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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 27, 2017 2:27:56 GMT -5
"I think so, thanks for your help..."
Meanwhile, Cricket had decided to leave the coffee and go shopping. It was far from a normal shopping excursion, however...
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 27, 2017 11:16:22 GMT -5
She couldn't help but feel that she was being watched; and yet nothing seemed out of the ordinary to her. She decided to shrug it off and go about her business. And yet she couldn't shake that feeling.
Around this time, at Scotland Yard Cricket's father had just been released due to a lack of evidence for the case to go on; there was nothing linking him to the crime, the victim hadn't come forward and it was the witness' word against his. But he was hellbent on keeping that "criminal" away from his daughter, so as soon as he got home he called his lawyer.
"Yes, I'd like to have a restraining order put in place to protect my daughter from a man. I'd say 100 meters away from her and the family home should be more than adequate. His name? James Hartley..."
"Certainly sir; I will have it arranged within the next 24 hours" the lawyer replied.
"Excellent; see you tomorrow" Mr Earnest said as he hung up. He began secretly celebrating. "Soon my precious daughter will be separated from that criminal for good!"
Preparations were well underway for the Gunnarson trial; a date had been set and the prosecution's case was solid. In the coming days Mr. Taylor and Mr Mason would select the jury, and the press was having a field day with this case.
As all this was going on...
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 27, 2017 12:00:29 GMT -5
...a certain Man was keeping tabs on the people.
"Poor little Hartley, not going to be able to see your girlfriend for a while, are you? Such a shame..."
Meanwhile...
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 27, 2017 12:17:08 GMT -5
Gunnarson kept thinking about the case, and Mr Mason even acquired copies of the paperwork Taylor had on the case... and they had to admit, it was a solid case.
"With everything that has been happening I've been so stressed out I even chose my words poorly when describing how I felt about my neighbor. I mean sure, it's how I feel, but I wouldn't say it like that" Gunnarson admitted.
"Honestly, the best thing we can do is hear out their case, and find something that makes the whole thing fall apart" Mason explained.
"Then there is the matter of who actually did it though..." could be anyone" Gunnarson explained. "But I do know two people who could not have done it" Gunnarson said.
"And that is?" Mason asked
"Taylor and Walton- they may not like me, but they're still law abiding citizens. They wouldn't stoop that low; and they're alibis are airtight" Gunnarson explained.
"Then the person who did it... has to have some sort of physical resemblance to you" Mason concluded.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 27, 2017 13:32:27 GMT -5
"Unless... is it in any way possible that Thomas Rodgers committed the crime? After all, he was the only witness to it... perhaps he wanted to kill the man and just decided he'd frame me."
Mason pondered. "You know, Gunnarson, that is actually quite possible..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 27, 2017 14:02:28 GMT -5
"Unlikely, but possible" Gunnarson admitted. Though Walton was already one step ahead in this department. Talking to an officer from the forensic unit, the man was explaining the results of the Gunshot Residue tests. "We went ahead and did the Parrafin Wax test on Gunnarson... his hands tested positive for nitrates; a strong indicator of gunshot residue. The black particles on his hand only strengthen the evidence" the forensic scientist explained. "and the bullets?" Walton asked. "Its confirmed- they came from Gunnarson's revolver." "Excellent. Hold on, What about those other GSR tests... Greiss test and Sodium rhodizinate?" Walton asked "That's different; that's for distance determination, not necessarily presence. We can try though; we have some ideas" the forensic scientist explained. "Do what you can. Oh, as a precaution, did you do a test for the witness? Knowing Gunnarson..." Walton explained. "Way ahead of you; Mr Rodgers' hands... tested negative in the parrafin wax test, indicating no nitrates, and by extension no GSR" "Good; I want every base covered and I'm trusting you guys to do a good job" Walton said as he prepared to go do some paperwork ...... "You know, one thing I need to understand... if you didn't kill him, how was your gun used to kill him, found in your shirt holster, and your hands covered in gunshot residue?" Mason asked. "That's what want to know also; I didn't fire my gun that day! At least, I don't think I did" Gunnarson said "You don't think you did?" A confused Mason asked.
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Post by Toz76 on Apr 27, 2017 17:17:56 GMT -5
Gunnarson gave a brief history of Drugg and his experiments to a shocked Mason.
"So essentially, any of your enemies could have used this substance to coerce you to do whatever they wanted you to? Perhaps we should investigate this."
"But I'm not certain that's the case this time. Someone would have needed to have access to my person to drug me. I haven't gone out or seen anyone since dinner with a friend three days ago, and Zoie Gadfrey would never do something like that. Unless you can find evidence of a break-in, I'm afraid I can see only one explanation."
"What's that?" Mason asked, leaning in.
"Due to the stress of my job as a private detective, I suffered a temporary bout of insanity, killed my neighbor, and completely forgot about it immediately afterward. Don't look so surprised-" Here he interrupted Mason, who was about to interject. "Gent has been telling me to take a break for years, and I've been concerned about my sanity for some time now. My recent outburst about, er, my victim, only proves my point. This is an unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected, turn of events. I can still plead insanity, get help, and live a relatively normal life."
