees at Sears and I should just ignore that a District Attorney - who acts more like an Attorney General and should be handling law cases for the district - is trying cases for the City of Genoa.

Maybe it was my imagination when old lady Katherine Sterling hauled her rubberized ass out to the Newman Ponderosa this fine day to say she'd only just heard of her best friend's tangle with the Mob and the aging woman she considers more a daughter had been banned from attending the trial.

But then, maybe not. It was too typical of this crazy city not to have really happened. Because Nikki Newman's diaper-wearing adult son doesn't want his parents in the courtroom - as the stress might be too unbearable for the old geezers - Katherine said she'll attend the trial for them! The old woman who lives in a shoe will take notes and report on the events like a personal version of Court TV for Nikki's enjoyment. Ain't that sweet? Is it not the dumbest thing we ever did hear?

For sure Katherine will have a lot to report. Just the outbursts alone will fill a few 250 count steno books. For example: had Katherine actually been there she would have noted the outburst between Phyllis Summers and Nick Newman when the two nit wits got into a shouting match over whether Christine 'Bug' Blair portrayed Cassie Newman as being responsible for her own death. For Phyllis it was her second official outburst yet despite having been warned earlier to keep her mouth shut was not tossed out of the courtroom. She praised the Bug for doing a "brilliant" job in her opening statement which, for those who heard it, would have shamed Perry Mason for its hollowness. Phyllis was also admonished for trying to have contact with the defendant, but did not receive so much as a slap on the wrist for having her cellphone turned on in the courtroom.

As for the testimony, how sad that was. Without a hint of having a prima facia case DA Glenn Richards called his first witness. Police Officer James Cole testified that the car Romalotti was driving on the night of the accident was a convertible, that it hit a utility pole and rolled over at least twice. When Cole was asked if he saw the driver in the courtroom the Bug objected as it was impossible for him to know who was driving. When Cole arrived at the scene both occupants had been thrown clear of the vehicle. That the law of gravity would dictate one passenger went left and the other right was never a factor. Had the Bug not objected Cole might have said he couldn't tell who was driving and thus made the Bug's case which, for all intents and purposes, could have ended right then and there.

Asked if he saw anyone in the courtroom who was at the scene Cole pointed to the defendant. Shown a photograph of the now dead Newman kid the witness placed her there too. Cole further stated both parties had sustained injuries. Newman from having fallen on some rocks, and Romalotti from having landed in a grassy area. As for the smell of booze, Richards, so versed in law, asked an open-ended question: what else had the officer noticed?

"I smelled alcohol," Cole said.

With her thumb up her butt, with her law degree and confidence and ego stinking up the room, the Bug did not object to the question when a first-year law student would know there is a significant difference between alcohol and the beer Romalotti was drinking that night.

Nor did the Bug object when the witness was asked, "was it your impression she [Ms. Newman] had been drinking? Again, the Bug blew it big time. The year is 2005. Cops are coached not to give legal impressions as they will be tossed from the bench as conjecture. Had Richards wanted to make his point that Romalotti was drunk as a skunk he would have presented medical evidence to show blood/alcohol levels collected at the scene or the hospital. It was only when Richards asked if Romalotti had passed out did the Bug object to the term which Richards changed to lose consciousness and in both instances the answer was yes.

Incredible as it was the Bug moved the line of questioning back to the rocks and which side of the car they were on. Officer Cole testified both occupants were found on the same side of the vehicle which did not mean they both were ejected from the same side. Still, the Bug did not make this point.

The Bug's next objection came as Richards was harping on the injuries as if they in any way prove Romalotti's guilt. "Unless I'm mistaken we're here to establish my clients' guilt or innocence on charges of vehicular homicide. I've already stipulated that he was intoxicated," the critter said.

No loud groan could be heard in the courtroom. There was no high-pitched gasping or spectators whispering, "Did she really just slam the cell door on her client? What is freaking wrong with the Bug? Why did she ever stipulate to such damming evidence and why didn't she point that out when she first objected?"

Not that it mattered, Richards got flustered. He began babbling about his role in the case which even he doesn't seem certain of. Since the Bug inferred her client, a minor, was drunk that night it was okay because Romalotti wasn't driving, Newman was, angered Richards. How dare the Bug blame the victim? Again, there was no spectator reaction. Rotten as she is as a lawyer, wouldn't it make sense the Bug would want to show someone other than her client caused the accident?

Waking up from a nap Judge Jennings told Richards to stop the self-flagellation and get on with a more "focused" approach. Crazy doesn't adequately describe the next scene when a new witness blurt out that Romalotti is "another drunk driver."

The Bug did not object to the blatant hearsay. Instead, she asked if the witness had seen her client driving. The witness said, well, not with her own eyes, but Officer Cole said Romalotti was drunk so it must be so. By now the judge had gone back to sleep leaving the Bug to sputter some nonsense that the witness must not have given it much thought.

Just when the Bug was on the verge of making the point that those arriving at the scene could not tell who was driving the defendant's mother began puking. "Of course she's not [giving it much thought]," Phyllis Summers said aloud as the Bug ended her questioning.

Returning to her seat the Bug noticed private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams beaming with pride. "I can see where you're going" he said, as the Bug who rolled her eyes with disgust as if to say that if the case was going anywhere it was down the toilet.

Meantime Richards couldn't get off the injuries kick. He called a doctor to explain Newman's injuries when he should have stipulated that Cassie is dead due in part to her injuries. Then it was the Bug's turn to do the same thing and on and on it went like, well, kangaroos in a court avoiding all that mattered. At the precise moment the doctor was to say injuries may not have contributed to the victim's death Phyllis launched another outburst.

