FULL TESTIMONY — Defendant Cooper Ouellette's mother Kerri testifies in his manslaughter trial

[00:00:00] Speaker ?: Second. Attorney Clifton. Thank you, Your Honor. Good morning, ma'am. [00:00:08] Speaker 1: Good morning. [00:00:09] Dave Clifton: We haven't spoken before, have we? [00:00:11] Speaker 1: No, we have not. [00:00:12] Dave Clifton: My name's Dave Clifton. I'm going to be asking you some questions. I'll just ask that you listen carefully and answer the questions that I ask, okay? [00:00:18] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:00:19] Dave Clifton: Do you know the defendant, Cooper, or what? [00:00:21] Speaker 1: Yes, I do. [00:00:22] Dave Clifton: How do you know him? [00:00:23] Speaker 1: He is my son. [00:00:25] Dave Clifton: And do you live with him? [00:00:27] Speaker 1: Not currently. [00:00:28] Dave Clifton: In May of 2023, did you live with him? [00:00:31] Speaker 1: Yes, I did. [00:00:32] Dave Clifton: Was there anyone else living with you at that time? [00:00:35] Speaker 1: My other son, yes. [00:00:37] Dave Clifton: And what's your other son's name? [00:00:39] Speaker 1: Finley Ouellette. [00:00:41] Dave Clifton: And in May 21st of 2023, how old was your son, Cooper Ouellette? [00:00:47] Speaker 1: He was 18. [00:00:49] Dave Clifton: And in May 21st of 2023, how old was your son, Finley Ouellette? [00:00:54] Speaker 1: He was 16. [00:00:56] Dave Clifton: Where do you currently reside? [00:01:01] Speaker 1: I currently reside at 188 North Road in Harwington. [00:01:05] Dave Clifton: I apologize. In May of 2023, what was your address? [00:01:09] Speaker 1: 29 Harmony Hill Road in Harwington. [00:01:12] Dave Clifton: And how long had you lived at 29 Harmony Hill? [00:01:16] Speaker 1: I had lived there for approximately seven years at that time. I think I moved in in 2017. [00:01:24] Dave Clifton: Can you publish States Exhibit 1, please? Do you see the name published in States Exhibit 1? [00:01:47] Speaker 1: Nothing yet. Yes. [00:01:49] Dave Clifton: Do you recognize that person? [00:01:51] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:01:52] Dave Clifton: For the remainder of your testimony, I'm going to ask you to call her Sophie, okay? [00:01:55] Speaker 1: Yes. Well, I had first known about Sophie when she was younger, much younger, because our kids played together. But this, really knowing her, I'd known her since she came back to the school system. So, she was in my younger son's grade, so they were in the eighth grade together. So, I'm thinking 2019, it was right before the pandemic, is when she came back to Harbor Middle School. [00:02:34] Dave Clifton: So, as of May 21st, 2023, about four years? [00:02:37] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:02:40] Dave Clifton: And in May of 2023, were you the registered owner of a black Chevy Silverado? [00:02:45] Speaker 1: Yes, I was. [00:02:46] Dave Clifton: And did there come a time in May of 2023 where that truck was seized by the police? [00:02:51] Speaker 1: Yes, it was. [00:02:52] Dave Clifton: Do you recall that day? [00:02:53] Speaker 1: Yes, I do. [00:02:56] Dave Clifton: In the early morning hours of May 21st, 2023, did you notice state police cruisers outside your residence? [00:03:05] Speaker 1: I did not notice them until I woke up that morning. [00:03:08] Dave Clifton: About when was that? [00:03:10] Speaker 1: 5.30. [00:03:13] Dave Clifton: And when you first woke up and noticed those cruisers outside your residence, what did you do? [00:03:21] Speaker 1: I didn't do anything at that time. [00:03:23] Dave Clifton: Okay. [00:03:24] Speaker 1: They were not in my driveway. [00:03:26] Dave Clifton: Did there come a time where you made contact with the detectives that were outside? [00:03:31] Speaker 1: Yes, I did. [00:03:32] Dave Clifton: But how much time had passed between when you first noticed them and when you went outside? [00:03:35] Speaker 1: Almost an hour. [00:03:37] Dave Clifton: And in that hour, at any point, did you speak with your son, Cooper, or left? [00:03:42] Speaker 1: No, I did not. [00:03:43] Dave Clifton: Did you