Excerpts From Broderick Letter

Please accept the notion that the suggestions I forward in the letter are based, not necessarily on what may be legally presented by the state in a criminal court of law (though this has been discussed at length), but on the basis of what I believe would have the most positive impact on a jury of lower middle class, less than average intelligence jurors. . . .

I believe that virtually every lie that Elizabeth tells on the stand should be refuted--regardless of how long it takes. . . . Make the defense object. Make the court rule in their favor. Part of each anecdote or story will find it’s way into the minds of the jury. . . . This whole effort could be orchestrated in such a way so as to show the jury that Elizabeth is a pathological liar--that she lies about everything and that when she isn’t lying, she is exaggerating to the extent that you can’t believe anything she says. . . .

I would be inclined to play the tapes and have the boys testify as late in the trial as possible, so as to have the greatest possible lasting impact on the jury. . . . (This refers to answering machine tapes of conversations Betty Broderick had with her sons during the divorce proceedings and while they were living with their father.)

I believe that it may be worthwhile to show that Elizabeth never took responsibility for any of her violent acts. They were always someone else’s fault--never her own. . . .

Additionally, Elizabeth’s account of the murders themselves is filled with lies and inconsistencies. . . . Her whole story from beginning to end about the events of that morning as to her plans to commit suicide, etc., etc., is simply not believable if thoroughly dissected. . . . Why didn’t she kill herself after she committed the murders? . . .

The bottom line here is that Dan’s family and friends are willing to take our chances with Dan’s real character versus what might be said by scoundrels produced by the defense.