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Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 7:10 PM Updated Apr 16, 2015 at 7:17 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 7:10 PM Updated Apr 16, 2015 at 7:17 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts • Argument over stolen guns led to first shooting, Monica says » Social News Double-murder defendant Susan Monica came from behind the defense bench to the front of the jury Thursday in the first of what promises to be a string of otherwise rare opportunities for a defendant with a defense team to cross-examine witnesses in a trial. Monica cross-examined Jackson County sheriff's Detective Eric Henderson, the lead investigator on her case, Thursday at Jackson County Circuit Judge Tim Barnack's discretion. Barnack laid out rules for this so-called "hybrid representation" and had bailiffs tape a blue line between the podium and the jury box. He told Monica bailiffs would grab her if she crossed that line. She never crossed the blue tape, but she often crossed the line over what she was allowed to ask and say to Henderson. She started by telling Henderson she had been trying to put the killings of Robert Haney and Stephen Delicino out of her mind, but "you put those right back in my head and I hate you for that." Barnack jumped in, admonishing her for personal attacks and warned her to phrase everything in the form of a question. Barnack coached Monica on procedures as he disallowed several questions for various court rules, including questions better suited for other witnesses and not Henderson. "Not so easy, huh?" Barnack told Monica. "That's why people go through law school." At one point she tried to excuse Henderson and call her own witness, but learned the defense can't call witnesses until the prosecution rests its case. "Sorry, first time," she said to the jury, which drew another admonishment from Barnack. "You're right," she told Barnack. "This is hard." In the hourlong afternoon session, Monica was able to raise questions about why investigators spent little to no time looking into where Haney was in the month between when she said Haney left in a white sedan to seek work elsewhere and when she said he abruptly turned up in her pig pen eviscerated and being chewed on by her pigs. The courtroom was packed with other attorneys and prosecutors watching Monica fumble slowly through her cross-examination to a point that even she realized it. "This could take three weeks," she said. "I've been here 15 months. I don't want to stay another day." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman .   By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 7:10 PM Updated Apr 16, 2015 at 7:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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