11.William Campbell III — Direct
249 linesWILLIAM CAMPBELL III, duly sworn
COURT CLERK: State your name, spell your last name for the record, keep your voice up and speak into the mic so everyone can hear you.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: William Campbell III, C-A-M-P-B-E-L-L.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: And, Mr. Campbell, will you tell the jury what town you live in.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Medford, Massachusetts.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And who resides with you?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: My parents.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And who are your parents?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: William Campbell, Jr., and Patricia Campbell.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And anybody else?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: No, just -- no, just them.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And, Mr. Campbell, your sister was Krystle Campbell, correct?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Correct.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And tell us about, first of all, the age difference between you two.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Two years age difference between us.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you're older?
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And even though you're older, what was it like growing up with Krystle?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It was great. She was my sister. I mean, I don't know. We had a lot of fun together. We liked to hang out. And we were friends more than brother and sister for most parts. She was always there for me and I was there for her. It was just how we worked.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. Now, sometimes brothers and sisters don't get along, so what made your relationship work?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I think it was, like, right around when we became teenagers and stuff and we just had more things in common. And, you know, when I had my low day, she would be there for me and we would tease each other or just, you know, if I was having a bad day, Okay. Let's go out and do something. Let's get out of the situation. Let's make the day better, you know. So we did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what are the things that you had in common?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: We liked to go out, we liked dancing. We just had fun. I mean, we liked being around people. And it was good. We just knew how to enjoy whatever we were doing at the time.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was your earliest memory of Krystle?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Probably when we were real little, I mean, either getting in trouble with my parents or just fighting over the remote to the TV. I mean, simple things. Playing video games.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, did you attend the same schools?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: We did for the most part, yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And how was that, having, you know, a sibling in the same school?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It had its ups and downs. I mean, sometimes, you know, it's like "Why are you hanging out with my friends?" and stuff like that when we were younger. It was good. When we were older, I mean, we went to different schools and stuff like that around high school time and it was a little bit different. It was good. It was fun. We had mutual friends, so...
MS. PELLEGRINI: And were you able to observe Krystle's relationship with your folks?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was that like?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It was good. She always was -- spoke up if there was something -- you know, we'd get in trouble for something, and she was always explaining why she did this or that before even I would. I would just be, like, "Okay. I know I messed up. I'm just going to go over here," and she would argue the fact.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And, Mr. Campbell, tell us about Krystle's work and work experience and her work ethic.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She was a hard worker, much more than I ever was. She pushed herself to do everything she did. She wouldn't let people hold her down or tell her that she couldn't do something, whether it was schoolwork, whether it was -- you know, making a career for herself. She just really knew how to not listen to people who were trying to hold her back and just push forward to be who she was and just to accomplish what she set her goals to.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how about her education? What did she do to further her own education?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She went to college. She, you know, did the college thing. I never did myself, so I don't -- but she just studied hard, you know? A lot of the schooling didn't come as easy but she pushed through and she got the help she needed, and that's what she did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you know how she got through college; that is, who paid for it?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Herself.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How did she do that?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Applying for financial aid, just working a lot, and just -- I mean, she's been working since she's been 14. She's never stopped. On top of school and everything. She just pulled her own weight. She didn't have handouts or anything. She just pushed her way through.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you said she'd been working since she was 14. What kinds of jobs did she hold?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Mostly food service, restaurant industry. Whether it was waitressing, you know, bussing, whatever. I mean, I don't know what the ground level stuff is. She started working before I did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And did she continue in that field?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And tell us what you know about the jobs that she held.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Mostly it was waitressing, and then as she got more through college it became more into the management field, and to progress forward in that type of food industry and management.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what kind of things did she do as manager for the food service?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: You name it, I mean, she's done it. Whether it was running events, whether it was setting up things for, you know, anywhere from weddings to a birthday party, she took care of that. She handled it. She was the go-to person.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, one of things you said you liked to do was go to dances together and things like that. Did you share a common interest in music?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yeah, for the most -- I mean, we liked all types. I mean, it really didn't take much to have us go and join, you know, wherever we were with each other. We'd just have a few laughs and then we'd end up dancing. It's just how it was. I don't know.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about other sports?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I mean, we went to sporting events and stuff like that, but she played baseball and -- when she was younger and things. She was really big into sports teams and...