Directed at the victim's adopted father, himself upset for thinking the Bug had made Cassie appear responsible for her own death, the shouting match between Phyllis and Nick Newman had to be shut down by bailiffs. All the commotion did wake up the judge, however. As usual Jennings ordered those disrupting the court stop, or they'd been thrown out of the court, but not really which may explain why Phyllis keeps doing the opposite of what she's told. Nick voluntarily left on his own, however, at just the moment his wife was being called by the prosecution to testify.

Nick and Sharon's presence in the courtroom during testimony was of particular concern given that Sharon must have been on the witness list. In normal courtrooms those scheduled to testify are not allowed to hear the testimony of others. Additionally, that Nick and Sharon's home was searched for incriminating evidence it boggles the mind as to why the Bug didn't call them both as witnesses to show they have something to hide.

Again, a first year law student would know it can be proven the hospital turned Ms. Newman's clothing over to Nick and so why Nick hasn't been charged with concealing evidence, or at the least called as a witness so he can take the Fifth if he doesn't want to explain what he did with the clothing, remains to be seen.

These glaring blunders coupled with the Bug's obvious conflict of interest of outlining her defense strategy for, and friendship with, the Newman's should be cause for the judge to stay awake long enough to declare a mistrial.

No Jury of Romalotti's Peers!

August 12, 2005

Okay, I give up. I've gone down the dark and gloomy road of judicial ignorance about as far as I can. Like you, I knew before Daniel Romalotti's trial began it was going to careen out of control like Victor Newman's Hummer on meth. I cannot tolerate the never-ending acceptance that the State of Wisconsin would bring charges against Daniel for vehicular manslaughter. Had Daniel not paid his state income taxes, or had sold phony life insurance to senior citizens, maybe. I cannot understand how Glenn Richards became the Attorney General when in every state I've ever lived the AG does not prosecute cases himself and certainly not cases like Daniel's.

That Richards is the AG when he should be the City Prosecutor - and even then a deputy prosecutor would be handling the case - is surpassed in stupidity only by the fact that the Bug is supposed to be a criminal defense attorney representing the son of a woman who she hates and who tried to kill her. This surpassing of stupidity was exceeded late this week when the Bug announced - without apparently conferring with her client or the client's mother - there won't be a jury!

Facing years in prison Daniel's fate is now in the hands of sleepy Judge Jennings so out of it he recently recommended criminal charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive against Lily Winters be reduced. Considering she hasn't a leg to stand on and that her case is riddled with holes maybe the Bug's hope is that Jennings will sleep through the trial and depending on his mood when he awakes dismiss the case. Unless that happens whoever is paying the Bug's fee should demand their money back. Additionally, Phyllis Summers should then get a real lawyer to file an appeal and have the Bug declared incompetent.

If Phyllis isn't locked up before then it'll be a wonder given she was the first of many to cause a scene in the courtroom on Friday when she got in Richards' face and had to be warned she'd be thrown out if it happens again. She subsequently flip-flopped on Lily when the teen slipped into the court hoping to get a glimpse of her man only to be told by Phyllis she's "poison" when a few days ago Phyllis went out of her way to get Lily into the jail to see Daniel.

As for DNA evidence the, um, State has, which is thought to somehow further hurt her client, the Bug said she would not object to its immediate admissibility despite that she has so "little" evidence to work with. What the Bug wishes to happen is that side-kicking private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams - as he did in the Jenkins trial - will produce a last minute miracle. And Clueless, so adept at making miracles happen, was ordered by the Bug to get off his fat ass and out on the street to find said miracle.

Also entering the court were Nick and Sharon Newman who were assured by Richards - before the Judge had taken his seat on the bench - that things were going well. There can be no doubt Daniel is guilty. As for the absence of a jury Richards was okay with that because Jennings is, in his words, "a fair" judge. It did not occur to Richards a win on his part would be overruled by a higher court and that he should have demanded a jury trial if for no other reason than to cover his sorry ass.

During Richards' opening statement it was alleged Daniel was responsible for the death of Cassie Newman and would be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Bug said simply the State will not prove its case which would have been a true statement had the City rightfully brought the case in the first place.

I have surpassed my allowable limit for legal devastation ingestion and the first witness has yet to be called. Can I go on without choking? Can you?

The Romalotti Trial
The Smell of Decaying Purpose

August 11, 2005

School student Daniel Romalotti is expected to plead not guilty to charges of vehicular manslaughter at the start of his long-awaited criminal trial in Genoa City District Court. The only court system in the free world where jurisdictional crime cases are persecuted by the State of Wisconsin, it's predicted the trial will be nothing more than a dog and pony show one might expect in a kangaroo court. Going back into the GCN archives as far back as 1994 there are plenty of examples starting with April Stevens facing the music for killing her abusive husband.

There's the Newman Bribery case of 2004 said at the time to have been so legally flaccid and sad it poisoned the air and the 2002 Baby K Case the GCN projected from the outset Diane Jenkins would not lose custody of her child which in fact she didn't as Diane now has Kyle Newman Abbott stashed somewhere far out of Jack Abbott's reach. Who can forget the Abbott poolhouse Arson Case which could not be solved until Diane admitted her guilt and never brought to justice?

The list is long and what jumps off it is the Stevens trial where - after the persecutor rebut closing arguments - Stevens said she would "pray for a miracle" although she'd said earlier, "I don't know much about praying."

Like the Romalotti case with Lily Winters so worried about the boy she fell in love with overnight, April's bratty daughter, Heather, couldn't stop whining. Worried her mother was going to the big house Heather bawled, "What will happen to me? April even ran to the creepy Christine 'Bug' Williams at the time to ask, "Will you raise my child?" when she should have asked Heather's father, Paul Williams.

Found guilt of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison, the judge cut April some slack. April was placed on five years probation and told to perform 1300 hours of community service educating young people about spousal abuse. With tears running down her face and stuff running out of her nose, over her top lip and into her mouth, April asked the judge, "You mean I'm not going to prison?"

