What's In A Name?

The other day I was in the same room with a murderer. That was a first, as far as I know.

Last Wednesday Patrick and I went downtown to the courthouse to sit in on the murder trial of Jesse James Hollywood. He was the Manson-like perpetrator of a murder. The young man, Nick Markowitz, was brought here to Santa Barbara from the San Fernando Valley in August of 2000. He was kidnapped because his brother owed Hollywood drug money. It went bad and Hollywood's minions shot and killed the boy, burying him in a shallow grave up in our mountains.

The movie, Alpha Dog, was based on the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping/murder.

We heard the testimony of some 20 year olds (at the time) who had been around Jesse and Nick when they first arrived in Santa Barbara. Nick's mouth, hands and feet were bound in duck tape. Then a few of the boys continued to drive him around Santa Barbara. It has been said that Nick was partying with them. Nick was 15 and evidently enjoyed alcohol and pot. After 3 days he was killed.

Jesse was in Los Angeles at the time, having dinner with his girlfriend, Michele, and other friends. He spoke with one of the guys in Santa Barbara on the phone and was told that the murder had taken place. He is charged with authorizing it.

Yesterday I went down by myself and sat in. It was chilling hearing the testimony of Michele, talking about fleeing California with Jesse. Most chlling was the fact that Nick's mother was sitting in the row in front of me. She seems to clench her teeth much of the time.

Dana will be here on vacation from New York on Monday, and we plan to attend the trial some days. My daughters are equally fascinated by criminals and crime, I guess I did that to them. As I told the News-Press reporter yesterday during a break: I am a student of human nature. I desperately wish to enter the minds of criminals and try to find out how they think.

Marci Wormser, the reporter, asked me if I thought Hollywood was a sociopath. Told her I didn't think so. Said he was just a stupid 20 year old who sold dope for a living -- living high in many respects. Made huge mistakes for which he will probably pay with his life. Well, he did evade authorities for 5 years and was finally found in a beach town in Brazil. Cunning is probably a better word for him.

At the end of the court day yesterday, after the jury had filed out and before the audience left, I was watching Jesse. Still sitting at the defense table, his left profile showing, he quickly began shoving something into his mouth. Whatever it was made a huge lump in his left cheek. Nick's mother laughed ironically and said, well he did wait for the jury to leave. It was rather disgusting. Well, a lot disgusting.

I hope to be able to tell Mrs. Markowitz how very sorry I am for the loss of her son. And that finally having a trial must make her feel a tiny bit better. I don't know if I'll have the nerve.