Mason was shocked at how calmly Gunnarson rationalized all this.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 27, 2017 18:24:06 GMT -5
"Unless..." Gunnarson thought, then it occurred to him. "There was a certain figure after Hartley that I saved him from some months ago... what if this is his way of getting revenge?" Gunnarson thought. "I mean, the drugged angle is possible but unlikely- Gent said Drugg's papers were destroyed during the compound raid" he explained.
"Maybe. Here's what we'll do- we'll hear out the prosecution's case, listen to the evidence, and see if we can do some investigating of our own on the side. The moment we find some flaws with the theory, that's where we'll build our defense" Mason explained.
"But who would want to kill my neighbor? For that matter, who would want to frame me?" Gunnarson asked.
"If we could just find the important aspect to focus on, we just might figure this out. That is the question though- was this a matter of framing you, or killing Franklin Orwell" Mason explained.
I guess we'll have to wait for the trial" Gunnarson sighed.
(NOTE: I'm not trying to set up Gunnarson to fail; it is important that the case look completely solid until the key piece of evidence is found that clears his name. Before that moment though, the case needs to look like Gunnarson is guilty)
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 29, 2017 22:54:16 GMT -5
And so, the trial...
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 29, 2017 23:15:08 GMT -5
...began only a few days later. With few cases in the system, Gunnarson did not have to wait long.
The gallery was filled with curious onlookers and the press alike; Adolf Gunnarson, the unofficial detective, committed murder?! They had to know the truth.
Gunnarson and Mr. Mason sat on the defense's side, and prosecutor Henry Taylor sat on the prosecution's side, with Detective Walton and Thomas Rodgers ready to present as witnesses. A representative from the forensic unit had submitted the official report on the evidence analysis, and Walton was authorized to explain the significance of the evidence and the reports for each piece. And Rodgers had his witness statement, ready to go.
The judge presiding this case was The Honorable Judge Bertram Fields; who fortunately for Gunnarson, was a rational man who sought out the facts before drawing conclusions.
"Mr. Adolf Gunnarson, you have been charged with the first degree murder of Franklin Orwell; how do you plead?" Judge Fields asked.
"Not guilty, your honor" Gunnarson said seriously.
"Very well, let the trial proceed- Mr. Taylor, your opening remarks?" Judge Fields asked.
"Certainly. Gentlemen of the jury, and ladies and gentlemen observing this case. Mr. Adolf Gunnarson has been charged with a horrid crime- the act of murdering his own neighbor, Mr. Franklin Orwell. In the coming hours, you will not only see undeniable proof of his terrible deed, but testimony and evidence that asserts all of the pieces to his own trifecta- means, motive and opportunity. Backing up this hard evidence, I also have today, an eyewitness who saw the act from beginning to end. When all the pieces come together, I know with great certainty that you will deliver a verdict of guilty to this horrible man for the crime he has committed. Thank you" and Prosecutor Taylor proceeded to sit down.
"And now, the defense attorney's opening remarks?" The judge asked.
Mr. Mason stood up. "Ladies and gentlemen, my client, Adolf Gunnarson, has indeed been charged with a most serious crime. But as the case is presented, I do want you all to consider this..."
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 30, 2017 0:48:19 GMT -5
"Adolf Gunnarson has always tried his best to be an honest, kind man, seeking out only to right wrongs and send those that break the law to prison, and help make the world a better place. Would such a man really go out and shoot his neighbor? Another thing, there was only one witness - was he really telling the truth...?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 30, 2017 1:56:06 GMT -5
"...keep that in mind as you hear the case presented before you. Even if everything looks solid, I stand firm in saying that the motive alone raises enough doubt in this case to say that Gunnarson could not have committed the murder. Something is terribly amiss here, and I firmly believe that by the end of this trial the truth will come to light, thank you". And Mr Mason went to sit down.
"Prosecutor Taylor, your case?" Judge Fields asked.
"Certainly. Ladies and gentlemen, Gunnarson claims that for every case, once there is an established means, motive and opportunity, the case is effectively solved. Let us take each piece of evidence one by one, and first prove means" Taylor said as the first piece was presented. "Ladies and gentlemen, before you is a revolver; the old service revolver of Adolf Gunnarson... the weapon that was used to kill Mr Orwell. To elaborate more. I call firearms examiner Carter Willis to the stand" Taylor said.
After the swearing in, and technical explanations of how firearms examinations work, Willis came to the important information.
"And based on the microscopic analyses of the bullets, and comparing them to the markings of test fires... I can conclusively say that this revolver is the weapon that killed Mr Orwell" he explained.
"And no other gun could have left those striation marks behind on the bullets?" Taylor asked
"Correct; due to the way gun barrels are manufactured it is impossible for two guns to leave the same striation marks behind" Willis finished
"No further questions" Taylor said as Mason came up.
"You have specified that no two guns can have the same striation patterns left in the bullets, correct?" Mason asked
"Indeed I did"
"Well, that may be the theory, but in your practical experience, is that true?"
"Absolutely; in my years I must have looked at anywhere between 3,000-4,000 firearms; no two have ever had identical striation patterns" Willis explained.
