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Alcoholism. That's how Sarah Boone's defense began their opening statements. Her lead attorney James Owens told jurors about the alcohol addiction she and her Jorge Torres dealt with and how it often mixed in with domestic violence. Owens argued that the suitcase Torres was zipped in was a physical restraint to block a potential attack in Boone's attempt at self-defense. Domestic violence was a running theme in the relationship between the defendant and the victim.
S1, EP8 "Cellphone Extraction"
Cellphone data extraction made its way into this trial. Prosecutors wanted to show the jury beyond reasonable doubt that Sarah Boone intentionally killed Jorge Torres, her boyfriend at the time, by keeping him zipped up in a suitcase and then leaving him to die overnight. The defendant apparently video recorded her boyfriend stuck in the suitcase pleading to get out. It was in two different clips on her cellphone authorities seized in their murder investigation.
S1, EP9 "Police Interview"
The Defense had specific questions for a digital forensics examiner. It was under cross-examination and jurors were learning of the digital evidence that linked the defendant to the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, inside their apartment. Next, the police interrogation of Sarah Boone was introduced to the jury. On the stand, was the lead investigator on this case. Hours after Jorge Torres was found dead inside a suitcase, police immediately began questioning her on all that had transpired.
S1, EP10 "Gathering Incriminating Evidence"
Jurors heard for the first time from Sarah Boone. Prosecutors brought in the police interrogation where she initially told detectives the events that led up to Jorge Torres' death. Jurors listened to her talk about what she remembered happened. In recorded cellphone footage Torres' voice could be heard from inside the suitcase that he was trapped in. He was heard calling out Boone's name and telling her he could not breathe. The State wanted to use this as evidence of intentional murder.
S1, EP11 "The Interrogation"
Jurors watched more unedited portions of her police interview she gave after Jorge Torres, her boyfriend. At the time detectives were still investigating his death as a potential homicide. In the interrogation, Boone gave police more background of her turbulent, drama-filled relationship she had with Torres in the years and months before he died. Boone sounded like her boyfriend's death was just an accident that happened while they were having fun drinking and playing games.
