Computer Forensics Expert Testifies In Palo Alto Murder Trial
SAN JOSE (BCN) -- Hundreds of deleted text messages could not be recovered from the cell phone of a Palo Alto hookah lounge owner accused of strangling his girlfriend and setting fire to their home, a computer forensics expert testified Friday.
James Eichbaum, a computer forensics expert from the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office, testified on the fourth day of trial for Bulos "Paul" Zumot, the 37-year-old owner of Da Hookah Spot.
Zumot is charged with murder and arson in connection with the death of 29-year-old real estate agent Jennifer Schipsi on Oct. 15, 2009.
Prosecutor Chuck Gillingham claims that Zumot killed Schipsi and then set their Addison Avenue home on fire with her body inside. He said the couple had a history of domestic abuse and reportedly got into a fight the night before Schipsi's death.
Gillingham is using cell phone data as evidence to indicate that Zumot deleted angry text messages the pair exchanged prior to her death.
On Wednesday, Jonathan Zdziarski, a New Hampshire-based iPhone forensics expert briefly testified about the process of copying data from Zumot's and Schipsi's cell phones.
Eichbaum Friday discussed the process of retrieving text messages from their phones, including deleted messages. He said he was unable to recover hundreds of messages in Zumot's phone and a handful in Schipsi's phone.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos argued that there was no way to determine who had deleted those messages or why they could not be recovered.
"Someone had to go on that phone and delete them," Gillingham responded.
Geragos implied the messages could have been deleted during the phone-imaging process.
Zumot faces a maximum sentence of 33 years to life if convicted.
The trial will resume Monday morning.
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