And so, as Daniel enters the courtroom and room is made for the dogs and ponies and kangaroos, the tension mounts. Bets are being placed as to who will most often disrupt the proceedings with their violent outbursts. Court observers are wondering if that familiar smell will permeate the air. The smell of decaying purpose.

Swill Concocting, Bottom Feeding Degenerates

August 10, 2005
by Michael Kelly

If the August 10 episode of Y&R were an ordinary day, this reporter could take pleasure in whacking that wheezing, lovesick, down in the mouth delinquent teenybopper Lily upside her pointy head in for claiming her useless, arrogant and pampering parents taught her not to lie.

If this were an ordinary day, I could bitch about incompetent defense attorney Christine Blair passively dragging her ass. Blair's thumb twiddling regarding obtaining a search warrant in an attempt to find the deceased Cassie Newman's clothes compelled Daniel Romalotti's loose cannon mother to make a mockery of the supposedly beefed up Newman Ponderosa security by bursting in on Nick and Sharon Newman's fire hazard (due to the thousand candles illuminating their living room) passion pit in order to chew out the sex machines for withholding evidence that could clear her son.

If this were an ordinary day, I could claim two brief moments of humor redeemed Wednesday's episode. Certainly, Mac Browning must be given reluctant credit for approaching two girls in the GCAC's hot tub on lonely, sexually deprived Kevin Fisher's behalf since Browning knows full well the smitten with Mac Mr. Fisher hasn't a snowball's chance in hell of being allowed into her pants.

The crap eating grin on Kevin's face as he sat next to the hot chicks in the bubbly cauldron was as priceless as the no man in her bed Victoria Newman flirting with J.T. Hellstrom in the corridor of the God Have Mercy Medical Center. As bizarre and kinda gross - because Victoria can do much better than J.T. - the flirtation was, I couldn't help but chuckle when Hellstrom asked if Ms. Newman was "making fun" of him when she referred to him as a "Junior detective".

Unfortunately though, this is no ordinary day. Y&R's usual ineptness can no longer be taken for granted or dismissed with a bemused roll of the eyes. At last, these feeble minded, cheap thrill seeking and maggot covered scribes have managed to stoop so low and dig so deep into the thought to be bottomless mass of manure they're always rolling around in as to finally unearth the absolute, all-time nadir in reeking, despicable, shameless, vile and unforgivable storytelling flops in soap opera history.

Should there be any doubt, I'm referring to mob stooge Angelo (his last name isn't worth remembering) pointing a gun at the fragile, innocent head of the prematurely born Joshua Marsino.

Forget the fact the scmuck managed to snatch the incubator inhabiting infant from the GHMMC nursery without all kinds high-tech bells and whistles alerting the nursing staff of what he was trying to do. Disregard the fact the character of Angelo was assassinated by the scribes since the worst thing this all talk and no action snitch has ever done prior to this occurred when he approached Anita Hodges and threatened her and hubby Fred with bodily harm should the banker continue his quest to nail the Marsino's crowd for his daughter's electrocution.

Ignore the insulting, incomprehensible inconsistency of Angelo even threatening to harm a hair on the head of his best friend's son merely to obtain the none to specific "stuff" Bobby Marsino has on Vinny Trabuco and his cronies just to inflict a faux suspenseful conclusion on this already mindless mob malarkey.

What I can't underestimate or overlook is how disgusted I felt watching this crap and realizing how completely this once classy show (particularly during the Bill Bell era) has deteriorated.

I guess I should be grateful a real baby wasn't exploited for the sake of Y&R's scribes sick idea of entertainment . Or perhaps because the fictional Joshua escaped his horrific ordeal unharmed following a cringe inducing slo-mo rescue scene achieved by Bobby lunging at Angelo while J.T. pried the baby out of Angelo's arms as though he were grabbing a football.

But no. All I can do at this point is ask myself how I can continue to watch a show that is but a shadow of its former self whose writing staff consists of bottom feeding, swill concocting degenerates who may try to outdo themselves by showing 8 year old Noah Newman getting sodomized by his Little League coach.

You Get What You Pay For

August 9, 2005
by Brent Kellogg

Is there any doubt attorney Christine 'Bug' Blair is representing Daniel Romalotti Pro Bono? It must be true for what else can explain why Daniel's mother must always track the Bug down whenever she wants to know what the Bug is doing to free the teenager?

Real defense lawyers receiving large sums of money for their work often keep the family abreast. They make phone calls, send e-mail, stop by the family home, etc. But not in Genoa City. Family members here must persistently barge into their lawyer's office without an appointment or pin them down in restaurants to get the smallest morsel of progress in the case and often there's none to be had.

Take this week for example when Phyllis Summers found the Bug at the local gym/restaurant. Only just now getting around to asking what a private forensics team found in the vehicle Daniel is said to have been operating - which resulted in the death of Cassie Newman - that a police forensics team overlooked.

The Bug was evasive. "Retrieving meaningful evidence was almost impossible."

Since this didn't answer Phyllis' question she had to ask what the Bug meant by that statement and only then would the Bug say, "We'll have a few things" to present at Daniel's trial. Somewhat encouraged Phyllis wanted specifics. What had been found? Suddenly aware they were in a "public" place the Bug didn't want to discuss it. Never can tell who might be listening in as if City Persecutor Glenn Richards or police detective Hank Weber might be at the next table disguised as bananas. When pressed the Bug tossed aside her reluctance. Cassie's partial finger prints had been found on the car keys, the door and sterling wheel but this didn't prove Cassie was driving. Nor did it prove Daniel was driving, but the Bug didn't mention that part. As for whether Cassie would have had to pull the seat forward in order to reach the pedals this couldn't be ascertained either as the seat was "crushed" beyond recognition.

