Deer. drums, decision

Last night we decided to go to the concert on the Square in Baraboo. On the way we saw a deer right in the middle of Berry Road. On the way back, another deer crossed the road ahead of us and over on Trout Road I saw about a dozen out in a field. A crane had flown over us on the way back, so it was a critterful evening.

There was a big turnout to hear the Od Tapo Imi Steel Drum Band. The leader is a relative local, although they are now based in Chicago. It was mostly Caribbean-type music, with a bit of Jimmy Buffet thrown in and even one Disney song from The Little Mermaid: "Kiss the Girl."

While we were there, Tom noticed that the jury bus for the murder trial was there, so we figured they were still in the building deliberating while the partying went on outside. When we got home we learned that about the time we were leaving the concert, the jury had convicted Eric Hainstock of First Degree Intentional Homicide. Tom (and Joe, if I understood him correctly) did not think the prosecutor had really proved that in her examination of the accused, but I guess the other witnesses were enough to convince the jury. I have a sneaky feeling that Judge Taggart was not so sure himself, because in his instructions to the jury he also gave them the option of deciding it was Reckless Homicide (Intentional or Unintentional). Tom thought that there might be enough uncertainty that the jury would opt for that, but that is not the way it turned out. Joe, by the way, was personally convinced that Eric was guilty of intentional homicide, but as a former District Attorney, he thought the case had not been convincingly made by the prosecutor.

At any rate, this sad chapter in the community's history is moving towards closure, with Eric requesting a speedy sentencing. I don't know if his attorneys plan an appeal.