'Curb Your Enthusiasm' clears murder suspect - GoFuckYourself.com

m00d · 06-01-2004, 09:07 PM

Tuesday, June 1, 2004 Posted: 10:20 PM EDT (0220 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Curb Your Enthusiasm," an HBO show known for its acerbic wit, accidentally helped deliver a happy ending to a man who had been charged with murder.

Juan Catalan spent 5 1/2 months in jail on murder charges before his attorney found video footage taken by the show at Dodger Stadium that backs up his client's claims of innocence.

Police arrested Catalan in August, alleging he killed Martha Puebla, 16, in the San Fernando Valley on May 12, 2003, because she had testified against his brother in another case.

Catalan insisted he and his 6-year-old daughter were watching the Los Angeles Dodgers lose to the Atlanta Braves, 11-4, minutes before Puebla was killed about 20 miles north of the stadium.

He said he had ticket stubs from the game and testimony from his family as to his whereabouts the night Puebla was killed. But police still believed he was responsible, saying they had a witness who placed Catalan at the scene of the slaying.

Catalan said he asked to take a lie detector test, but was refused.

Defense attorney Todd Melnik subpoenaed the Dodgers and Fox Networks, which owned the team then, to scan videotape of the televised baseball game and footage from its "Dodger Vision" cameras. Some of the videotapes showed where Catalan was sitting but Melnik couldn't make him out.

Clues on the cutting room floor
Melnik later learned that HBO had been at the stadium the night of the killing to tape an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," a comedy starring "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David. The lawyer found what he was looking for in footage that had not made the final cut.

"I got to one of the scenes, and there is my client sitting in a corner of the frame eating a hot dog with his daughter," Melnik said. "I nearly jumped out of my chair and said, 'There he is!"'

The tapes had time codes that allowed Melnik to find out exactly when Catalan was at the ballpark. Melnik also obtained cell phone records that placed his client near the stadium later that night, about 20 minutes before the murder.

The attorney said it would have been impossible for Catalan to get out of the parking lot, change vehicles and clothing and play with his daughter as well as kill Puebla during that span.

Catalan, who could have faced the death penalty had he been convicted of murder, was released in January because a judge ruled there was no evidence to try him.

"To hear the words from the judge's mouth, I just broke down in tears," Catalan, 26, said Tuesday. "It was the happiest moment in my life."

Catalan, now raising his family and working with his father as a machinist, has submitted a claim against the city of Los Angeles, alleging false imprisonment, misconduct and defamation of character. Puebla's murder remains unsolved and the case against Catalan's brother, who is accused of being the driver in a drive-by shooting, is still pending.

Prosecutors and police did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday.

Other evidence also helped dismiss the case against Catalan, but the videotape "had extreme dramatic effect," Melnick said.

The show was hardly about the ballpark crowd that night. It focused on David hiring a prostitute, not for sex but to be a passenger in his car so he could travel in the carpool lane and escape traffic on his way to the stadium.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a series on cable network HBO, whose parent company is Time Warner Inc. which also owns CNN.com.

That's one of the funniest episodes of that show yet.

nathan_f · 06-01-2004, 09:08 PM

crazy story, that show is funny as hell

cali_22 · 06-01-2004, 09:09 PM

Lane · 06-01-2004, 09:11 PM

imagine if he was executed

SykkBoy · 06-01-2004, 09:12 PM

scary to think of how close a wrongly accused man could have been sentenced.....

EviLGuY · 06-01-2004, 09:16 PM

I remember that episode.. it was the one with the black hooker right? I love that show..

mailman · 06-01-2004, 09:17 PM

awsome! that show rules!

m00d · 06-01-2004, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EviLGuY
I remember that episode.. it was the one with the black hooker right? I love that show..

yep and the weed for his dad's glaucoma

hilarious

Nismo · 06-01-2004, 09:38 PM

"do you want me to pull out a titty?"

baddog · 06-01-2004, 11:59 PM

I wonder why it is just now hitting the papers, our local news had this story a month ago

MicroChick · 06-02-2004, 01:11 AM

I love "Curb Your Enthusiasm!" This was a good show with Larry David picking up the hooker so he could get to the game faster in the carpool lane. The funniest scene for me was at the beginning when he approached the drug dealer on the corner. It was priceless. And to think that in every episode, the actors are given just an outline of what is to happen. Then they *wing* it at the filming. Such talented people!

06-02-2004, 05:17 AM

I hope his ordeal makes him a rich man. I can't imagine being in prison 5 months for something I never did.

candyflip · 06-02-2004, 07:00 AM

"Oh my god...it's a prostitute!"

That show kicks ass and this is a pretty cool story as well.

bopha · 06-02-2004, 07:03 AM

Totally funny episode. My favorite is the Tourettes chef.

jhauser · 06-02-2004, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by evildick
I hope his ordeal makes him a rich man. I can't imagine being in prison 5 months for something I never did.

Wow I am very happy that he only spent 5 months not like 5 or 15 years. Some of those DNA tests have proved people innocent. Can you imagine how bitter you would be after spendig 15 years in prison for something you didnt do?

