8.Roy Howard — Direct
190 linesROY HOWARD, duly sworn
COURT CLERK: Have a seat. State your name, spell your first and last name for the record, keep your voice up and speak into the mic, okay?
ROY HOWARD: Roy Howard, R-O-Y, H-O-W-A-R-D.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. WATKINS:
MR. WATKINS: Mr. Howard. Good afternoon. What city do you live in?
ROY HOWARD: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
MR. WATKINS: And were you raised in Cambridge?
ROY HOWARD: Half. I was born in Jamaica.
MR. WATKINS: I'm sorry?
ROY HOWARD: I was born in Jamaica.
MR. WATKINS: You were born in Jamaica? When did you move to the United States?
ROY HOWARD: 1980.
MR. WATKINS: And after that, raised in Cambridge?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, sir.
MR. WATKINS: Did you go to school in Cambridge?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I did, sir.
MR. WATKINS: Where did you go to high school in Cambridge?
ROY HOWARD: Cambridge Rindge and Latin.
MR. WATKINS: Did graduate from Cambridge Rindge and Latin?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I did.
MR. WATKINS: Did you go on to study after high school?
ROY HOWARD: I went to college.
MR. WATKINS: How many years of college did you go to?
ROY HOWARD: One semester.
MR. WATKINS: Are you -- are you currently employed?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I am.
MR. WATKINS: And how -- what do you do? What's your work?
ROY HOWARD: I'm a chef. A cook.
MR. WATKINS: Yup. And who do you work for?
ROY HOWARD: Harvard University.
MR. WATKINS: And what hours do you work as a chef at Harvard University?
ROY HOWARD: Six to three.
MR. WATKINS: Do you have a second job during the academic school year?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: And what's your second job?
ROY HOWARD: I'm a coach.
MR. WATKINS: For what sports are you a coach?
ROY HOWARD: Football, wrestling, lacrosse.
MR. WATKINS: Between those three sports, does that cover pretty much the entire school year?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, it does.
MR. WATKINS: How long have you been a wrestling coach in particular?
ROY HOWARD: Since -- sorry. I just heard a ding -- 1995 to present.
MR. WATKINS: And when you first started coaching -- and has that always been at Cambridge Rindge and Latin?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, sir.
MR. WATKINS: When you first became an athletic coach, was that just for wrestling or was it for all the sports?
ROY HOWARD: No, it was for wrestling.
MR. WATKINS: And then as years went by, did you add additional sports?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I did.
MR. WATKINS: When did you yourself first begin wrestling?
ROY HOWARD: 1984.
MR. WATKINS: And how did you start wrestling?
ROY HOWARD: A friend of mine that played football actually just dragged me to a wrestling practice.
MR. WATKINS: And did you wrestle while you were at Cambridge Rindge and Latin?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I did.
MR. WATKINS: Did you continue wrestling after you graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin?
ROY HOWARD: No, I didn't.
MR. WATKINS: So do you -- what was it that you enjoyed about wrestling?
ROY HOWARD: The discipline it taught me and the responsibility.
MR. WATKINS: And did you wrestle for all four years at Cambridge Rindge and Latin?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I did.
MR. WATKINS: How was it that you decided to become a coach for wrestling?
ROY HOWARD: I liked the sport and I wanted to give back to the community.
MR. WATKINS: Describe the wrestling program generally, practices and meets, what -- during the year beginning in November.
ROY HOWARD: The first day of practice would be the first Monday after Thanksgiving, and it doesn't -- it ends, say, for some people, early February-late March -- I mean early March.
MR. WATKINS: In the early part of the wrestling season, is the focus on physical training?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, sir.
MR. WATKINS: Does the focus stay on physical training all through the season?
ROY HOWARD: And conditioning, yes.
MR. WATKINS: And conditioning? Describe a typical practice, what your coachees will do?
ROY HOWARD: Well, we'll warm up by rolling the mats out, do drills, get a sweat going, and then start practice.
MR. WATKINS: Now, you played, yourself, football, and you've wrestled and you've played lacrosse?
ROY HOWARD: I've played football, wrestled, and I've coached lacrosse.
MR. WATKINS: Of football and wrestling, which one is the most demanding sport?
ROY HOWARD: Wrestling.
MR. WATKINS: And why is that?
ROY HOWARD: Because you have to lose weight, gain weight, and you have to get on a diet, eat correctly.
MR. WATKINS: Is part of what you do as a coach discuss nutrition?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: And why do you discuss nutrition as part of being a coach?
ROY HOWARD: Because they have to learn how to treat their body, eat correctly.
MR. WATKINS: Is that for wrestling specifically or do you try to teach life skills?
ROY HOWARD: I teach life skills, so...
MR. WATKINS: What does cutting weight and how does that play into nutrition?
ROY HOWARD: Because there's a weight class you have to be certified at to wrestle at that weight class.
MR. WATKINS: Now, how many classes -- weight classes are there for wrestling?
ROY HOWARD: There's 14.
MR. WATKINS: Do you know Jahar Tsarnaev?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: Do you see him in the courtroom today?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: What class did Jahar wrestle in when he first started wrestling for you?
ROY HOWARD: I would say 112.
MR. WATKINS: And where is that on the scale of the 11 [sic] weight classes?
ROY HOWARD: It's at the beginning, the lower weight.
MR. WATKINS: As the years went on, did he move up in classes?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, he did.
MR. WATKINS: What was the highest class you remember him wrestling in?
ROY HOWARD: 135.
MR. WATKINS: How many years did Jahar Tsarnaev wrestle for you?
ROY HOWARD: Three years.
MR. WATKINS: And do you know what years of his high school career that was?
ROY HOWARD: It would be sophomore, junior and senior year.
