Gobert defense granted day of extension

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The jury in capital murderer Milton Gobert's trial has been reset until Wednesday at 9 a.m., in part because of former jailer Tasha Lass' testimony Monday.

While the convicted killer's trial nears its end during the sentencing phase, testimony halted Tuesday morning just before 9:30 a.m. as the defense geared up to research Lass' five-year term with the Chattanooga, Tenn. police department.

Lass took the stand Monday and detailed her alleged lover's plan to escape from the Travis County Jail. She admitted to having a secret relationship with Gobert and snuck him a pay-as-you-go cell phone in jail.

However, the defense asked the judge Tuesday for several days-worth of a time extension so it could dig into Lass' law enforcement history, wherein she has reportedly received some awards. The defense said it needed time to investigate and verify the truth of Lass' testimony.

"It's necessary because if, in fact, there is something about [Lass] which impeaches what she says, it may help us, because this may be, I hate to use the expression, the nail in this poor man's coffin," said Leonard Martinez, Gobert's defense attorney.

The defense said they were surprised to learn about Lass' history with the Chatanooga Police Department and wants to learn more about her before they go forward.

Lass walked the jury Monday through Gobert's plan to shoot a guard, steal his uniform and then steal his car.

She said Gobert watched the guard, who was not named, for months through jail windows.

Lass also said she talked with Gobert in person and over the cell phone she snuck in to him and testified that he'd asked her for a gun with a silencer, but she repeatedly refused his requests.

"Now that [Lass'] given info concerning this escape attempt by the defendant and giving info concerning his access to a cell phone that was found in his cell, they no longer like the fact that she is a credible witness," said Gary Cobb, the Travis County Assistant District Attorney.

She also denied being in love with Gobert, but said why she originally went along with his plan.

"He just made me feel needed,"  explained Lass.  "When he talked, he made me feel needed. Like he needed someone to talk to someone to share his problems with."

Lass said it was ultimately her conscience that prompted her to tell her attorney about Gobert's plot to escape.

"I didn't want anyone to get hurt," Lass said.

Earlier in the day, the defense began its arguments in a Travis County courtroom with family testifying about Gobert's character. The defense prepared to make its case that Gobert should not be executed for killing Mel "Nina" Cotton in 2003, stabbing her more than 100 times.

Alice Gobert, Milton Gobert's mother,  told jurors her son did not deserve the death penalty and that his problems even started before his birth.

Alice testified that Milton's biological father beat her while eight months pregnant resulting in Milton's premature birth.

"He came earlier than he should have come and I was threatening a placenta previa," said Alice.

Never once did Alice or other families deny what prosecutors have been aiming to prove--that Milton has a violent history.

Instead, they blamed head injuries from getting hit by a car at age five, for turning Milton from a normal "hyper" kid into an all out problem child.

"The demons had gotten into my child," Alice explained. "He changed so much. I didn't know him."

Milton's brother backed up his bad behavior starting after that accident.

"He began to have more temper tantrums," said Michael Gobert, Milton's brother.  "He got a little angry a lot faster."

Despite Milton's mother having noted that her son never underwent neurological testing, prosecutors pointed out counseling attempts and times when Milton attacked his own mother.

"He hit me over the head with a broomstick," Alice testified.

Prosecutors didn't directly ask Alice if she was afraid of her son, even when he held her at knifepoint.

Alice left court upset and did not speak to reporters.

Defense attorney did tell KXAN Milton may take the stand tomorrow and plead for his life, with testimony wrapping up Tuesday or Wednesday.

Lass is expected in court at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning where defense attorneys will finish questioning her.

Travis County sheriff's officials said Lass was already on administrative leave before the cell phone discovery, pending an administrative investigation into allegations she was involved in a relationship with Gobert.

"During the administrative investigation a separate criminal investigation was conducted by detectives when it was learned that she had provided the inmate with a cell phone in violation of state law," said Roger Wade, with the Travis County Sheriff's Office.

The 36-year-old jailer said she put $40 on a pay-as-you-go cell phone so that she and Gobert could talk, according to court documents.

"It's easy for him to arrange with someone outside to arrange an escape," said Travis County Sheriff's Deputy Craig Smith, detailing