For all the glum news the Bug told Phyllis not to worry; she'll not only be calling "an expert witnesses" at the trial but Phyllis too in order to establish Daniel's emotional state on the night of the car wreck as if it wasn't already established Daniel was three sheets to the wind. According to the Bug the judge would want to know whether Daniel was, or is, regularly addicted to alcohol or just an after school boozer.

"You're supposed to reassure me," a dismayed Phyllis whined, as she must have known at this point the Bug has no idea what she's doing and shouldn't have been surprised as the Bug is not a criminal defense lawyer although she plays one on TV.

The Bug profusely apologized for her incompetence. She'd like nothing more than to get Daniel off if only she weren't so inept. And as usual Phyllis just bent over and let the Bug ream her. She made no mention of the thousands of dollars this shabby legal representation must be costing, nor did she demand better results for her hard-earned money because she doesn't really work and Jack Abbott is probably picking up the tab anyway if in fact the Bug isn't working for free.

For what good it might do relieving Phyllis' concern the Bug said "I'm not hanging my defense on a single piece of evidence" as quite frankly she doesn't have a single piece of evidence! Really, the Bug said, "I wish I had it". Alas, that the Bug doesn't have any evidence, that her case hinges on Daniel's emotional state, is proof positive that in Genoa City, when it comes to hiring lawyers, you get what you pay for.

In a related development, as if more proof was needed the Bug should return her law degree to Sears, her office-sharing working out of the closet manages-to-run-a major alarm company private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams arrived to say he had big news so sensitive Phyllis could not be present to hear it. The news was stunning.

In an attempt to find the source of a heel - so apparently small it was overlooked at first - Clueless has put out an urgent request for a list of all stores in the area selling boots from which the heel could have come. While waiting for said list Clueless will be checking with Mrs. Sharon Newman to determine whether she had purchased any such boots for Cassie prior to the car wreck.

The Bug became orgasmic. This development, this why in the hell did it matter what store sold the boots, was "key" to the Bug's case! If Sharon confirms she bought the boots she presumably would remember where she purchase them and thus there would be no need for a list of stores. Furthermore, if the Bug and Clueless could get their hands on the clothing Cassie was wearing that night they might be able to match the heel with the boot. That Sharon's husband now has the clothing and refuses to turn it over will require a court order the Bug will have no problem obtaining. It matters not that the clothing is tainted and never should have been released by the God Have Mercy Medical Center had the equally inept crawling with toads police department done it's job in the first place which it didn't because as we've come to accept, taxpayers in Genoa City get the kind of police work they pay for.

Travesties of Justice

August 5, 2005

On the crime blotter today not one, but two travesties of justice.

Travesty #1

Reformed gangster Bobby Marsino returned from up "North" within a matter of hours with a truckload of financial and other related documents sure to give federal authorities an orgasm. How he did it Bobby didn't say. What mattered is he did it and now Vinny Trabuco and "his boys" are "going down" for a very long time. The bastards. That'll teach 'em to mess with his wife.

Upon hearing Bobby's news the creepy Christine 'Bug' Blair became giddy. As a litigator and all-purpose lawyer she confirmed Bobby's notion the bad guys will pay, but as for Bobby's plan to take his family and leave town the Bug had bad news. Since baby Joshua Marsino was born prematurely the kid won't be permitted to leave the God Have Mercy Medical Center for at least two weeks. Furthermore, it was private eye Paul 'Clueless' Williams' contention that because Vinny put a contract out on Bobby's life the Mob was right now out there looking for him again. Accordingly, Bobby will have to leave town without his family.

Thanks to the close relationship the Bug has with a Federal judge arrangements have been made for Bobby to enter the Witness Protection Program. In fact, agents were on their way as they spoke to pick him up. Later, when things cool down, Mrs. Marsino and child will be allowed to join Bobby. The Bug and Clueless couldn't say where the Marsinos will go except to say it'll be "somewhere safe."

Incredible as it was, despite that agents were on their way to fetch him "soon" and that the Mob is looking for him, Bobby had to ask. Would going to visit his son put his family in danger? Clueless said no. Thanks to his diligence and the nice taxpayers of Genoa City, police are guarding the hospital. In addition, thanks to the great Victor Newman, rent-a-cops are guarding his wife's hospital room and the nursery!

The knowledge he was pretty much safe to roam the city at will Bobby said his good-byes to the Bug and Clueless without asking them how the agents would know where to find him.

For all the extra security at GHM nobody thought, apparently, to tell the staff. So long as they didn't look Muslim anyone could stroll right up to the nurses station, say they were related to the Marsinos and gain unfettered access. It helped, of course, to swipe a nearby bouquet of flowers.

Travesty #2

At a hearing to reinstate her bail teenager Lily Winters passed with flying colors. After considerable thought, sleepy Judge Jennings ruled Lily was free to go. That Lily's rap sheet was longer than the Judge's small penis did not matter. That she committed a felony was not a problem either as the Judge instructed City Persecutor Glenn Richards to have the charges against her reduced. That Lily may still be tried as a juvenile was a small consolation. As for the fact Lily aided and abetted Daniel Romalotti's flight from justice didn't pose a danger either as the Judge said he didn't see Lily as a flight risk.

The Judge did see Lily as a danger to herself, however. Yet this wasn't enough to keep her sorry ass locked up. Since there'd been no pre-hearing investigation by the Department of Social Services which may have revealed the many times Lily's parents have failed Parenting 101, her psychological problems were best left to Mr. and Mrs. Winters. The Judge also cautioned Lily not to leave town, to obey curfew and in general keep her nose clean.

Elated, Lily exhibited more signs she's pathological. She confessed to having caused so much trouble and said again how sorry she is only to have her dullard parents bless her little heart albeit with a scowl when Lily said she wishes Daniel was free too.