speak with your son, Finley, or left? [00:03:45] Speaker 1: No, I did not. [00:03:47] Dave Clifton: Who was home when you noticed those police vehicles on your street? [00:03:52] Speaker 1: It was myself. It was Cooper, and my significant other was there, but he left. [00:03:59] Dave Clifton: And was your son, Finley, back? [00:04:01] Speaker 1: No, he was not. [00:04:05] Dave Clifton: Did you wake up Cooper or left and inform him of the police vehicles? [00:04:10] Speaker 1: No, I did not. [00:04:14] Dave Clifton: Did you in any way speak with Cooper or left before you spoke with the detectives that day? [00:04:20] Speaker 1: The initial time I spoke with them? [00:04:21] Dave Clifton: From when you woke up to that initial interaction with the police, did you speak with your son, Cooper or left? [00:04:26] Speaker 1: No, I did not. [00:04:29] Dave Clifton: When you spoke with the detectives, were you aware that they had body cameras on? Did you see them? [00:04:36] Speaker 1: I don't recall if I distinctly remember. I think I knew cops carried them. I don't know if I specifically noticed theirs, though. [00:04:46] Dave Clifton: And have you had the opportunity to watch body cam footage of your interaction with those police officers prior to today? [00:04:53] Speaker 1: Yes, I have. [00:04:56] Dave Clifton: And when you spoke with the police that morning, did they knock on the door or did you go greet them? [00:05:01] Speaker 1: I met them in the driveway halfway. [00:05:04] Dave Clifton: And do you recall what was your first interaction with them when you first asked them? [00:05:10] Speaker 1: Yes, I do. [00:05:10] Dave Clifton: What was that? [00:05:11] Speaker 1: I said, is Fin dead? [00:05:13] Dave Clifton: Sorry, you said what? [00:05:14] Speaker 1: I said, is Fin dead? [00:05:16] Dave Clifton: Do you recall specifically asking, is my son okay? [00:05:20] Speaker 1: Possibly I said that. I don't recall that exactly. [00:05:23] Dave Clifton: Okay. And the police responded that they were looking to speak with your son, Cooper, right? [00:05:28] Speaker 1: They did. [00:05:29] Dave Clifton: And they, in fact, told you that something had happened between him and his girlfriend, Sophie, right? [00:05:36] Speaker 1: I don't recall that. [00:05:37] Dave Clifton: Okay. And do you recall acknowledging to the police at that time that you were aware of that by saying, yep? [00:05:49] Speaker 1: I don't recall that, but if you say, I did, I did. [00:05:54] Dave Clifton: And do you recall inquiring about the well-being of Sophie at that time? [00:05:57] Speaker 1: Yes, I do recall that. [00:05:59] Dave Clifton: Do you recall what specifically you asked relative to Sophie? [00:06:01] Speaker 1: I said, is Sophie dead? [00:06:04] Dave Clifton: And after asking that question, did you repeat it two more times? [00:06:08] Speaker 1: Yes, I did. [00:06:10] Dave Clifton: And did the police eventually tell you that she was infected? [00:06:13] Speaker 1: Yes, they did. [00:06:15] Dave Clifton: And did they inform you that they wanted to speak with your son about it? [00:06:19] Speaker 1: Yes, they did. [00:06:20] Dave Clifton: What was your emotional state at this point? [00:06:24] Speaker 1: It was like I had been sucker punched. [00:06:29] Dave Clifton: Because this is somebody that you knew, right? You just found out someone you knew was dead. [00:06:34] Speaker 1: Yes, and I loved her, so yes. [00:06:39] Dave Clifton: And did it concern you that the Connecticut State Police were looking to speak to your son about her death? [00:06:45] Speaker 1: Of course it did. [00:06:46] Dave Clifton: And were you feeling stressed at that time? [00:06:51] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:06:52] Dave Clifton: Were you scared? [00:06:54] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:06:55] Dave Clifton: Were you angry? [00:06:57] Speaker 1: No. [00:06:59] Dave Clifton: Were you worried? [00:07:00] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:07:03] Dave Clifton: Do you remember who you spoke with first? [00:07:07] Speaker 1: Meaning the police? Yes. To