Opinion ID: 2639434
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Joanna's Trial Testimony

Text: At petitioner's trial, Joanna told this story: In the early evening of June 12, 1984, Joanna, Denise, and several other young people were at a wandering party in downtown Placerville. At some point, the party moved to a place outside a car dealership. Joanna noticed petitioner drive by, and shortly thereafter saw Denise heading home. Denise walked toward the freeway underpass and then got into petitioner's car. Petitioner then picked up Joanna, telling her they were going to a party. After heading east on Highway 50, they stopped on a dirt road off Mormon Emigrant Trail. Joanna got out, walked uphill, and vomited. While washing her face in a little trickle of water, a stream, she heard Denise scream. From a distance of 55 to 60 feet in the moonlit night, Joanna saw Denise run from petitioner. Denise was naked and had her hands behind her back as if bound. Petitioner caught Denise, pushed her down, pulled a knife, and stabbed her. Joanna fled through the forest, making her way back to Mormon Emigrant Trail. There, she hid from an approaching car, fearing it might be petitioner. She then hailed the next car and got a ride back to Placerville from a young man named Joe, whom she had previously met at a local teen dance club. Back in Placerville, Joanna encountered Bruce Nesthus, who had been at the wandering party with her earlier. She spent the rest of the night at his house. Not until five months later, when she talked to Dr. Dougherty, Detective Harnage and Sergeant Wilson, did Joanna reveal to anyone her eyewitness account of Denise's murder.