Computer expert testifies at Dyleski trial

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 8/2/6 | Henry K. Lee

[SmithL]

MARTINEZ -- Scott Dyleski and a teenage friend exchanged e-mails about how to avoid detection while using other people's credit cards to order marijuana-growing equipment online, a computer expert testified today in the youth's murder trial.

"Do not order all at once. Use separate cards for each purchase. The larger the order, prob(ably) the more likely it is to be noticed," Robin Croen, 17, e-mailed Dyleski in September, a month before the defendant allegedly killed his Lafayette neighbor Pamela Vitale, according to the testimony of Phil Venable, a Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy acting as a district attorney's inspector.

"We dun want them to notice a fatty bill on their next statement," Croen wrote, said Venable, who analyzed Croen's computer.

In a reply to Croen, Dyleski wrote in an e-mail, "STEALTHINESS is the number one priority," Venable said.

Under cross-examination by Dyleski's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ellen Leonida, Venable acknowledged that there was no reference in any of the e-mails to hurting anyone or breaking into houses.

Leonida asked if one of the e-mails essentially stated that the two teens would "abort the mission if anything goes awry."

"Pretty much," Venable said.

Croen took the stand later today and acknowledged that he had e-mailed Dyleski and warned him to be careful. "Using someone else's card, if a high amount would show up, it would look suspicious, I thought," Croen testified.

After the killing, Dyleski had scratches on his face, said Croen, who was granted immunity from criminal charges in exchange for his testimony.

Dyleski, 16 at the time of the Oct. 15, 2005, slaying, has pleaded not guilty to charges of special-circumstances murder and burglary

[EagleUSA]

The "Teen-Mafia" in action. The legacy of the left...crime pays.

[Rte66]

Thank goodness for friend Robin's testimony. That was a nice turn of events. Same with Jena Reddy, the GF - that's going to be very good.

Kinda revealing to see that Robin, Dyleski's best friend since 8th grade, didn't even know Scott had a sister or half-sister, when those pro-Scott people had made such a big deal about him turning goth after being so upset by his half-sister's death in a car accident 3 years ago. I said at the time I couldn't understand how he could've been very close to her, since they never lived in the same house and he didn't really see his father all that often.

I missed reading here about Daniel's testimony on Tuesday, but found a story that outlined it. It was pretty brief. I was amazed to see that Dyleski's father Ken went up to Horowitz, shook hands, and talked with him and they hugged.

What in the world would he say to DH? Hi, sorry my son brutally murdered your wife. Kids - what you gonna do with 'em?

It was also interesting to find out what had happened to the crime scene. DH had the modular home dismantled and removed from the site in April. The dream home is supposedly finished now, too, but I got the impression that Daniel doesn't live in it.

Esther, Scott's mother who destroyed evidence, is supposed to take the witness stand today. I'll never forget seeing her website for the spooky "DNA Activation" she did for her "clients," as I was sleuthing other people who lived on Hunsaker Canyon Rd. and right away getting a feeling that this person had something to do with Pamela's murder. Little did we know.

Ironically, she claimed she has severe memory loss due to not taking her thyroid medication - whenever she is asked about some of the evidence against Scott which she burned in her sister Marjorie's fireplace in Bolinas. We're hoping that she took it today, for her testimony on the stand - but get this - quoting from her website:

" ... The day after I had my DNA Activation I had to stop taking thyroid medication I had been on for fifteen years. My thyroid had been shrinking and not producing enough hormone to get me though a day. Overnight it was healed. ..."

Her words will come back to haunt her! Looking forward to hearing how it went today.