Women in orange: from the Spector trial
To hear them tell it, Lana Clarkson had two best friends, Jen and Pie. Jennifer Hayes-Reidl (right) testified last week. Punkin Irene Elizabeth Laughlin, aka Punkin Pie, is testifying today. Why are both of her friends testifying on behalf of the defense? And why are they both so orange?
After her near nip-slip appearance last week, Punkin Pie is in the courtroom with slightly better hair and a modest, cleavage-covering t-shirt. I was immediately convinced that she had googled herself and read all the media reports (summary: ick! please, don’t go braless!). In fact, whether or not she reads her own press became an issue during this morning’s testimony.
Back in 2003, Clarkson's family wanted to keep quiet, but somebody gave an interview to Star Magazine claiming to be one of Lana's dearest friends. Punkin Pie testified that it wasn't her, she never even read it, but at the time, some people thought it was. More about her reading-or-not will be detailed this afternoon. We're talking about a Vanity Fair article, and Dominick Dunne himself is in the audience.
The prosecution is trying to paint Pie as a spacy woman with motives that might be driven by her unfulfilled need for fame or by her tenuous job. She sure is spacy -- for some flavor, there's a rough transcript of some of Punkin on the stand afer the jump.
And listen, she calls herself Punkin Pie. Writing about her is like shooting fish in barrel. Neverthelss, I can't resist pointing you to Punkin on myspace.
Prosecution: You did have some contact with LC’s family (mother Donna and sister Fawn?
Pumkin Pie: A little, I think.
Prosecution: They wanted to keep this out of the press and they weren’t going to make any public comments. It was made very clear, ma’am, that the family of Lana Clarkson wanted to ensure the integrity of any investiation that might come around?
PP: I don’t know.
Prosecution: And they didn’t want to try it in the press?
PP: Yes.
Prosecution: You did grant one interview at least, with a magazine here in Los Angeles.
PP: I’m not sure.
Prosecution: Do you know the magazine Star Magazine?
PP: I never talked to that magazine.
Prosecution: Did you talk to a reporter representing that magazine or another?
PP: No.
Prosecution: Did you read the Star Magazine article?
PP: Nope.
Prosecution: Were you informed that there was an article that was indicated as being one of Lana’s closest girlfriends?
PP: I think I know who that was.
Prosecution: But according to you, this was not you, the anonymous girlfriend who talked to Star Magazine?
PP: Yes.
Prosecution:: The reality is, right, wrong or indifferent, you were devastated by the loss of your friend.
PP: It was an emotional time in my life.
Prosecution:: The family indicated to you that they believed you had gone to Star Magazine. You believed that the family members were somewhat angered?
PP: I think they were upset.
Prosecution: This article was published Feburary 25th?
PP: I have no idea.
Prosecution: This all came to a head within weeks of Lana Clarkson’s death. At that point, the only official interview you had given was Detectives Tomlin and Fournier with LA Sherrif’s bureau. Would you recall having a second conversation with them?
PP: Things were hazy.
Prosecution: Some of us have better memories than others.
PP: That was a joke, may I explain? [judge says no]
Prosecution: Things were hazy back then.
PP: It was a difficult time.
Prosecution: By your own description, it was hazy.
PP: I remember everything, it was sad.
Prosecution: Do you remember a 2nd conversation with the sherrifs?
PP: Did they come?
Prosecution: I’m just asking.
PP: No (I don’t remember).
Prosecution: (roughly) Your memory for back then was less clear than something that happened last week.... You don’t have any independent recollection of calling them [sherrifs] to modify your statement?
PP: I don’t. (looking puzzled)
Prosecution: The fact is, ma’am, you never did contact Det Tomlin & Fournier to modify the statement that you gave them.
PP: I’m not certain, but I have another notebook where I wrote things down. I might have it in my notes.