The Fugitive (Justice Denied)
City Jail Relaxes Visitation Rules

August 2, 2005

Let's review. Doesn't the Genoa City Jail require that person's other than those of detainee Daniel Romalotti's immediate family be "cleared" first before being allowed visitation? Didn't it take an act of Congress to get Daisy Cooper in to see Daniel? Why then was Devon Hamilton allowed on Tuesday to see Daniel without question? Why did the guards not notice the note from detainee Lily Winters Devon delivered to Daniel and where did Lily get so much stationary she not only wrote one note to Daniel, but two!

Given that Lily said today she considers rotting in a private jail cell merely an inconvenience, and how nice it was to have been given "my own room" for the night, maybe private cells at the GCPD come complete with embossed stationary with the words GENOA CITY JAIL on top. Still, for all the comforts of home, Lily told Devon he should be glad he's not the one behind bars. And because they just can't come up with anything original to say, Devon had to ask how Lily was "holding up".

For all his brushes with the law, living in group homes, etc., Devon said too he's heard of the horror stories of rape and getting stuck with sawed off spoons and it was just a goddamn shame they locked a sweet and innocent girl like Lily up. After all, what did she do wrong? It wasn't like she violated the terms of her bail agreement twice or aided and abetted Daniel during his run from the law.

Flashing the note at Devon Lily said she knew writing it was "stupid", but stupid has become her middle name so what's done is done. What's really important is that Daniel know she's okay. It's not like Daniel wouldn't know this. He'd feel better if only he could see for himself in black and white.

On the Let's-Get-Daniel bandwagon like the rest of his clan, and after telling Lily she's being used, Devon nevertheless agreed to deliver the note to Daniel after getting used himself by Lily. As previously mentioned Devon had no problem getting in to see Daniel. Like others before him Devon urged Daniel to plead guilty to something he didn't do if for no other reason than for Lily's sake. While he's at Daniel was told to set Lily free as if he has some mysterious hold on her, has been writing secret notes to her and getting busted for trying to see Lily on the QT.

Groaning with frustration at having done everything in his power to get rid of Lily to no avail Daniel said "I've tried" as Devon left. Then, to prove just how much he doesn't want Lily, Daniel read the note and immediately fought back the small lump growing in his jump suit. "Down boy! Down boy!" he did not say as visions of that great California vacation he and Lily shared danced in his thick head. The swim in the lake. The ride on the turnip truck. The banana costume wearing daze at the Orange Julius. The surfer dudes on Malibu Beach. If only Lily would leave him alone.

How We Spent Summer Vacation

August 1, 2005

I'm already starting to lose what little respect I had for police detective Hank 'KGB' Weber. Once known for his Gestapo ways Weber appeared to have changed last week when he repeatedly denied efforts to spring Lily Winters from jail. Having violated terms of her bail agreement Winters nevertheless committed another crime for which she was arrested a second time.

Refusing to admit his mistakes, or understand that time behind bars is exactly what his daughter needs, Neil Winters badgered Lily's attorney and Weber again until Lily was given a private jail cell. Still not satisfied Dru Winters cut an important business trip short and went to work hammering the police with her own brand of intimidation. Did not the police understand what it's like having an out of control child? Did the cops not know Lily had only made an "irresponsible mistake" and therefore should be released? Dru would, to be sure, give Lily a good scolding in the privacy of their home.

"Imagine if your child spent a night in jail," Dru hacked at the jailer, who quickly reminded her there's a difference between a gulag and a jail. Lily is not in jail. Unable to get her way Dru was looking around for someone else to blame when Neil popped up to say he was to blame. "This happened on my watch," he actually said, as if he was reading Dick and Jane to preschoolers while Lily was out flying a plane into a tall building.

Spotting Hank nearby Dru sank her fangs into him. How dare he not spring Lily? God love him Hank did tell Dru that kids like Lily - and adults for that matter - need to learn there are consequences for breaking the law. Being rich and powerful does not give them the right to an endless supply of Get Out of Jail Free cards.

Hank was, of course, not talking to Dru or anyone with a remotely active brain. Stupefied at her shocking inability to understand the law applies to all Hank entertained Dru's next question. Could she spend the night with Lily in her cell? Instead of telling Dru that Lily is evil and that's all there is to it so please stop asking weird tricky polysyllabic questions Hank caved in. Dru could at least visit her daughter.

So, was Lily happy to see mommy? Did she ask what is being done to save her ass? Was she more interested in how boyfriend Daniel Romalotti was holding up at detention hall across the way? Why, yes, She was. Maybe this is appropriate. Maybe this is as it should be. After all, Lily is, by and large, a kid who refuses to grow up, refuses to take responsibility, refuses to see the reality of her tangled mess.

Dru was outraged. How could Lily be thinking of that "bad seed" at a time like this? Doesn't Lily understand Daniel is ruining her life? Doesn't she know that getting an STD from Kevin Fisher was all Kevin's fault? And by the way, has Lily been letting Daniel hump her? Is this why Lily developed an overnight crush on Daniel much the way Cassie Newman did?

Lily said no. Daniel isn't getting any from her. But when the day, um, comes she'll be ready as in she'll make Daniel wear a condom or maybe get some morning after pills. Dru thanked God for this jarring knowledge as Lily asked her to pass a note to Daniel. For all the bitching and moaning about being behind bars Lily was now at peace. The longer she's locked up the closer to Daniel she feels.

Is this not the dumbest thing yet as it pertains to Daniel's and Lily's how we spent our summer vacation grade-school comedy?

It got worse when Daniel's lawyer ran into City Persecutor Glenn Richards at the jail. Worse, because just a few days ago Victor Newman said it's unusual for Richards to go beyond the walls of his office. Yet here he was at the gulag fending off the creepy Christine 'Bug' Blair begging him to extend Daniel's no exact trial date by two weeks.