Mason, thinking it over, realized that maybe this wasn't a good way to start gathering information to build a defense. He thought for a moment if there was anything he could get out of this witness.
"Any more questions Mr Mason?" The judge asked after a minute of silence.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 30, 2017 1:58:53 GMT -5
"Just one. Now, Mr. Willis, the firearm you hold in your hand, you know what it is from seeing it only, is that correct?"
"Oh absolutely, I try to make sure that I can name any gun I see, and if I can't, I find it out."
"Very good, now then, my question is..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 30, 2017 2:22:01 GMT -5
"...can you identify Gunnarson's firearm?"
"Yes; a Swedish Nagant model 1887 revolver; only retired by the Swedish army recently actually. Ammunition for it isn't common here, but if you know where to go, you can find some" Mr Willis assured. Gunnarson confirmed that was correct.
"No further questions" Mr Mason said as he went to sit down.
"Mr. Willis also ran the tests for Gunshot residue; what can you tell us about the tests you ran?" Taylor asked.
After getting the technical information out of the way, Mr Willis explained "...and according to the parrafin wax test, Gunnarson had recently fired a gun, based on the presence of nitrates on his hand. We also ran tests on some of the black particles recovered from his hands, and based on the greiss test and sodium rhodizonate test, we confirmed the presence of nitrites and lead; more indicators of gunshot residue" Willis explained.
"So what you're saying is, Gunnarson, at the time of testing, had recently fired a gun?"
"Correct" Mr Wilis explained.
"Were these tests performed on anyone else?"
"Only the witness; Mr Rodgers tested negative for GSR"
"No further questions" Taylor said as Mason came up.
"How long does GSR stay on one's hands?" Mason asked
"Rule of thumb- 4 hours before its all gone; barring outside interference. Gunnarson's hands was tested within an hour of the murder" Willis explained.
"I see. So what does outside interference refer to?"
"Anything that makes the GSR come off faster. Simplest way- washing hands". Willis explained.
"Very well. Then, let me ask you this..."
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Apr 30, 2017 3:08:30 GMT -5
"Is it possible to add GSR to a person's hand so that it matches with the gun without having first fired said gun?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Apr 30, 2017 15:34:10 GMT -5
Mr. Willis looked at Mason confused, "GSR cannot be individualized to a single gun- unless you are asking if it is possible for GSR to end up on someone's hand without actually firing a gun?" Mr. Willis asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes. My apologies, I misworded the question" Mr. Mason clarified
"Ah. Well as matter of fact, yes. In some cases that is possible" Mr. Willis explained.
"Such as?" Mr. Mason asked.
"If someone fires a gun, puts the gun down, and then a second person picks up the gun, the second person can get Gunshot residue on their hands" Willis explained.
"I see; could that have happened here?" Mr. Mason asked.
"I do not have the authority to answer questions such as that" Mr. Willis explained.
"Oh, my apologies. But going back to the initial point- so it is possible then, in certain circumstances, for a person to get GSR on their hands without having fired a gun?"
"Correct. But again, I must emphasize this point- six bullets fired from Adolf Gunnarson's revolver are what killed Franklin Orwell. I cannot say if he is the one who did it, but I can say that this gun is the weapon that killed him" Mr. Willis finished.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on May 2, 2017 21:23:15 GMT -5
"Alright, you may stand down."
"I'd like to call as my next witness..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 22:05:28 GMT -5
"...to the stand Detective Walton. In this case, we shall now shift our focus to motive, so, again, I call detective Michael Walton to the stand, to direct our focus to Gunnarson himself" Prosecutor Taylor explained.
Detective Walton took the stand, and was asked about the interview he had with Gunnarson.
"Did Mr. Gunnarson indicate a motive for murder when you spoke to him?" Taylor asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Quoting directly from my notes your honor, he said "He was an alcoholic so he left bottles all over the place, even in the hall for me to clean up. He loved his radio a bit too much and would blast it even in the dead of night. And don't even get me started on those rowdy poker nights he would play with his buddies every Thursday. He was so annoying and rude, sometimes I wished he would just die or something!" Walton finished with his notes then went on to say "seems he could no longer stand his annoying neighbor"
"I see. What other information did Gunnarson give in the interview?" Taylor asked.
"He has no alibi. He said that he was home in his apartment all day reading; he didn't see anyone that day. So he was exactly where he should have been for the murder" Walton explained.
"So even though there is no physical evidence in this category, would it be accurate to say that the circumstantial evidence seems to indicate that Gunnarson was exactly where he was supposed to be as the murderer in this case?" Taylor asked.
"That is correct" Walton replied.
"Your witness, Mr. Mason" Taylor said as he went to sit down.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on May 2, 2017 22:07:50 GMT -5
"Now then Mr. Walton..."
"Detective."
"Detective Walton... is it not true that people can say things they don't really mean? Isn't 'I wish they were dead' often used as a phrase and not at all an intent of a person's death?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 22:11:41 GMT -5
"Yes, that is quite true when it comes to language... though this is the first time in all my years where I've seen a dead body reinforce such a statement" Walton observed.
"Yes, the circumstances do seem to suggest that. However..."
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