What did the Borden jurors know about Correira?

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Darrowfan
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What did the Borden jurors know about Correira?

Post by Darrowfan »

I apologize if this issue has been discussed before, but did the jurors in Lizzie's trial know that Jose Correira did not arrive in the US until after the Bordens were murdered? Has there been any research done on this? If the jurors were aware that Correira had committed a similar crime in the area, but did not know that he arrived after the Borden slayings, they may have felt that he was the probable killer of Andrew and Abby. That would go a long way in explaining Lizzie's acquittal. I read somewhere that Lizzie's attorney spoke to some reporters about Correira, but was there any mention of him at Lizzie's trial?

Also, is anything known of Correira's life after he was deported? I'm interested in that because my wife was born in the Azores, the same place where Correira was from. It's a tiny chain of islands owned by Portugal. Thanks in advance for any information.
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PossumPie
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Re: What did the Borden jurors know about Correira?

Post by PossumPie »

Darrowfan wrote:I apologize if this issue has been discussed before, but did the jurors in Lizzie's trial know that Jose Correira did not arrive in the US until after the Bordens were murdered? Has there been any research done on this? If the jurors were aware that Correira had committed a similar crime in the area, but did not know that he arrived after the Borden slayings, they may have felt that he was the probable killer of Andrew and Abby. That would go a long way in explaining Lizzie's acquittal. I read somewhere that Lizzie's attorney spoke to some reporters about Correira, but was there any mention of him at Lizzie's trial?

Also, is anything known of Correira's life after he was deported? I'm interested in that because my wife was born in the Azores, the same place where Correira was from. It's a tiny chain of islands owned by Portugal. Thanks in advance for any information.
As you said Corriera couldn't possible have been the Borden killer b/c he wasn't in the United States at the time. The timing of his murder of Manchester couldn't have happened at a better time for Lizzie, It had to be known to the jurors. If the the defense had believed that Corriera could possibly influence their decision, I think his name would have been brought up multiple times by the defense to plant a seed of doubt about Lizzie. As far as I know, he wasn't brought up. I believe they were sequestered from the news by the time they caught him. His crime had a clear motive though...An argument over a paycheck was the motive for Corriera.
Last edited by PossumPie on Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Darrowfan
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Re: What did the Borden jurors know about Correira?

Post by Darrowfan »

PossumPie wrote:
As you said Corriera couldn't possible have been the Borden killer b/c he wasn't in the United States at the time. If the the defense had believed that Corriera could possibly influence their decision, I think his name would have been brought up multiple times by the defense to plant a seed of doubt about Lizzie.
Well, I have gone through the trial transcripts, but not exhaustively. So far, I have found no mention of him. Of course, the prosecution would have probably objected to Corriera's name being mentioned, although the defense could have introduced the mere fact that a similar crime had been committed while Lizzie was incarcerated.

As I said, Lizzie's attorney, Andrews, made a point of sarcastically asking some reporters, "Will the State argue that my client committed this crime as well?" I have no doubt that Andrews intended that remark for the jury's ears, not the reporters. I think Corriera was arrested in June 1893, shortly before Lizzie's trial started.
"Fiat justitia ruat caelum"
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