Richards refused. Had the Bug's client not jumped bail the trial might be over. Had Daniel and Lily not cost the taxpayers of Genoa City and Los Angeles "thousands" to find them the Bug would have prepared her defense and not now be slithering around like a wounded bug. The Bug was outraged. Who was Richards to puke about money when he'd allowed Victor Newman to influence him? Moreover, why isn't Richard concerned that justice isn't being served?

Richards laughed. If the Bug wants justice she should get Daniel to plead guilty. The sooner he goes to prison the sooner his sentence will be served. Hadn't the Bug thought of this? Didn't the critter know that those released after ten years in captivity can just pick up their lives and move on?

The Bug cried foul. She's got new evidence that needs examining. Never mind said evidence can be examined in like thirty seconds, who is pressuring Richards? Why is he so hot to get a conviction? Could it be he's the Persecutor and his job depends on putting people away regardless of innocence?

Richards had the perfect retort. The public demands it! Joe Average citizen has zero tolerance for drunken drivers who "hurt" people especially those with "celebrity connections" and by god Richards has a duty to the citizenry even if in the real world those repeatedly convicted of DUI are still driving. Even if those convicted of vehicular manslaughter at best get probation and liquor stores are allowed to sell booze on Sunday. Even as alcohol kills thousands each year and causes untold medical problems and eat livers and kidneys for lunch the government allows this dangerous drug to prosper while declaring war on the safer of the two, the never killed anyone marijuana.

Richard did feel some remorse for teens, however. He doesn't like going after them even though in Daniel's case he declared long before the investigation that Daniel would do time. With the Bug demanding justice Richards can't sit around while she looks for a miracle.

And the Bug, so flustered, so the crusader who once said she was infallible and knew the law and nobody better mess with her, fell an inch to her hairy knees, gave thanks to Richards for giving her a moment of his valuable time and then oozed, "No hard feelings?"

The Bug still behaves, when all is said and done, like one of those scared spiders clinging desperately to a shiny web despite the broom sweeping it away. Unable to let go of this old, silly, faux-lawyer mentality of boom boom I'm a force be reckoned with, the Bug rolls into a ball and worries she may have slithered over someone's toes for the burden of proving Daniel's guilt is on her. Not Richards.

A Resemblance of Reality

July 26, 2005

As the Genoa City News reported last: Any attorney worth his or her salt should know kids raised on a ranch or a farm can operate motorized farm equipment without driving over an hour to inquire as the creepy Christine 'Bug' Blair did this week. Had the Bug obtained her law degree from some place other than Sears she wouldn't have wasted time and precious gasoline by asking Nick Newman to incriminate his daughter as the responsible party in Cassie Newman's death. Unless, that is, the Bug had some idea - that by making the one-hour drive to the Newman Ponderosa - Nick's dumb as dirt wife would be there willing to provide information leading to her client's innocence and almost certain dismissal of criminal charges against Daniel Romalotti.

Rightfully upset that the Bug was again harassing and prying information out of him Nick couldn't fathom why in hell she thought he'd give anything to the person trying to prove Cassie caused her own death. Where did the Bug get off asking whether Cassie knew how to drive? Didn't the Bug know his little girl was only fourteen?

The Bug said she's aware Cassie didn't have a valid operators license, but that didn't mean she didn't know how drive. So, did she?

The rocks rolling around in her head woke Sharon Newman up. Why, yes! Cassie often drove the twin ATVs kept around the ranch for the purpose of racing to the now cemented over pond to save children who've fallen through the ice. In fact, Sharon said it was of Cassie's "favorite" thing to do.

Flashing Sharon one of those looks that said "shut your mouth you stupid bitch" Nick snarled that operating an ATV is not the same as driving a car. If the Bug thinks otherwise and that it proves Cassie was driving Daniel's car she's sadly mistaken. Furthermore the Bug could save everyone lots of trouble if she'd concentrate on having her client plead guilty. That way the Newman nightmare would end, they'd get closure, and move on with their lives.

Before the Bug could answer private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams barged in with news of great urgency. The news was so compelling Clueless said he wasn't sure how to spit it out. Against impossible odds a police forensic team had overlooked something in Daniel's car that was hiding right in plain sight. If, by chance, Nick happened to have the clothing Cassie was wearing on the night of the car wreck tucked away in a plastic bag in the closet he might actually solve the second case in his twenty year history.

God bless him, Nick did something right for a change. He denied having anything worn by Cassie that night.

"So you're saying you don't have them?" the Bug hacked.
"What did I just say you slimy bitch?" Nick did not reply, but you know, should have because this is how insolent and aggravating the Bug can be when she gets on a crusade tirade.

Foiled again the Bug and Clueless departed the ranch, but not before Clueless told the Bug she may have to get a court order to see the shoes Cassie wore that fateful night as the heel had been found under the car's gas pedal and it wasn't Clueless. It was the heel of a shoe that went unnoticed by a so-called professional team of criminology experts.

Meanwhile, inside the Newman outhouse, Sharon was aghast. Why had Nick lied to the Bug? Did he not know it's a cardinal sin? Did Nick forget Sharon lied her ass off for months at a time when she thought she'd killed Cameron Kirsten? Did Nick not know his mother actually prayed Sharon wouldn't get caught and helped Sharon cover-up her crime? Remember the golden rule of hypocrisy, Nick. Do as we say, not as we do.

Nick did not listen. Within the span of an hour he made the second smartest move he's made in, like, ever, when he considered destroying the evidence. Why was this smart? Because those at the highest levels of government do it every day and get away with it!

In a way it's shameful to condone Nick's action as an innocent teenager could go to prison as a result. In another way, however, it's nice to see a resemblance of reality

The Fugitive (Justice Denied)
Bug Rules Evidence Not Admissible!

July 25, 2005

Thank God. I mean, thank God! I thought I was going crazy. I thought my head was going to split wide open when Christine 'Bug' Blair, you know how creepy Daniel Romalotti's lawyer is, said Monday, among other things, that fingerprints belonging to the victim found on the steering wheel, the driver's side door of Daniel's car and the keys, are "not admissible in court"!