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how about things like skiing and swimming?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yeah. She was more of a skier. I liked to snow-board. We'd gone on many trips and had good times.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Were those family trips?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Some were. I mean, we went up to my uncle's house a few times. He has a place over in Mansfield, and when we could use it, we did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, how would you describe the relationship -- Krystle's relationship with other family members, other than you and your mom and your dad?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She was just the centerpiece. I mean, she could talk to anybody. She stayed close to every relative: aunt, uncle, my grandparents. She just really took good care of her family and always made sure that -- regardless of how busy she was with work and schooling -- everybody around her was all right.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How did she keep in touch with folks?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Whether it was a phone call or whether it was a random visit, whether it was just, "I wonder how this person is doing today." She just wanted to see how people were and make sure they were okay and...
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, Mr. Campbell, you have a son?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I do.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how old is he now?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: He's six years old.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And tell us about Krystle's relationship with your son.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She loved my son. I mean, she would have done anything for him. She was just a great aunt. And, you know, even with her work schedule and being as hectic as it was, she always made time for him whenever she could see him.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And your son, tell us about him and how he felt about Krystle.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: My son -- my son loved his aunt. He would go over and give her a hug and play little games. He's like, you know, it's...
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did he do that with everybody?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: No, my son doesn't necessarily come off -- you've got to -- you've got to work your way into my son sometimes because he's a little standoffish at first, but once he knows you and he cares, it's pretty simple for him to show his affection.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And, Mr. Campbell, what's your favorite memory of Krystle?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: My favorite memory? Just her always -- I mean, I don't know if it would be a favorite, it's just a feeling that I always had when I was with my sister. It was more that I just always knew that I had somebody there for me regardless of the circumstances. And those memories are the most fond of mine, knowing that if I was having a bad day or whatever, I just was a phone call away before, you know, I could just have somebody to talk to.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And when's the last time you saw Krystle?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I seen her the Saturday before the marathon.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What did you guys do?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: We went to the Square One Mall and we just did some shopping. I had my son with me. I bought him a new toy. And it was simply that, you know.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And on Marathon Monday of 2013, first of all, did you know where Krystle was that day?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I wasn't 100 percent sure where she was but I had an idea where she was.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was your idea?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I didn't know if she was at the Red Sox game or if she was watching the marathon. I knew it was one or the other, though.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And did there come a time when you heard about the bombings on Boylston Street?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: There was. I heard it over the radio.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what did you do?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I had a mini panic attack. I mean, I just was worried. So, you know, I'm not supposed to use my phone on the floor but I ran out and called her anyway, and there was no answer. Nobody picked up. And I kept calling and --
MS. PELLEGRINI: What happened?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Eventually I got a phone call back from her number and I was relieved and I thought everything was fine. And I found out that it was just a nurse saying that my sister was among one of the victims. And I just left work. I told my boss, "I'm leaving," and then I grabbed my mother because she works in -- close to my job as well, and we just went to the hospital where we thought she was.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What happened when you got there?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: We had to wait. And at first they told me everything was fine, that she was going to survive and, you know, she would have problems with her leg for probably the rest of her life but she was alive. And I was relieved. I was calling family members, telling them she's going to be okay and it's going to be all right. She's going to have a tough road ahead of her but she's going to be fine. And then it was just more waiting for her to get out of surgery. We thought that was her in surgery. And it wasn't until about four-thirty in the morning, four o'clock when we found out that it wasn't my sister; it was a mistaken identity.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did you know who the person was who actually was in surgery?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I was not allowed in the room at that time, but I had an idea that it was her friend Karen Rand.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what did you finally find out about Krystle?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: We all kind of left because obviously it wasn't my sister, and then slowly a homicide detective came up. And I just kind of told my parents, you know, this is not -- kind of expect the worse, because normally a homicide detective doesn't show up unless it's -- I didn't know what it was. And then we just were told. We were shown the photo. And we were just in shock and disbelief after the day we'd had.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And, Billy, what was it like for you to learn that Krystle was gone?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It wasn't real at first. It was just something's wrong. This can't be true. This isn't real. Like you just were stunned. You didn't sleep. You were just trying to rationalize everything in your own mind, trying to make any type of reason. Maybe there was another mistaken identity, maybe there was -- just anything you could tell yourself to calm yourself down at that point.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And as time went on, how did you deal with it?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I had a hard time dealing with it. I went to bad places. I didn't do probably the right things. But I just eventually had to deal with it. I had to deal with it for my family, I had to deal with it for my son. I just eventually had to accept the facts.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how did your family react?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: They were horrified. I mean, there was crying. It was emotional. You don't know what to say, you don't know what to do. There's this heightened state of panic and you don't know what to say. You don't know what's comforting. You're trying to comfort somebody else while you, yourself, need comforting. You're just lost.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And since that time two years ago, what's it been like -- or what's it like now for your family without Krystle?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It's tough. It's still tough. Every day, you know, we still think about her. She's -- not a day goes by when she doesn't pop into your head at least in some aspect. I think the hardest time I had was trying not to pick up my phone every time I wanted to call her if I'd run into some friends or something. I think that was the hardest thing to get over, just not being able to make that phone call anymore.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And for your mom and dad?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: They still struggle with it daily. You know, they have their okay days and then they have their bad days. I mean...
