Defense Statement: Seeing what they want you to see

Scholl started off implying the evidence the jury will see is limited.

"You're going to be in the room. You're going to be in the room when John Ford is speaking on the tapes. You're going to be in the room when John Ford is being recorded...You're going to be in the room when they want you to be in the room," says Scholl.

Scholl says the jury is going to see John Ford sitting in the chair, because they want them to see that. They're going to see a lot of tape, but what they will be seeing are snippets. He repeats, "You're seeing what they want you to see."

Scholl goes on to talk about the first time Ford met the uncover FBI agent in April 2004, at Morton's Steakhouse.

"The U.S. Government was looking for John Ford," says Scholl.

The agent talked to John Ford about movies and tapes. He didn't talk about the government, but instead convinces John Ford that he is a multi-million dollar businessman with connections in the music and film industry.

According to Scholl, initially all that takes place is an exchange of phone numbers. The agent keeps coming back from April to July to try to get Ford to do something illegal with E-Cycle --but Ford doesn't bite. That's where music and movies comes in.

This sounds strange and how you get E-Cycle out of the music business who knows, but business works in mysterious ways. When Ford wouldn't bite with E-Cycle, they seduced him with music industry and it all began with a trip to Miami.

"On those tapes, you won't have any recordings of the evenings in Miami," says Scholl.

According to Scholl, this was where John and Agent Tim Willis hung out on a million dollar yacht. Ford reportedly went down as a consultant and business man on a new venture. He did not go a the computer convention for E-Cycle, but for the American Black Film Festival. Ford was apparently getting Tim Willis interviews with Hustle and Flow people.

But according to Scholl, Willis isn't the only one decieving Ford and tricking him into the scandal. LC McNeil is the undercover agent involved. Everything he tells Ford about his music production never changes and he says it bolsters his credibilty. This is a lie and according to Scholl, a lie is a lie. He warns the jury that when they watch the video they need to watch LC McNeil and see how well he lies.

"John Ford brags a lot. You're going to see a lot of people brag a lot," he said, when explaining what they may see Ford doing in the videos.

Scholl speaks more about how John Ford was lead into the scandal. He reminds the jury that when they watch the evidence, to keep this in mind and that they may not be seeing the whole story. He reminds them that before they make up their mind, that they remember that John Ford must be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

"John Ford didn't take any bribes and after you hear this entire case, you'll find John Ford not guilty," says Scholl.

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That was opening statements. The NC3 Court Blogger will be back Wednesday morning at 9:00am.