be honest, I don't. It was a blur. And they probably introduced themselves, but I don't recall. [00:07:15] Dave Clifton: And after being informed about Sophie being deceased, did you ask the police how she died? [00:07:34] Speaker 1: Not immediately. [00:07:36] Dave Clifton: You at some point went in to wake up your son Cooper a lot, right? Yes. Was it before or after that? [00:07:43] Speaker 1: That I asked the question? [00:07:44] Dave Clifton: That you asked the question how she died? [00:07:46] Speaker 1: It was after. I had already woken up Cooper. [00:08:02] Dave Clifton: And do you specifically recall asking how Sophie died and being told that she, the police were told she fell out of a car, out of a truck? [00:08:13] Speaker 1: I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? [00:08:14] Dave Clifton: Sure. Do you recall it being told by the police after you asked that question that she had fallen out of a truck? That's all the information they had. [00:08:22] Speaker 1: I don't recall that that's what they specifically said. No. [00:08:26] Dave Clifton: And that question occurred before you went to wake up your son, right? [00:08:30] Speaker 1: I'm sorry. Repeat that? [00:08:32] Dave Clifton: The question about how Sophie died and them telling you about the fall out of the truck happened before you went inside to speak with your son. [00:08:39] Speaker 1: I don't recall that. No. But if you say it happened, it did. Like I said, it was a blur. [00:08:48] Dave Clifton: And when you went inside to wake up your son, you told them the police were there, right? [00:08:51] Speaker 1: I did. [00:08:52] Dave Clifton: And you told them that they wanted to speak with him about Sophie, right? [00:08:54] Speaker 1: I did. [00:08:56] Dave Clifton: And did you come back outside after speaking with your son? [00:09:01] Speaker 1: I went and got the police. I went back downstairs. [00:09:04] Dave Clifton: You came back outside, right? [00:09:05] Speaker 1: I think they were at the door. I went back down. I opened up the door, I believe. [00:09:09] Dave Clifton: Do you recall being outside in the driveway speaking with officers after waking up your son? [00:09:16] Speaker 1: Possibly. I mean, there were so many people there at that point. So possibly, yes. [00:09:20] Dave Clifton: When did you review your body cam footage of that interaction with the police? [00:09:25] Speaker 1: Every time I turn on Facebook. [00:09:27] Dave Clifton: So recently? [00:09:29] Speaker 1: Yeah. [00:09:29] Dave Clifton: Yesterday? [00:09:30] Speaker 1: Sure. [00:09:31] Dave Clifton: Do you recall reviewing that 15-minute body cam footage before you invited the police into the car? Into your home? [00:09:37] Speaker 1: No, they never showed me the body cam when they were in my house. [00:09:40] Dave Clifton: You just said you reviewed it. [00:09:41] Speaker 1: No, I saw it on the news yesterday or this weekend. I didn't review it with police officers or lawyers, no. [00:09:47] Dave Clifton: I'm sorry. Maybe I'm asking my question, correct? I think I'm not understanding you. You should review the body cam footage prior to you inviting the police into your home, that 15-minute inquiry before you invited them into your home. [00:09:58] Speaker 1: No, I've never seen that, no. [00:09:59] Dave Clifton: Okay. And do you recall speaking with detectives before inviting them into the home after waking Cooper who let up? [00:10:13] Speaker 1: Yeah, I think we were waiting for Cooper to come down, so we were speaking, yes. [00:10:19] Dave Clifton: Specifically, do you remember when you felt withdrawn? May 21st of 2023 was a stressful day for you, wasn't it? [00:10:40] Speaker 1: Yes, it was. [00:10:41] Dave Clifton: And did you seek support from your friends? [00:10:46] Speaker 1: I had people stopping by the house, so yes. [00:10:52] Dave Clifton: Who stopped by to help you? [00:10:57] Speaker 1: I believe one of the individuals was Audra Cables. I don't necessarily know that I would call anyone else specifically right now, but Audra stopped by. [00:11:07] Dave Clifton: Did you also invite