About Indictment
Francis v. Franklin
Due process requires the government to prove every element of a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Unites States v. Gipson
The unanimity rule requires jurors to be in substantial agreement as to just what the defendant did. Thus,
requiring the vote of twelve (12) jurors to convict a defendant does little to insure that his Sixth Amendment
right to unanimous is protected unless this prerequisite of jury consensus as to the defendant’s course of
actions is also required.
(52) OVERT ACTS LISTED IN THE INDICTMENT AGAINST JESSE BROOKS
JESSE BROOKS IS NAMED IN ONLY (4) ACTS
# 6 Jesse Brooks and Michael Benton traveled to Jack Reid’s home with a “mag” flashlight
and a baseball bat to use as weapons: and/or
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# 9 Jesse Brooks contacted Michael Benton to assist in the plan to kill Jack Reid, Sr.; and/or
# 10 John Brooks, Jesse Brooks and Joseph Vrooman held a meeting in Las Vegas to
discuss details of the plan to kill Jack Reid Sr.; and/or
# 49 Jesse Brooks paid Joseph Vrooman a sum of money; and/or
The Real Story Behind Each Act
#6 Jesse Brooks and Michael Benton traveled to Jack Reid’s home with a “mag” flashlight and a baseball bat to use as weapons: and/or
TRUTH
Michael Benton who was facing the death penalty, is the only person to make this claim. According to every relevant witness at trial: Andrew Carter, Laura Eori, Officer Scott Balukonis and even Jack Reid Sr.’s police statement - NO WEAPONS were used or found.
11/08/03 Police officers searched the area with a K9 dog after Jack Reid identified the path and found no weapons. The police report states that Jack Reid said a man (identified as Jesse Brooks) held his hands over his head and that his hands were empty. He also stated that the man called out his name, “Jack”.
Jesse Brooks insists that he simply went to talk to Jack (whom he has known for some time) to find out if he had any information or knowledge regarding the theft of his family’s property. All witnesses (including Benton) stated it was only to talk to Jack Reid but Benton changed his story while negotiating a lighter sentence.
Note: Michael Benton was never charged with this 2003 fabricated allegation yet Jesse Brooks was. Listen to Benton admit that he didn’t intend to do anything wrong.
#9 Jesse Brooks contacted Michael Benton to assist in the plan to kill Jack Reid, Sr.; and/or
TRUTH
In June 2005, upon hearing that his friend Michael Benton was out of work and had been thrown out of his parent’s house, Jesse called from Nevada and asked Benton if he was interested in making some money moving furniture so contractors could begin restoration on his parent’s lake house in NH after pipes burst earlier in the year. There was plenty of work and it kept Vrooman, Knight and Connors busy for an entire week according to their testimony.
In 2006, Benton was arrested and told police he had worked with them at the lake house. He also told them Jesse had called and asked if he’d help his father, Jay Brooks. By the time of Jesse’s trial in 2009, Benton changed his story, but he had already openly confessed that Jesse had nothing to do with recruiting him.
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In a June 7, 2007 recorded jail call with his mother during an unguarded moment, Benton’s mother insisted he take Jesse down with him because it must have been Jesse that got him involved but Benton told her, “No, it wasn’t.”
Listen for yourself - Michael Benton Jail Calls.
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The jury was never informed of the recorded jail call.
Benton's Drug Addiction
Benton's Memory Problems
#10 John Brooks, Jesse Brooks and Joseph Vrooman held a meeting in Las Vegas to discuss details of the plan to kill Jack Reid, Sr.; and/or
TRUTH
Vrooman claims the meeting was held in the bedroom of Jay Brooks’ Las Vegas home on Thursday, June 16, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. or shortly thereafter.
THIS MEETING NEVER TOOK PLACE AND THE STATE WITHHELD THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE AT TRIAL.
Jesse was in Court at that time with Attorney Steve Wolfson, who is now the District Attorney for Las Vegas. Over the next several hours, Jesse visited his doctor and the pharmacy (where a photo ID is required). There are time stamped receipts that account for Jesse’s whereabouts on this day. At no time during the morning and mid-afternoon of June 16th, 2005 was Jesse Brooks present at his parents’ Las Vegas home. The jury never heard this evidence at Jesse Brooks’ trial.
LISTEN TO AUDIO RECORDINGS OF PROSECUTOR JANICE RUNDLES KNOWINGLY GIVING FALSE TESTIMONY IN ORDER TO CONVICT JESSE BROOKS
November 18, 2009 Janice Rundles details Vrooman’s fabricated bedroom meeting during her closing argument.
March 26, 2010 Janice Rundles discussed fabricated bedroom meeting during Jesse Brooks’ Sentencing Hearing.
June 15, 2011 Janice Rundles discussed fabricated bedroom meeting before New Hampshire Supreme Court.
#49 Jesse Brooks paid Joseph Vrooman a sum of money; and/or
TRUTH
Michael Connors’ girlfriend Bonnie Dube was told in September 2005 by Derry Detective Michael Houle that Joseph Vrooman had been paid $10,000 to "whack" Jack Reid. Joseph Vrooman wasn’t arrested until November 2006 so it’s a mystery where Det. Houle came up with that story.
When Vrooman was arrested in Tennessee he was told he was facing a possible life sentence and that Robin Knight was cooperating. At that time, NH State Police Scott Gilbert had UNDOCUMENTED discussions advising him not to talk to anyone until he had time to think about what he was going to do. NH State Police Sgt. Robert Estabrook had told Vrooman that they were only interested in Jay Brooks. After their UNDOCUMENTED discussions, Vrooman then claimed that Jay Brooks paid him $10,000.
TRUTH - Jesse Brooks never gave Joseph Vrooman any money relating to the death of Jack Reid. The jury never heard this evidence. Vrooman testified that when he was arrested, he told police that Jesse was not involved in any way. He admitted his story changed after Sgts. Estabrook and Gilbert took him for a ride and turned the recorder off and back on again. He also testified that he felt implicating Jesse gave him LEVERAGE to a lighter sentence.
Note: Vrooman was never charged with this fabricated allegation.