Psychology professor Elizabeth Loftus, hailing from the University of California Irvine, took the stand on the 26th day of Michelle Troconis' trial at the Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford. Troconis faces charges linked to the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Dulos.
Accused of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution, Troconis allegedly attempted to fabricate an alibi for her former boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, on the day Jennifer vanished in May 2019. Loftus, an expert in human memory and eyewitness testimony, emphasized her specialization in false memories.
"Fotis Dulos died while facing murder charges, and Jennifer Dulos has been declared legally dead, yet her whereabouts remain unknown," stated Loftus during her testimony. Drawing from her research, Loftus highlighted the susceptibility of memory to contamination, particularly through post-event suggestion.
"As time passes, memories can become more vulnerable to distortion," Loftus added, underscoring the challenges in discerning between accurate recollections and implanted falsehoods. She stressed that individuals may confidently recount false memories, unaware of their inaccuracy.
During the lunch break on Thursday, Elizabeth Loftus, the psychology professor testifying in Michelle Troconis' criminal trial, highlighted the fragility of human memory in discussions with the media.
"As humans, we make mistakes, and one of the common reasons we make mistakes is that people feed us misinformation or they tell us things that aren't true or they tell us things that are highly suggestive or biased, and that can contaminate somebody's memory, transform the memory, make them doubt their own memory," Loftus explained.
In her testimony, Loftus underscored that individuals tend to recall shocking events more readily than mundane ones. She referenced a study wherein participants were asked to recollect events from three weeks prior, revealing how memory can be influenced by subsequent information.
Jon Schoenhorn, Troconis' defense attorney, continued presenting witnesses, including Henry Thomas French Jr., who observed Fotis Dulos jogging on the day of Jennifer's disappearance. French's testimony introduced an alternative perspective regarding Dulos' demeanor, suggesting distress rather than guilt.
Loftus refrained from definitively labeling Troconis as dishonest, emphasizing her role as an expert witness rather than a determiner of guilt or innocence.
Attorney Michael Rose, who represented Fotis Dulos in divorce proceedings, provided testimony limited by a protective order. Rose described changes in Dulos' visitation rights and his reaction to a custody report.
Troconis, visibly emotional, observed the proceedings, while Connecticut State Police Sgt. Christoper Allegro recounted interviews conducted in the investigation.
Despite prosecution objections, the court permitted Loftus and another expert to testify, ensuring the continuation of expert testimonies. Viorica Marian, a professor specializing in communication sciences and disorders, is expected to provide further insights.
As the state rested its case, Judge Randolph denied a defense motion for judgment of acquittal, signaling the impending conclusion of witness testimonies before the defense presents its case.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Superior_Court
https://witnessdirectory.com/signup.php