06-01-2004, 09:07 PM	#1
m00d So Fucking Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 3,129	'Curb Your Enthusiasm' clears murder suspect Tuesday, June 1, 2004 Posted: 10:20 PM EDT (0220 GMT) LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Curb Your Enthusiasm," an HBO show known for its acerbic wit, accidentally helped deliver a happy ending to a man who had been charged with murder. Juan Catalan spent 5 1/2 months in jail on murder charges before his attorney found video footage taken by the show at Dodger Stadium that backs up his client's claims of innocence. Police arrested Catalan in August, alleging he killed Martha Puebla, 16, in the San Fernando Valley on May 12, 2003, because she had testified against his brother in another case. Catalan insisted he and his 6-year-old daughter were watching the Los Angeles Dodgers lose to the Atlanta Braves, 11-4, minutes before Puebla was killed about 20 miles north of the stadium. He said he had ticket stubs from the game and testimony from his family as to his whereabouts the night Puebla was killed. But police still believed he was responsible, saying they had a witness who placed Catalan at the scene of the slaying. Catalan said he asked to take a lie detector test, but was refused. Defense attorney Todd Melnik subpoenaed the Dodgers and Fox Networks, which owned the team then, to scan videotape of the televised baseball game and footage from its "Dodger Vision" cameras. Some of the videotapes showed where Catalan was sitting but Melnik couldn't make him out. Clues on the cutting room floor Melnik later learned that HBO had been at the stadium the night of the killing to tape an episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," a comedy starring "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David. The lawyer found what he was looking for in footage that had not made the final cut. "I got to one of the scenes, and there is my client sitting in a corner of the frame eating a hot dog with his daughter," Melnik said. "I nearly jumped out of my chair and said, 'There he is!"' The tapes had time codes that allowed Melnik to find out exactly when Catalan was at the ballpark. Melnik also obtained cell phone records that placed his client near the stadium later that night, about 20 minutes before the murder. The attorney said it would have been impossible for Catalan to get out of the parking lot, change vehicles and clothing and play with his daughter as well as kill Puebla during that span. Catalan, who could have faced the death penalty had he been convicted of murder, was released in January because a judge ruled there was no evidence to try him. "To hear the words from the judge's mouth, I just broke down in tears," Catalan, 26, said Tuesday. "It was the happiest moment in my life." Catalan, now raising his family and working with his father as a machinist, has submitted a claim against the city of Los Angeles, alleging false imprisonment, misconduct and defamation of character. Puebla's murder remains unsolved and the case against Catalan's brother, who is accused of being the driver in a drive-by shooting, is still pending. Prosecutors and police did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. Other evidence also helped dismiss the case against Catalan, but the videotape "had extreme dramatic effect," Melnick said. The show was hardly about the ballpark crowd that night. It focused on David hiring a prostitute, not for sex but to be a passenger in his car so he could travel in the carpool lane and escape traffic on his way to the stadium. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a series on cable network HBO, whose parent company is Time Warner Inc. which also owns CNN.com. That's one of the funniest episodes of that show yet.

06-01-2004, 09:11 PM	#4
Lane Will code for food... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Buckeye, AZ Posts: 8,496	imagine if he was executed __________________

06-01-2004, 09:12 PM	#5
SykkBoy Jesus loves bacon Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Sin City, Motherfucker Posts: 19,969	scary to think of how close a wrongly accused man could have been sentenced..... __________________ Support my new movie “The Second Coming”

06-01-2004, 09:38 PM	#9
Nismo Confirmed User Join Date: May 2002 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 4,977	"do you want me to pull out a titty?" __________________ i buy massive xxx dating traffic.

06-02-2004, 07:00 AM	#13
candyflip Carpe Visio Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York Posts: 43,064	"Oh my god...it's a prostitute!" That show kicks ass and this is a pretty cool story as well. __________________ Spend you some brain. Email Me

06-01-2004, 09:08 PM	#2
nathan_f Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Think of me as Chomsky with dick jokes. Posts: 3,983	crazy story, that show is funny as hell

06-01-2004, 09:09 PM	#3
cali_22 Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Whistler BC Posts: 2,330

06-01-2004, 09:16 PM	#6
EviLGuY So Fucking Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: malta Posts: 12,745	I remember that episode.. it was the one with the black hooker right? I love that show..

06-01-2004, 09:17 PM	#7
mailman Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,311	awsome! that show rules!

06-01-2004, 11:59 PM	#10
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	I wonder why it is just now hitting the papers, our local news had this story a month ago

06-02-2004, 01:11 AM	#11
MicroChick Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,277	I love "Curb Your Enthusiasm!" This was a good show with Larry David picking up the hooker so he could get to the game faster in the carpool lane. The funniest scene for me was at the beginning when he approached the drug dealer on the corner. It was priceless. And to think that in every episode, the actors are given just an outline of what is to happen. Then they wing it at the filming. Such talented people!

06-02-2004, 05:17 AM	#12
evildick Guest Posts: n/a	I hope his ordeal makes him a rich man. I can't imagine being in prison 5 months for something I never did.

06-02-2004, 07:03 AM	#14
bopha Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,882	Totally funny episode. My favorite is the Tourettes chef.