More from Catherine Stevens’ cross-examination yesterday.

 Yesterday during her testimony, Catherine Stevens said, “I did not want any kind of gas anything available to anyone that might be around the children.  It was very dangerous, it was a fire hazard and I didn’t want it on my deck.” 

During cross-examination, prosecutor Brenda Morris established that despite her concerns, Catherine Stevens never did anything to return the grill or remove other items that she disliked.

Mrs. Stevens was also unable to explain whether she paid for a wraparound deck on the first floor.  This deck was installed more than a year after the renovations of her house was completed in 2001.  Once the deck was completed, Catherine said she checked to see if she was ever billed for it.  Yesterday, she told Ms. Morris that she wasn’t sure if a bill ever came in.

Catherine Stevens tried to explain to Ms.Morris why a Brookstone massage chair that was loan to them in 2001 was still in their Washington DC home.  Under cross-examination Ms. Morris asked, “What kind of loan is that?”  Mrs. Stevens’ answer was, “He is a friend, an Alaskan that left the stupid chair there, I am not happy about it.”

Later on, Ms.Morris said, “Ma’am, you make close to half a million dollars a year, why can’t you get that out of there?”  Catherine’s rely was, “It was Allen’s responsibility to remove the loan items.”

If it’s ok with you Madam Prosecutor Morris, I have one question for Mrs. Stevens.  “Mrs. Stevens, why is it Mr. Allen’s responsibility to get ‘that stupid chair” out of your house?  Did Mr. Allen put the chair there, was Mr. Allen a paid employee of yours, why was it his responsibility?”

In addition, I looked up the definition of a loan and a gift for you Mrs. Stevens and this is what Webster says.

Loan: Something lent or furnished on condition of being returned.

Gift: Something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show a favor toward someone.