In Laut trial, slaying victim recalled as 'gentle giant'
Dave Laut was known as a respected and humble "gentle giant" at ­Hueneme High School, where he was a teacher and athletic director, his colleagues ­testified ­Thursday.
In Laut trial, slaying victim recalled as 'gentle giant' Dave Laut was known as a respected and humble "gentle giant" at ­Hueneme High School, where he was a teacher and athletic director, his colleagues ­testified ­Thursday. Check out this story on vcstar.com: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/courts/2016/03/17/in-laut-trial-slaying-victim-recalled-as-gentle-giant/88709414/
Ventura County Star Published 7:09 p.m. PT March 17, 2016
ROB VARELA/THE STAR Jane Laut on the second day of her trial at the Ventura County Courthouse.(Photo: Rob Varela)
Dave Laut was known as a respected and humble 'gentle giant' at Hueneme High School, where he was a teacher and athletic director, his colleagues testified Thursday.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Rameen Minoui called 14 character witnesses, who took the stand in Ventura County Superior Court during the murder trial of Laut's wife, Jane.
Jane Laut, 58, is facing a murder charge and a special allegation that she intentionally used a weapon — a single-action Ruger revolver — to shoot her husband six times on Aug. 27, 2009, at their Oxnard home on Raft Lane. Dave Laut, 52, was Hueneme High School's athletic director and taught physical education classes at the time of his death. He was a former Olympic athlete who had won a bronze medal for shot-putting in the 1984 summer games.
Jane Laut testified that her husband of 29 years sexually, emotionally and physically abused her. She also said he threatened to shoot her, their 10-year-old son Michael and their two dogs on the night of the shooting.
One after another, Dave Laut's colleagues testified that the athletic director was nonviolent, that they never saw him lose his temper with students and that he was supportive of other teachers and staff members.
On cross-examination, however, the witnesses said they did not interact with him or his family outside of school-related functions.
William Hayes, a retired Hueneme High teacher and coach, said Dave Laut was 'a very humble guy' who never bragged about his athletic accomplishments. Hayes said that during the 10 years they worked together, the former Olympian would talk about his family.
Hayes said Dave Laut was supportive of his wife and her decision to go back to school.
'When he was going through school, she was supportive and sat in the background,' Hayes said. 'So he said, 'I want to be sure ... to be there for her ... instead of her just staying at home.' '
Hayes said that during his last conversation with Dave Laut, they talked about coaching track and field together.
Asked by defense attorney Ron Bamieh whether he ever spent time with Dave Laut and his family outside of school in the decade they worked together, Hayes said he'd had dinner with them twice.
Hayes also said Dave Laut would have a drink occasionally, usually a Scotch. During late track meets, Dave Laut would say, 'it would be good to go home' because his wife would have his dinner ready for him, Hayes said.
Earlier in the trial, Bamieh called several of Jane Laut's family members and friends, who testified that her husband would say it was her 'job' to accomplish household chores and prepare meals.
They eyes of René Martinez, groundsman at Hueneme High, became teary after he took the stand and looked at a large picture of a smiling Dave Laut. Martinez said they not only worked together, but also were classmates in sixth to eighth grade at E.O. Green School in Oxnard.
Martinez said that when the city of Oxnard asked Dave Laut to be a parade grand marshal sometime after the 1984 games, he made sure to be there.
'The parade route started ... and I yelled out to Dave. ... He was sitting in a convertible,' Martinez said, choking back tears. 'He told the guy in the car to stop. Dave got out, came over and shook my hand. That's a friend.'
Martinez also said Dave Laut 'thought the world' of Michael and said he wasn't 'afraid' to express his love for his young son.
In her testimony, however, Jane Laut said her husband wouldn't spend time with Michael and called him racist and disparaging names.
Asked by Bamieh if he interacted with Dave Laut outside of school or went inside his house, Martinez said no.
Steve Cvijanovich, who was the assistant principal at Hueneme High, also testified Thursday. He is the assistant superintendent of human resources and pupil services for the Fillmore Unified School District.
Asked by Minoui what he thought of Dave Laut when they were colleagues, Cvijanovich said 'he was a very professional man' who 'never lost his cool' with students, parents or staff members.
On cross-examination, Bamieh asked Cvijanovich whether someone in the Oxnard Police Department told him about the gun used in the 2009 shooting and that Jane Laut was the suspect even before he was interviewed on Aug. 30, 2009.
'I honestly can't remember,' Cvijanovich said.
Tresa Peraza, a teacher at Hueneme High, called Dave Laut the 'gentle giant' of the campus.
'High school kids can push your buttons ... but he never let the kids get to him,' Peraza said.
The trial will resume Friday at 9 a.m.
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