Parents’ Emotions A Focus In Josh Carrier Trial

Josh Carrier has faced 11 of his accusers in court during the first seven days of his child sex abuse trial. They boys, all wrestlers at Horace Mann Middle School, have remained calm and composed on the witness stand; it’s their parents who, at times, have become emotional.

The parents’ emotions have been a focus for Carrier’s defense attorneys who have emphasized through witness questioning that high levels of emotion could have impacted a child’s recollection of events and what they reported to police.

A Colorado Springs police forensic interviewer, who has interviewed some of the alleged victims, testified Monday that “suggestibility” can play a role in how children process memories, but added that the kids most open to suggestion are under the age of 6.

The defense has also blamed the media for “fueling the fire,” and sensationalizing the case, and playing on parents’ emotions when Carrier was arrested.

Several parents have cried on the witness stand, including a mother who broke down Monday and said she felt she “failed her son.” She said she wasn’t angry at Carrier, she was angry at herself.

Another mother told the court how her son “idolized” Carrier, and refused to believe the allegations against him when he was arrested. She said her son defended Carrier, until the family was contacted by police about a nude picture of the boy recovered from Carrier’s computer.

“It was like glass shattering, basically,” said the 13-year-old boy of how he felt when he found out about the picture.

Carrier filmed some of his exams with a web camera on his laptop.

Testimony is expected to continue in the trial until about April 10.

KRDO Newschannel 13 is tweeting live updates from the courtroom. Follow us at @KRDONC13Carrier