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, Mr. Campbell, before you came into the courtroom today, did you review some photographs with me?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yes, I did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And these photographs, did you, in fact -- were these photographs provided to the United States Attorney's Office and the FBI by your family?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yes, I believe most of them are, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you've looked at these and you're in some of them?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you recognize the others that you're not in?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you recognize those as being of your sister Krystle?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And these are -- fairly and accurately depict the situation going on when the photograph was taken?
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Your Honor, the government would offer and ask to enter Exhibits 1601, -03, -04, -15, -17, -19, -21, -23, -24 and -28.
THE COURT: Is there any --
MS. CLARKE: Your Honor, as the Court knows, we saw them in a different format, so I have no idea.
THE COURT: Have you shown this group to counsel?
MS. PELLEGRINI: This is from the same group, your Honor.
THE COURT: I understand, but do they know which ones?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yes. This is the group, actually.
(Pause.)
MS. CLARKE: May we approach?
THE COURT: I'll see you.
(Discussion at sidebar and out of the hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: Is this this witness's son?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yes.
MS. CLARKE: Well, you know, I don't know that photos No. 1 and 2 meet the Court's prescription. I can understand family photos, that he would describe an event, and his child. It's hard to tell what the photo on the beach and the -- I take it that's him. And then I don't have a clue what the photo with her in the dress with a drink.
THE COURT: Probably better for the record to refer to it by the number.
MS. CLARKE: Other than this photo and that photo?
THE COURT: Yeah.
MS. CLARKE: So 1601, -03 and -04, I don't know whether that's him or whether he has memories of those to talk about. The ones that don't seem to connect to what the Court ruled in chambers are 1601, -21, -23 and -28. The ones the Court has --
THE COURT: So --
MS. PELLEGRINI: May I?
THE COURT: Go ahead.
MS. PELLEGRINI: So this is Mr. Campbell in both 1601, -03 and -04. He would testify when they were little they had their pictures taken together. This is him, this is his sister. He recalls this event. He was -- I don't know if you call it an usher at that age, a ring bearer, maybe at a wedding. She was with him. He does recall that one.
1601-21 just relates to Krystle's work, working at the food service, he would testify what she did at work. This relates to he knows she was a bridesmaid -- 1601-23 that she was a bridesmaid many times, and he knows what wedding that is that she attended.
THE COURT: Was he there?
MS. PELLEGRINI: I didn't ask him if he was there. I cannot recall. I just asked him if he knows what this event was and he recalled the wedding of a particular person.
1601-08, he calls this is a picture taken on Spectacle Island for an event that Krystle did the wedding planning for. This is Jasper White's nephew's -- it's the White wedding. And she was also a bridesmaid.
THE COURT: Okay. I think this one is unnecessary.
MS. CONRAD: 1601-23?
THE COURT: Yes, thank you. I think all the others would meet my criteria of having some information beyond just the emotion. So take out 23.
(In open court:)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Bruemmer, if I may start first with 1601-03.
THE COURT: So these are admitted as a group pursuant to the discussion, so they'll be displayed.
(Government Exhibit Nos. 1601, 1601-03, 1601-04, 1601-15, 1601-17, 1601-19, 1601-21, 1601-24 and 1601-28, received into evidence.)
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, do you see on the screen before you a photograph? Do you recognize who's in the photo?
THE COURT: Do you have it?
JUROR: No.
THE COURT: Hang on. The jury didn't get it. Yes? Okay.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yes, I do.
