Gardena Attempted Murder Trial Gets Underway
This morning was opening statements and the first three witnesses in the Torrance Superior Court trial of People v. Lavell Gatewood. Gatewood is accused of shooting and injuring his wife, Denise Gatewood, during a dispute at their home in the 2700 block of West 147th Street in Gardena on Dec. 8, 2006.
Before the trial even began, though, one juror had to be dismissed. Juror #3 sent a note to Judge James Brandlin that said serving her civic duty on the one-week trial would be a hardship for her because of her work and because she needed to drive her 13-year-old daughter to extracurricular activities. Defense attorney Winston McKesson didn't want a disgruntled juror, and asked for her dismissal outright. Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link agreed with Brandlin that they should have a discussion with Juror #3. Link added that the juror's husband was employed as a geneticist and they live in Palos Verdes Estates - suggesting money was probably not much of an issue. The judge and both attorneys were miffed that the juror didn't disclose her hardship during the hardship part of jury questioning last week.
After a discussion at sidebar, the judge and attorneys agreed she could not be fair and was incapable of performing her duties. She was dismissed and replaced by an alternate.
While Mrs. Gatewood is expected to take the witness stand this afternoon, the panel of six men and six women heard from her neighbors this morning. Kennedy Blackwell, 12, told the jury she was asleep when she heard Mrs. Gatewood yelling: "Don't do it! I won't leave you! Think of the kids!" Kennedy, a very mature girl who was more composed on the witness stand than many adults who testify, also said she heard gunshots that she originally thought were firecrackers.
McKesson didn't deny during opening statements that his client, in a bad place emotionally, shot his wife. However, McKesson said the evidence will show Gatewood did not have the intent to kill Mrs. Gatewood and that the gun accidentally fired. The couple had been together for about 20 years and have three children.
Gatewood is charged with attempted murder causing great bodily injury under domestic violence circumstances. If convicted, he faces life in prison, according to Link.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
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About the Blogger
Denise Nix knew as young as grade school, when she spent every summer working on the camp newspaper, that she wanted to be a journalist. Denise has spent most of the last 12 years of her career in the courtroom. She joined the Daily Breeze in 2001, where she tracks and reports on hundreds of cases at every level of the justice system. And she's never, ever, seen a judge use a gavel.
E-mail Denise at denise.nix@dailybreeze.com.
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Thanks for writing about this trial. They were more than 100 of us who were questioned to be jurors on this trial. And, about that many excused. So we'll want to see what we missed.
I am LaVell Gatewood sister in law. I thought the Daily Breeze was a honest paper. I see you post the prosecution side. I pray that you do the same for my brother in law. What ever happen inocent until proven guilty.
Let me say this LaVell DID NOT SET OUT TO KILL DENISE. LaVell is a ill man. He need help not prison. What happen to Denise was a tragic, however she knows LaVell did not try to kill her. The story she told was not the truth. Denise was not innocent in their marriage. Both have issues, which I truly hope she get help as well. Everyone related to this tragic matter has been hurt by this. For those who thought that LaVell family was just going to stand on the side line and let these people railroad him, you must have been out of your mind. We as a family wanted to stand by both Denise and LaVell, however Denise chose to make this ugly. I pray for both her and LaVell.
I am not related or know any of the people involved but I read this story. LaVell never denied shooting this poor woman and I don't see where T. Gatewood after reading the paper would say that your paper is being bias. It is truly sad that any family would take up for a relative that was horrifically wrong in trying to kill the Mother of his children, regardless if any one had any issues or affairs or stole money or was dishonest in the relationship; when you pull the trigger on anyone, there is intent to kill them, not even to committ bodily injury to KILL THEM. What, so, you pull a gun and shoot someone and then say, "Oh, I was just playing" and in the story, he shot this poor woman what was it 4 times, and "Oh, again by the way, I didn't mean to hurt you OR Oh, by the way, after you stuck with me for what was it 20 years, Im know all of a sudden CRAZY" come on! I hope justice prevails to the max of whatever he is allowed to get. This woman and those poor children have been forever scared and is LaVell's family reaching out to support the emotional damage caused upon these other people whose lives are FOREVER damaged because he was a coward?? Don't support your family members WRONGNESS (Im making that a word). Tell him he was wrong and allow him to face punishment for that wrongness. You support him by sending him $20.00 monthly to get him some personal hygiene items from prison, go visit him and take your Pastor as he needs prayer but he deserves to be in prison if not put to death! Sincerely, a Citizen of the United States, who never met any of these people, let justice prevail!!