people to support your son, Cooper, who left that day? [00:11:13] Speaker 1: Audra's son, Colby, had asked if they could come down, so I told Audra that they could, but they weren't to discuss the incident. So, yes, they were allowed to come down that afternoon after the police had left. [00:11:28] Dave Clifton: And did more people come to your house than just her son? [00:11:31] Speaker 1: Oh, yes. [00:11:32] Dave Clifton: And did you speak with them before they came in the house? [00:11:36] Speaker 1: I spoke with everybody before they came in the house. [00:11:39] Dave Clifton: And when you were speaking to them and when you were asking them to support your son, were you still feeling under stress due to everything that was going on that day? [00:11:51] Speaker 1: I still feel stressed today about that day, so yes. [00:11:54] Dave Clifton: So specifically on May 21st? Absolutely. You were upset at that time? [00:11:58] Speaker 1: Yes, yes. [00:12:01] Dave Clifton: And did you specifically tell them not to talk about Sophie's death? [00:12:04] Speaker 1: I specifically said not to talk about Sophie's death. [00:12:06] Dave Clifton: And did you specifically tell them it was not Cooper's fault? [00:12:09] Speaker 1: Probably. I think probably. I don't recall that, but sure. If you say I did. [00:12:16] Dave Clifton: And did you tell them specifically just to be there for Cooper? [00:12:19] Speaker 1: Yes, I did. [00:12:22] Dave Clifton: Now, you first learned about this incident shortly after midnight on May 21st, 2023. Isn't that correct? [00:12:28] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:12:29] Dave Clifton: In fact, your son called you on his ride home, didn't he? I'm going to object. This is leading. Hello, I'm there. I'll overrule it, but it's borderline. That's right. Meeting. [00:12:45] Speaker 1: Do you want me to answer? [00:12:47] Dave Clifton: No. Oh. Yes. Oh, sorry. [00:12:50] Speaker 1: Okay. So I was trying to reach Cooper, and he was calling me. So, yes, I think ultimately, he called me, and that's how we connected. But I was trying to reach him. [00:13:02] Dave Clifton: Can we bring up the state to 77, please? And if we go to call 30. See that on the screen there, call 30, where it says direction outgoing May 21st, 2023, 12, 14 a.m.? [00:13:29] Speaker 1: I do. [00:13:30] Dave Clifton: How long did that call last? [00:13:34] Speaker 1: It lasted six minutes. We talked the whole ride home. [00:13:38] Dave Clifton: And the call right before that, that was to Sophie, right? [00:13:46] Speaker 1: I'm sorry. Is this my phone record or his? It's just on Spotify. Oh, yes, it does say Sophie. [00:13:51] Dave Clifton: And the call before that shows an incoming call from Christos Sergos at 1151, right? [00:13:57] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:13:58] Dave Clifton: The call before that, also Christos Sergos. [00:14:01] Speaker 1: Yeah. [00:14:02] Dave Clifton: The call before that, Colby Cables. [00:14:04] Speaker 1: Okay. [00:14:04] Dave Clifton: The call before that, Sava Sergos. Keep going up, please. Here we have a call from you, sorry, to you at 1033. [00:14:19] Speaker 1: Yes, we spoke at 1033. [00:14:21] Dave Clifton: Oh, you said you were trying to call him. I was trying to call him. [00:14:24] Speaker 1: I'm sorry? [00:14:25] Dave Clifton: At what point did you call him? [00:14:26] Speaker 1: When he was late for his curfew. [00:14:28] Dave Clifton: What's his curfew? [00:14:29] Speaker 1: It's normally 11. And at 1030, he had called to ask if he could stay out late. So I extended it to 12. [00:14:37] Dave Clifton: So at some point after 12, you called him? [00:14:39] Speaker 1: I was attempting to reach him at 12 because he still wasn't home. Yes. Do you see any call from you? No, I do not. During that time frame? No. [00:14:46] Dave Clifton: I'm going to object to, but what is the answer to the question? Before I answer the question. Yes, Your Honor. Okay. Let's escape. Did you see any call between you calling him between 12 and when he called you at 12. [00:14:58] Speaker 1: No. [00:14:59] Dave Clifton: But your memory is that you were calling him at that time? [00:15:02] Speaker 1: My memory is what was happening. I was calling him. [00:15:07] Dave Clifton: What were you talking with him about for six minutes and 34 seconds? [00:15:12] Speaker 1: When I answered, I immediately started yelling at him for being late for curfew, to which he said, Mom, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. I have to tell you what happened. [00:15:20] Dave Clifton: And without telling you what specifically he was telling you, was he speaking about what happened with Sophie that night? [00:15:27] Speaker 1: Yes, he was. [00:15:31] Dave Clifton: And when, do you recall when Cooper-Elect got home that night? [00:15:37] Speaker 1: We talked until he pulled into the driveway, so six minutes and 34 seconds after that call was made. [00:15:42] Dave Clifton: Do you recall him arriving at 12.24 at that point? [00:15:48] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:15:48] Dave Clifton: So that's about five, four minutes after that call? Yes. Right? And did you stay up to continue speaking with Cooper about what had happened? [00:15:59] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:16:04] Dave Clifton: And as you were talking with Cooper, Lynn called you, called Cooper from the hospital, is that correct? [00:16:10] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:16:11] Dave Clifton: And were you listening to that phone call? [00:16:13] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:16:14] Dave Clifton: And you heard what Cooper was saying? [00:16:16] Speaker 1: Yes, and Lynn. [00:16:17] Dave Clifton: So was it on speakerphone? [00:16:19] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:16:20] Dave Clifton: And do you recall, well, withdrawing. How long were you speaking with Cooper before that phone call came in from Lynn? [00:16:36] Speaker 1: I don't recall that. I'm sorry. [00:16:38] Dave Clifton: Were you asking him for details of that, of what happened? [00:16:45] Speaker 1: I was trying to calm him down, he was very upset, and he had told me on the way home what had happened, and so I was just trying to calm him down, and then Lynn called, and then from there we continued to talk, but I don't remember the exact conversation, if we're being honest. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I don't recall that. [00:17:04] Dave Clifton: I'm not asking you to remember specific words verbatim, but were you discussing the incidents of that? [00:17:10] Speaker 1: Well, yes. [00:17:11] Dave Clifton: And were you asking for information? [00:17:13] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:17:14] Dave Clifton: And he was giving you the information? And do you recall, at any point during the either night of May 20th or early morning hours of May 21st, did you personally speak with Lynn? [00:17:39] Speaker 1: No, I did not. [00:17:40] Dave Clifton: Did you personally speak with Scott? [00:17:42] Speaker 1: No. [00:17:43] Dave Clifton: Did you speak with Jackson? [00:17:45] Speaker 1: No. [00:17:45] Speaker 3: I'm going to object again to this form of questioning, it's meaning that caused for yes or no. [00:17:52] Speaker 1: No. [00:17:53] Dave Clifton: Did you speak with Layla Fine? [00:17:55] Speaker 1: No. [00:18:01] Dave Clifton: So the only information that you got about the details of that night were from your son Cooper? [00:18:06] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:18:09] Dave Clifton: And do you recall specifically telling the police, while you were speaking with him, that Sophie was talking when she went into the house? [00:18:17] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:18:18] Dave Clifton: And that's because Cooper told you that, right? [00:18:22] Speaker 1: Yes, I wasn't there, so yes. [00:18:28] Dave Clifton: And do you recall specifically telling the police that Sophie walked into the house? [00:18:32] Speaker 1: I do believe I said that, yes. [00:18:35] Dave Clifton: And that's because that's what Cooper told you that night, right? [00:18:38] Speaker 1: That's what I heard him