MR. WATKINS: What are some of the descriptions you would -- what are some of the words you would use to describe Jahar Tsarnaev?
ROY HOWARD: Quiet, hard worker.
MR. WATKINS: I'd like to show Mr. Howard Exhibit 3280.
THE COURT: Is there any objection to this?
ROY HOWARD: Where am I looking?
MR. CHAKRAVARTY: Again, your Honor, I'm not sure I've seen this one.
No objection, your Honor.
THE COURT: No? Okay.
(Defense Exhibit No. 3280 received into evidence.)
BY MR. WATKINS:
MR. WATKINS: Mr. Howard, do you see that picture that's on the screen?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: Do you see Jahar in that picture?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: First, this is a montage of various wrestlers. And can you point out by tapping on the screen which ones include Jahar?
ROY HOWARD: (Witness complies.)
MR. WATKINS: So you've tapped on at least a couple. Do you recall -- can you tell when these pictures were taken?
ROY HOWARD: It will be January, I would say 3rd, around there. January 3rd.
MR. WATKINS: Of what year?
ROY HOWARD: Of, I would say, senior year.
MR. WATKINS: And Mr. Tsarnaev graduated in 2011, so January 3rd of 2011?
ROY HOWARD: Correct.
MR. WATKINS: Showing you what's already been admitted as Exhibit 3285, do you recognize what year this picture was taken from?
ROY HOWARD: This would be his first year wrestling. It would be sophomore year.
MR. WATKINS: And where's Jahar Tsarnaev in this photograph? You can circle it with your finger, if that helps.
ROY HOWARD: (Witness complies.)
MR. WATKINS: Now, did Jahar Tsarnaev become co-captain of the wrestling team?
ROY HOWARD: His junior year, yes.
MR. WATKINS: And how did he rise to that title?
ROY HOWARD: He showed leadership and he showed hard work, dedication, to his peers.
MR. WATKINS: You talked about some of the -- well, you talked about some of the nutrition and some of the very difficult physical conditioning that's involved. Do you reach out to family members in preparation for the wrestling season?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, I do.
MR. WATKINS: And why do you do that?
ROY HOWARD: To let their parents know what their kids are getting into and if they come home, say, "Mom, Dad, I've got to change my eating habits," the reasons why.
MR. WATKINS: So are there -- during the wrestling season, it sounds like there are everyday demands outside of wrestling?
ROY HOWARD: Yes.
MR. WATKINS: And so what do you do to try and get in touch with families?
ROY HOWARD: We usually have a meeting at the end of the year -- I mean -- sorry -- at the beginning of the year to meet all parents.
MR. WATKINS: Did you ever meet Jahar Tsarnaev's parents?
ROY HOWARD: No.
MR. WATKINS: Were you ever able to talk to them about the demands of the wrestling season?
ROY HOWARD: No, sir.
MR. WATKINS: Did you ever see his parents at any of the meets or tournaments?
ROY HOWARD: No.
MR. WATKINS: Any of the practices?
ROY HOWARD: No, sir.
MR. WATKINS: Is there a -- well, tell us what Senior Day is.
ROY HOWARD: Senior Day is the last home wrestling match of the seniors.
MR. WATKINS: And for Jahar Tsarnaev's Senior Day, he was captain of the wrestling team -- co-captain of the wrestling team by that point, correct?
ROY HOWARD: Correct.
MR. WATKINS: And what is involved? What happens on Senior Day before the match?
ROY HOWARD: Senior Day, all the seniors invite their parents, we hand flowers out to the senior to give to their parents.
MR. WATKINS: Were Jahar Tsarnaev's parents at Senior Day?
ROY HOWARD: No, they wasn't.
MR. WATKINS: Wrestling practice runs right through Christmas vacation and on into January?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, it does.
MR. WATKINS: And that's during the break that a lot of college students have?
ROY HOWARD: Correct.
MR. WATKINS: Do some of your former wrestlers come back to attend practices?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, they do.
MR. WATKINS: Did Jahar Tsarnaev do that in 2012?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, he did.
MR. WATKINS: How many times did he come back?
ROY HOWARD: Twice, I think.
MR. WATKINS: Did he also come back in 2013?
ROY HOWARD: Is that the year of the bombing?
MR. WATKINS: Yes.
ROY HOWARD: Yes.
MR. WATKINS: And what do -- when they come back, what do your former wrestlers do at practice?
ROY HOWARD: They either practice with the kids and just tell them to listen to Coach. And then I asked him how college was going.
MR. WATKINS: But they actually help with practices or they stand around and gab?
ROY HOWARD: No, they help with practice.
MR. WATKINS: After that, those times that you saw Jahar Tsarnaev back at practice in 2013, did you see him again before today?
ROY HOWARD: No, I haven't.
MR. WATKINS: You learned that Jahar Tsarnaev was involved in the Boston Marathon bombing?
ROY HOWARD: What was the question?
MR. WATKINS: You've since learned that Jahar Tsarnaev was involved in the Boston Marathon bombing?
ROY HOWARD: Yes, sir.
MR. WATKINS: Was his participation there consistent with what you saw as the boy you coached for three years?
ROY HOWARD: Was what?
MR. WATKINS: Was it consistent? Was it the same? Was that the same Jahar?
ROY HOWARD: No, sir.
MR. WATKINS: That's all I have, your Honor.
MR. CHAKRAVARTY: No questions, your Honor.
THE COURT: No questions? All right, sir. Thank you. You may step down.
(The witness is excused.)
THE COURT: Unless you have somebody very short, I think we'll break until tomorrow. So we'll resume the regular schedule tomorrow and continue with the evidence. Have a good evening.
COURT CLERK: All rise for the Court and the jury. Court will be in recess.
(The Court and jury exit the courtroom and the proceedings adjourned at 2:50 p.m.)