I know the rights of those accused of crimes in Genoa City are almost nonexistent, but only a military tribunal would exclude such damning evidence. Jesus with a Guantanamo detainee mindset what is wrong with the critter? Didn't she learn anything at the Sears School of Law? Okay, so the prints are "partials", but still. If, as private detective Paul 'Clueless' Williams said, "They found Cassie's prints on the wheel" and said prints were identified as being Cassie's and prove Cassie Newman at some time had access to Daniel's vehicle, would this knowledge not leave a reasonable doubt in the minds of jury members enough so as to find Daniel not guilty? That's assuming City Persecutor wouldn't outright drop the case if only Glenn Richards knew such evidence exists.

Speaking of Richards, speaking of police detective Hank 'KGB' Weber and the crack forensic team that supposedly went over the vehicle, why hasn't anyone known of these prints previously? Why didn't the Bug get a copy of the original report? Whatever happened to the discovery rule? Why hasn't Richards and the Bug been charged with legal malpractice?

Not only that. Why is there no outrage? Why is the Bug not livid? Why is she not right now calling for this case to be tossed like last week's trash? Why did the Bug tells Clueless "we're back to square one" when for chrissakes this development could put them light years beyond this latest in a series of Keystone Kop Capers?

Why? So that Clueless might give the Bug one of his best nothing registers in my catatonic brain looks just before saying they need to know whether Cassie knew how to drive a car.

It would be nice if just once these two nitwits would compare notes. From her own lightweight investigation the Bug should have surmised that Cassie had a learner's permit. She could have checked this out with a simple call to DMV. The Bug had to have known that a young girl living on a ranch must have been able to drive one of the many tractors or ATVs found at the Newman Ponderosa. If the Bug was not a city-born brat she might have known kids raised on farms, especially one wise beyond her years as Cassie was, are practically born behind the wheel.

Granted, the Bug may not have actually heard what she saw as the saying goes, "People hear what they see". When the Bug was watching the lips of a prospective witness mouth the words "Cassie was excited about getting a permit" she must have thought the witness meant the anticipation. This in turn would explain why, rather than call Nick Newman, the Bug slithered all the way to Newman's outhouse to ask Nick in person, "Did Cassie know how to drive a car?"

Nick's answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, but think about what it should be given Nick desperately seeks revenge against Daniel. Why would he admit Cassie knew how to do anything if such admission might be used to discredit Cassie? This is, of course, before Nick's floating on a cloud watching over other Newman siblings dead daughter returned to Earth in a dream.

Conjured up by looking at clothing and other worldly goods in Cassie's possession on the night of the fatal accident now kept in a plastic bag, Nick took a good whiff of the kid's green skirt. Put the stinky garb right in his face he did and sure enough Cassie appeared to ask how she looks for a dead person. Nick was giddy. Cassie was so "dolled up" he might have developed an erection had the circumstances been different. Cassie scolded Nick when he began bawling like her mother and told him to stop being such a party pooper.

Even as a ghost Cassie knew better than stick around when Sharon walked in to ask why Nick was pawing through the remains of that day. God bless her, Sharon couldn't imagine who in their right mind would keep junk like that around. For sure, Sharon didn't want to look because she'd bawl too and there's never enough buckets to go around. She did have good news, however. Thanks to Nick's powerful and influential father Daniel's trial date has been moved up although they don't know exactly when that will be. Sharon hopes when it's all over they can "try" moving on with their meaningless lives. Nick wasn't so sure. Does Sharon really think they can move on when they've tried and failed so many times before?

"We have to", Sharon decreed, at which point Nick agreed albeit not for pointing out that there's a difference between moving on and closure. In order for them to move on closure must come first and only if it's done as "a family". More importantly they must remember they have a son somewhere out there who "needs" them although Noah Newman seems to be doing just fine without them.

In a related development, Juvenile Detection detainee Daniel Romalotti showed signs this week of having to fight off fellow detainees in need of filthy pleasure. Sporting a cut on his pretty face Daniel flicked off all concern. During the few days behind bars Daniel has learned there's a constant struggle for sexual dominance whenever males are confined together.

"It's no big deal. It happens all the time here," Daniel said in his best manly tone during a visit with his mother. A worried, putting on an air of innocence regarding such matters despite the many times she's been in jail, Phyllis Summers indicated she'd speak with gulag officials if that's what it takes to protect Daniel's virginity. How dare they expose her son to such stuff? Don't they known Daniel is a precious innocent thing and what the heck is the world coming to when you can't leave your American teenager alone with a pack of horny toads without one of them trying to rape him or her?

So then. To keep everyone's rage intact Daniel puffed out his chest. He's a big boy now. He'll fight off the queers by himself thank you. Daniel also commented on having taken Jack Abbott's advice to "reflect" on what he did that got into this mess and he's reached the conclusion Nick was right. Whether he's found innocent of causing Cassie's death or not the bottom line is "that girl" is dead because of his stupidity.

Daniel was so convinced, so brainwashed, he appeared ready to use the remaining days in detention to sit down and carefully type out a short letter to Cassie's parents, (using lots of ALL CAPS and superfluous punctuation to emphasize the fact that those boarding school English classes were, like, a total waste of daddy's money) and to the persecutor and to the Family Council on Drunk Driving, and say HEY, goddammit, it was Cassie who paid the ultimate price so why bother giving me a trial? Just slap my ass in the men's prison and be done with it!

Somewhat reactionary, fearful perhaps that a family watchdog group might seize on Daniel's proposed who-will-save-the-children plea, Phyllis didn't like the idea. It's bad enough the truly guilty like Diane Jenkins are rarely punished. What would become of Daniel should he plead guilty to something he didn't do? But what really got Phyllis worked up was that all-important question: why was Daniel drinking that night?