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: And who's in that photo?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Me and my sister.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And do you recall the circumstances under which this was taken, and why this was taken?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Probably like a family photo or something like that, just from when we were little.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did you often have family photos of you and your sister together?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Especially when we were younger, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: May I have 1601-04, please.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you recognize this photo, Mr. Campbell?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I do.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what is this?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I believe I was in a wedding with my sister or something like that. I mean, obviously I'm not -- do you know what I mean? We're at a wedding.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And so you're the little boy in the --
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: That has his finger in his mouth, it looks like, yeah.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yeah, the finger in your mouth. And that's Krystle next to you?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It is.
MS. PELLEGRINI: 1601-15, please.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you recall the occasion where this photo was taken?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yes. It was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what do you recall about that particular occasion?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It was a surprise party that my sister threw for them.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How did she do that?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She just knew how to do things. She called friends and family from all around. My biggest job was just not to tell them.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: And so just for the record, you're in the picture to my right, and mom and dad in the middle, and Krystle on the end?
MS. PELLEGRINI: 1601-17, please.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, do you remember when this was taken?
MS. PELLEGRINI: When was this?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: This was the last Thanksgiving with my grandfather.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And your grandfather is the gentleman in the middle wearing the red shirt?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Actually, do you know what? The screen is interactive. If you touch it, you can draw a circle on it.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Around my grandfather?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Uh-huh.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Okay. Gotcha.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you said this was the last Thanksgiving?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And so Krystle is behind your grandfather. Is that correct?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And your mom and dad are where?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: My mom's right behind me over on the right.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. So this is you right here. Actually, you have to do it for me.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Oh, okay. So that's me, my mom.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And dad?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Dad is right here.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Who are the other folks in the picture?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: That's my uncle right there, and my other uncle, my cousin Lillian, my Nana, Aunt Cheryl, Aunt Betty, my cousin Linda.
MS. PELLEGRINI: You have to keep your voice up, Mr. Campbell.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: And my cousin Linda. I'm sorry. My Aunt Cheryl, my Aunt Betty. I don't know if you caught that.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. We'll clear that one.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And 1601-19.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Who's this in this picture?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: That's my sister and my son.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And how old is your son in here?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I believe he -- I think he was four. It might actually be on his fourth birthday, if I'm not mistaken.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you know where this photo was taken?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I want to say probably 2012.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And do you know where it was taken?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: My parents' backyard.
MS. PELLEGRINI: 1601-24.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Who's this?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Me and my sister.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. I have to say, you have kind of a look on your face.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was that for?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I may have been drinking.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: 1601-21.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you know where this is?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I'm not exactly sure the location but I believe it's a promotion for the Summer Shack, a restaurant she worked at, which she was showing the type of food they serve in their restaurants.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And 1601-28.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you know the occasion that this photo was taken?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: It was a wedding.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And do you know where that wedding was held?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I believe it was Spectacle Island.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And whose wedding was it?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: My sister's boss's nephew's wedding on Spectacle Island.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. And what role did Krystle have in the wedding?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: She was the best man/bridesmaid. I don't know how that works. But she was the best man, but she was the best man but she's a girl, so it's a brides -- I don't know. I'm trying to explain it. But, yeah, that's the role she played.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: And did she participate in the wedding taking place and putting the wedding together, if you know?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I'm not 100 percent sure but I think so, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, what do you miss about Krystle the most?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: Just being able to talk to her. I mean, it's that simple. Just the simple phone call just to see how she was. You have to get used to a whole new lifestyle. This is somebody you talked to every day. And regardless, it was like, "Hey, what are you doing?" "Absolutely nothing," but just, "What's up?" you know, and that's how it was. Just like hanging out. Like, "What are you doing?" You got a day off, "You want to grab a drink?" "You want to go somewhere?" Like, you just realize you can't make that phone call anymore, you can't make plans to see each other. You know, you grow up with somebody your entire life and you just always expect them to be there and now they're gone.
MS. PELLEGRINI: It's been two years. Has it gotten any easier?
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I mean, it's gotten -- not really. I guess. I don't know. It's different. It's -- maybe you just kind of accept it a little bit more, but it's still the same. There are still times you just want to talk. And that's somebody that understood you, you know. I mean, how you grew up, every aspect about you. You didn't have to overly explain how you were feeling; you could just say a couple of words and she already got what you were going through without having to overexplain. It was just easier.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Thank you. I have no further questions.
MS. CLARKE: Thank you very much. No questions.
WILLIAM CAMPBELL III: I'm all set?
THE COURT: All right, sir. Thank you. You may step down.
(The witness is excused.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: William Campbell, Sr. [Sic]