Prosecutors on Thursday revisited a topic that's been the subject of much debate throughout the hot car death trial: the alleged web searches of Ross Harris.
Jim Persinger, a computer forensics investigator contracted by the state, testified that Harris, accused of intentionally leaving 22-month-old son Cooper strapped into his car seat for nearly seven hours, searched for information about vacations for two adults and no children one night before his only child's death.
That same night, however, Harris had messaged a travel agent about a planned cruise with his wife, son and half-brother’s family.
Early in the case, the state had alleged that the former Home Depot web developer searched for a child-free Reddit group, though testimony two weeks ago revealed he had been directed to that site by a friend from work.
But that revelation has not dissuaded prosecutors from trying to link Harris’ online activity to motive.
For instance, Persigner testified Thursday that Harris had searched “name change” on his work computer. Suspicious, perhaps, but defense attorney Carlos Rodriguez said it demonstrated nothing.
“You don’t know why he searched for name change,” Rodriguez said in his cross examination.
Persinger had testified the search produced a checklist of links to subjects including divorce and legal separation, which Harris clicked.
“Any evidence that he searched for cruelty to a child, murder? Any evidence that he searched for malicious intent?” Rodriguez answered.
Persinger answered no to each question.
“Unless you know his words, his vocabulary, you can’t say something didn’t exist,” Persinger said. “Maybe he misspelled it.”
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