Levette Crout, a well fed member of a minority, is on trial
for domestic violence and strangulation of her sister-in-law, Mildred in
Levette’s Pinckney, Michigan home. Mildred had lived with Levette and her
husband Joe, along with the mother of Joe and Mildred for the period October
2017 until the February 22, 2018 the day of the attack. The incident was said to have been
precipitated by Mildred’s refusal to copy the graduation pictures of Levette’s
niece. She had borrowed them and never got around to copying and returning them.
Words were spoken between her and Levette and it escalated into a physical
confrontation with Mildred unsuccessfully trying to swing a lamp at Levette and
Levette being pulled off her sister-in-law by her husband.
In the opening remarks by the defense we did find out that
Mildred was a bit of a mooch. She was unemployed and didn’t contribute to
household expenses. Her mother was asked to pay a not entirely charitable $500
a month to stay. Mildred lived downstairs in a finished basement and mother
lived in a bedroom upstairs. Levette was described as being employed long term
nurse at University of Michigan Hospital.
Mildred took the stand first and testified that she had been
choked by Levette to the point she had trouble breathing and wet herself. To
begin with Mildred and Levette argued about the photo album upstairs. Mildred
was asked to leave, but said she had no place to go. Mildred went downstairs to
the finished basement. She had been ready to go to bed when Levette burst into
her basement room. Levette came into once again order her out of her house. She
described how in her defense she’d picked up a lamp but didn’t hit Levette.
Levette pushed her back down on her bed and began to strangle her with both
hands; Mildred felt she was about to pass out. Her brother came down and pulled
Levette off.
This was at night and it’s not said whether she had
transportation. Levette had no concern where Mildred might have gone; just that
she wanted her to vacate her house. Mildred testified she came down later for a
change of clothes. We will find out that things had been building up, and then
burst. The mother was still welcome.
No one reported this to the police at the time and Mildred
did not go to the hospital to check for injuries. And it was Levette who filed
a police report the next day. Mildred didn’t file one until Sunday the 25th.
The defense argued that the only reason Mildred filed was that Levette filed on
Friday.
Mildred’s mother (wish I could have gotten the name but it
was strange something like identity(??) something, sorry) testified of the
fracas downstairs. She saw her son, Joe, holding down Levette with Mildred
upset and crying in the next room. The mother was certain that Mildred hadn’t gone
back down to the basement to get a change of clothes.
This is where it gets real interesting. The reporting
officer Sgt. Trenkle came to the Pinckney residence on Friday morning, February
23. Levette reported a domestic assault incident with her husband. There was
police car camera audio recorded. In passing Levette mentions this incident
with her husband was precipitated by the dustup with Mildred. Levette is heard
to say she “lost it” and she choked Mildred, after Mildred had disrespectfully
waved a finger at her. She admits to bending the Mildred’s finger.
And that Joe came to pull her off her sister-in-law. It must
be noted that Levette doesn’t mention acting in self-defense.
Then detective Hamton testified. Mildred contacted the
police Sunday and pictures were taken of her.
She displayed isolated brushes and scrapes on her arms and hip and below
her neck was a mark as well. Signs she’d been in a tussle. It was reported that
Levette had jumped on Mildred.
We listen to the interview tape of Levette. She admits some
measure of guilt; she shouldn’t have done it and pulled off by her husband. But
she claims to have a memory lapse as to what she did after she bent Mildred’s
waving finger. She let detective know how annoying Mildred was and how things
built up over the months. Levette offers that Mildred shares wigs with her
mother (the implication was …who does that?) and speaks in tongues. She has no
friends and never ever leaves the house.
The defense offered an expert who says that the mark below
the neck couldn’t be evidence of strangulation and it’s hard to say what caused
it. Then the defense rested.
The key is that the defendant admits to “losing it” and
choking Mildred and saying she shouldn’t have done it. It’s easily
ascertainable that domestic abuse occurred. Even in the light of the lamp that
Mildred is said to have swung (not thrown) at Levette. Levette could have
backed out of the bedroom and wasn’t’ in fear of great bodily harm or for that
matter death. Strangulation is a bit harder since Mildred and her mother’s
stories about the change of clothes don’t match.
Oh, my God!
O.J. ending here!
Levette was judged NOT GUILTY. It goes without saying a very
surprising verdict, indeed. I’ve witnessed more than one trial involving
domestic abuse. More evidence present here of domestic assault than other
trials I’ve witnessed of domestic assault; the admission of the defendant losing
it and choking the victim to the police and no convincing argument for self-defense.
I’ve seen defendants convicted on the testimony of the victim, absent corroborating
evidence.
The verdict doesn’t make Levette sister-in-law of the year
however.