The answer? Love made him do it. In a fit of compassion Daniel said some terrible things to Lily Winters following which his brain turned to mush. His colon clenched and there was only one thing to do. Pour battery acid into his kidneys. Sure, it was dumb. But, hey! What do you expect from a moronic teenager who thought running from the law would improve a bad situation?

Justice Takes a Back Seat

July 20, 2005

Maybe someone shoved a copy of the GCN under Christine 'Bug' Blair's gnarly beak. The July 19th edition wherein the Genoa City News questioned why murder suspect Daniel Romalotti hadn't conferred with his lawyer since before he went on the lam and why the Bug wasn't at the jail when Daniel was captured and returned this week. Maybe the GCN's insinuation that the Bug is more interested in saving her ugly face and making goody-goody with Daniel's persecutors was what got the Bug off her ass Wednesday and over to the gulag.

After explaining she's not really sure Daniel won't rot in prison for about ten years, but if he stays "positive" she might pull a rabbit out of her hat, the Bug asked Daniel about his so-called "friends" in the park on the night Cassie Newman was there. Who were those people? More importantly, where did Daniel get the beer he was drinking? As if the Bug, so sheltered and living under a rock most of the time, didn't know minors can obtain booze and contraband as easily as standing outside the nearest 7-11, Daniel said a Walnut Grove Academy student named Sam Christianson provided the alcohol.

This shocking news, this it don't mean crap to a tree where Daniel got the beer from, made the Bug giddy. Yes! Yes! "This is what I need" she squealed, then asked if Daniel could name one other person at the park. Let's see. There was, um, Ali I don't know her last name. There was Randy and his date and golly, Daniel strained his brain, but couldn't come up with a last name.

Not that it really mattered. The Bug had a major surprise for Daniel. Thanks to her hard work, thanks to having pulled some sticky political strings, she'd arranged to have a long-distant call from washed-up rock and roller Danny routed to the gulag!

At first Daniel wasn't impressed. He didn't want to speak with the man he keeps calling "Dad". Alas, the Bug convinced him otherwise and damn if she wasn't, as usual, right. Only a crusading Bug could have known Daniel needed that call like an addict needs a fix. True, Danny is too freaking busy thinking about himself to be bothered with being at his "son's" side during what has to be a scary time except that's how Daniel wants it so what Daniel wants, Daniel gets. Besides, for Danny to do the right thing means he'd have to cancel his non-stop tour of Europe where maybe five persons turn out to hear a bad rocker from the 80's crooning even older tunes. Hell, if Danny came to Genoa City now Daniel would, "never be able to forgive myself."

As for how his partner in crime is doing the Bug reported for the first time - and as the GCN surmised - that attorney Michael Baldwin, busy as he is with putting on a wedding and searching for Scotty Grainger, is representing Lily Winters and even arranged bail without a hearing! Ain't that Baldwin great? No doubt about it as the Bug hissed, "You know how good he is."

It was of some consternation that following her visit the Bug slithered out to the Newman Ponderosa where she jumped on Victor Newman for putting undue influence on the City Persecutor. How dare Mr. Newman presume to order Glenn Richards to move up the date of Daniel's trial that hasn't even been set? Victor grunted only one thing matters. The sanctity of his family. The Newmans want "closure" and they want it yesterday. So what if it means Daniel won't get a fair trial? Screw it! What Victor wants, Victor gets. With that said Victor told the Bug to buzz off reminding her again that in America justice takes a back seat to politics, money and power.

Justice In Genoa City Slips, Slides Away

July 19, 2005

Oh my freaking God! I never thought I'd see the day. But then, I should have known. If anything can be so warped and off the wall it's City Persecutor Glenn Richards making the one hour drive to the Newman Ponderosa following a summons he received from the great Victor Newman.

It helps to remember that not so long ago Glenn toiled day and night doing all he could to have Victor sent away to a nice dungeon during the time Glenn was trying to make a charge of Commercial Bribery stick on the mustache. Arriving Tuesday right on time as directed Glenn said he was surprised to get a phone call requesting his presence given that, as Victor said, it's unusual for Glenn to "conduct business outside your office".

Apparently unaware that Glenn conducts more business outside his office than in, or that Glenn made numerous trips to the bug bunker when the critter was helping put nails in his coffin, Victor had obviously failed to tell Glenn why his attendance at the ponderosa was necessary as Glenn repeatedly asked, "Why am I here?"

At first Glenn thought Victor might attempt to "exert undue influence" and voiced his hope that a man of Victor's "stature and prominence", a man who pled guilty to a crime, a man slapped with probation and community service for said crime and who had to build a wreck center as a means to clear his conscience, would never stoop so low and Victor assured him he'd never do such a thing.

Then, in the next breath, Victor said, "I'm looking for some special consideration."

Because there's a big difference between special consideration and influence Glenn was all ears. Of what service could he be? Victor laid it out in terms any upstanding persecutor would understand. Given the Newman family needs "closure", since it's important the "healing" process begin and never mind that Cassie Newman has been dead for weeks, Victor wants the Daniel Romalotti trial moved up. Sure, no date for the trial has yet been set, but when it is Victor would very much appreciate having it sped up so long as doing so would be "within the confines" of the law.

Always the considerate persecutor Glenn's thoughts immediately focused on the needs of the defense. As it was the creepy Christine 'Bug' Blair was short on time. Speeding up the trial might put another notch in his gun belt, but gasp, think what might happen if the Bug hadn't enough time to prepare her case? Forget too that it isn't up to Glenn at all. Judges set trial dates and only when said date is agreeable to both sides.

Rocking back on his heels Victor didn't like what he was hearing. That bastard, that punk, that bad seed Daniel doesn't deserve a fair trial. Daniel's recent actions are proof positive he should be strung up without a trial at al