Trump trial dwell updates: Opening statements start with David Pecker lined up as first witness

Opening statements are actually underway with prosecution lawyer Assistant District Lawyer Matthew Colangelo starting.

“This case is a few prison conspiracy – and a cover-up. The defendant Donald Trump orchestrated a prison scheme to deprave the 2016 presidential election. Then he coated up that prison conspiracy by mendacity in his enterprise information, over and over and over.”

There don’t look like any of the Trump household in court docket right this moment to help Donald because the historic trial begins.

Whereas instructing the jury, Choose Merchan says attorneys are usually not permitted to make any feedback on the testimony of witnesses.

“That occurs on TV and within the motion pictures, that doesn’t occur in actual trials,” he says.

Each prosecutors and Mr Trump’s attorneys smiled on the remark.

Alex Woodward stories from the courtroom:

Manhattan prosecutors can query Donald Trump a few blockbuster fraud ruling, gag order violations and defamation verdicts if he chooses to testify in his hush cash trial.

Choose Merchan additionally will permit prosecutors to convey up his repeat violations of a gag order in a civil trial focusing on allegations of fraud in his actual property empire.

Choose Juan Merchan is giving the jury their directions, together with the fundamental rules of legislation and proof, and a reminder that the defendant is harmless till confirmed responsible.

The prosecution bears the burden of proof and should present it past an affordable doubt — in the event that they fulfill that, you could discover the defendant responsible, Merchan says.

That call should not be based mostly on hypothesis, bias, or prejudice.

Alex Woodward stories from the courtroom:

Choose Juan Merchan has dominated that prosecutors could introduce the next previous instances and judgments on cross-examination if Donald Trump testifies:

1. Choose Arthur Engoron’s judgment within the civil fraud trial
2. The fraud trial’s gag order violation
3. The fraud trial’s second gag order violation
4. The E Jean Carroll defamation verdicts

The jury is now coming into the courtroom.

Donald Trump appeared fixated on the bond he posted for his civil fraud trial ruling as he was on the way in which into the courtroom for his first prison trial.

Right here’s what the previous president needed to say:

Mr Trump appeared to do not forget that he bought into bother a couple of instances throughout that trial and backed off from naming the “crazed decide” — everyone knows he’s referring to Choose Arthur Engoron.