say. Or believed he said. [00:18:42] Dave Clifton: As you sit here today, you know that Sophie did not walk into the house that night, right? [00:18:46] Speaker 1: Yes, I do. [00:18:58] Dave Clifton: You also checked your son Cooper with Flight 360 data, didn't you? [00:19:02] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:19:03] Dave Clifton: And you saw that he was doing laps around the OPS, isn't that correct? [00:19:09] Speaker 1: No, I didn't check it until he was actually already probably in their driveway. I didn't see the laps at that time. [00:19:16] Dave Clifton: You, at some point on May 21st, checked his Flight 360 movements, didn't you? [00:19:21] Speaker 1: I checked his Flight 360 multiple times today, so yes. [00:19:24] Dave Clifton: And you confronted him about his route to get his Sophie's. [00:19:28] Speaker 1: I did. [00:19:31] Dave Clifton: And he told you that that was after he dropped Sophie off, isn't that correct? [00:19:37] Speaker 1: I'm sorry, are we still talking about the laps in the cul-de-sac? Yes. Okay. He, I'm not sure I recall that. I'm sorry. [00:19:47] Dave Clifton: Did he, do you, as you sit here today, do you recall him saying that that was before or after he dropped Sophie off? [00:19:55] Speaker 1: I'm not sure I recall that. [00:20:07] Dave Clifton: So you had previously testified that you're aware of that Sophie did not walk into the home that night, so is it fair to say that Cooper lied to you that night? [00:20:18] Speaker 1: It would be fair to say that I potentially didn't understand what had happened because between him being upset and Lynn calling and just trying to process the information, I didn't interpret it properly. [00:20:29] Dave Clifton: You told the police what Cooper told you. [00:20:32] Speaker 1: Okay. [00:20:33] Dave Clifton: And you know that that's not what happened. I'm going to object, Your Honor. It's a meeting. It's a policy examination. That's leading. Let me phrase it. So you told the police what Cooper told you, and you know that to be untrue at this time. [00:20:51] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:20:55] Speaker 3: I'm not for the judge. I'm going to take the turn. [00:21:03] Speaker ?: We don't need these. We don't need these. We don't need these. [00:21:06] Speaker 3: Good afternoon, Gary. Isn't it true that Cooper learned that Sophie passed away from the state police and not you? [00:21:41] Speaker 1: I did not share that information with Cooper. The state police did. [00:21:44] Speaker 3: Okay. When the state police showed up at your house, you talked to them in the driveway, right? [00:21:48] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:21:49] Speaker 3: And then at some point you went inside to get your son, correct? Yes. How long would you say you were inside for before he came down? [00:21:57] Speaker 1: I don't know. I made a few phone calls. I called his dad. I called his dad's girlfriend because I couldn't reach his dad. I was pacing for a few minutes. I called my significant other and told him to come back. And I just didn't want to go in and wake him up. So I don't really know how long I was out there, but it was a few minutes. [00:22:16] Speaker 3: Okay. And at any point in time, did you tell the police, no, you can't come inside? Let me rephrase. At any point did you, or did you eventually allow them to come inside? The state police? [00:22:29] Speaker 1: Is the question, did I eventually allow them in? Yes. I did eventually allow them in, yes. Okay. [00:22:34] Speaker 3: At some point in time, did you and Cooper go to a vigil, or so? The direction would be on the scope. [00:22:41] Dave Clifton: Mr. Rowell is sustained. [00:22:42] Speaker ?: No further questions. [00:22:43] Dave Clifton: Any follow-up? No, you're off. Alright, Mr. Wett, you're all set. Be careful stepping down here. [00:22:47] Speaker 3: And relative to Ms. Wett, I see the frustration. [00:23:02] Dave Clifton: I thought we'd take that up outside the presence. Okay. At this point? Seems a good time. Alright. We have to step out for a few moments, okay, ladies and gentlemen?