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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 22:14:18 GMT -5
"I'd like to mention that there have been times when I've wished a person to be dead in a flippant manner, including a certain chatterbox who lives in my apartment, never really being serious. Detective Walton, is there not such a person you know like that?"
"Well, now that you mention it..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 22:21:50 GMT -5
"...in my life I have met people who I did wish would just die. And I am sure many of us have wished for certain people to die from time to time. I must emphasize again though, it's not often where the person does, in fact, wind up dead" Walton explained
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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 22:24:04 GMT -5
"But you must admit that, when using the words as a flippant expression, then the entire motive case falls apart?"
"Well if you put it that way... I suppose so..."
"No further questions, your honor."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 23:12:31 GMT -5
"Mr. Taylor, anything you want to ask?" The Judge asked.
"Yes your honor. Detective Walton- based on the circumstantial and physical evidence that exists, even if the motive is weak, is it possible for anyone other than Adolf Gunnarson to have killed Mr. Orwell" Taylor asked.
"At this point in time... no" Walton said.
"No further questions" Taylor said as he went to sit down
"And I have no further questions" Mason said.
As Walton left the stand, Taylor stood up "Ladies and gentlemen, I now come to the key witness- the man who saw everything that happened. Mr. Thomas Rodgers" he declared.
The accountant went to the stand, and after he was sworn in and the formalities were taken care of, they came to the important information.
"Now, what exactly did you see?" Taylor asked.
"Well, as I was coming up the stairs, I saw Gunnarson knocking on the door of the neighbor. The neighbor opened the door, and said "Hello? Oh, Gunnarson, what can I do you for... Wait, what are you doing?!" out loud. During that time, I saw Gunnarson pull out his revolver and shoot him six times. then he holstered his gun, turned around and walked back to his apartment, closing his door, but not the neighbor's door. I ran over and saw the dead man shot six times; four in the chest, one in the neck, and one in the head" with blood pooling around him" Rodgers said, recollecting. "I was terrified; I immediately ran to my apartment, called the police and locked my door. I did not open it until I was certain they had arrived" Rodgers explained.
"I see. And what makes you certain this was Gunnarson?" Taylor asked.
"I recognized his face profile; he wasn't wearing a mask or anything. Thankfully when he turned around he turned away from me, so he didn't see me." Rodgers explained.
"Your honor, I would also like it to be on record that Mr. Rodgers here did willingly submit to a polygraph test to ensure integrity of his testimony; the examiner noted that he passed; he is telling the truth" Taylor said, reviewing the report.
"Noted. Now then, Mr. Taylor, anything else to ask?" The judge asked.
"At present... I believe that is all; the important information is on the record" Taylor explained.
Taylor went to sit down as Mr. Mason stood up.
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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 23:17:04 GMT -5
"Mr. Rodgers, would you mind going into a little more detail on a certain aspect of what you saw?"
"Certainly, I'll do my best. What should I detail more than I already have?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 23:20:30 GMT -5
"Take it from the top; you'll see what I mean when you go back into your explanation" Mason explained.
"Well, ok I'll try. So I was coming up the stairs, when I saw Gunnarson knocking on the neighbor's door. The neighbor opened the door, recognized Gunnarson, Gunnarson shot him, the neighbor fell dead, Gunnarson holstered his revolver, he turned around, and went back into his apartment" Rodgers explained.
"Very good. Now the aspect I want you to focus on is..."
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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 23:22:56 GMT -5
"How you were able to identify Gunnarson? Can you be absolutely sure that it was Gunnarson you saw. Think about it. Was it, beyond a doubt, Adolf Ernest Gunnarson whom you see before you, that you saw murder his neighbor? I just want to know if you are absolutely certain that Gunnarson did it."
Rodgers took a moment to answer.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 23:31:07 GMT -5
"It couldn't be anyone else that I know of; I recognized Gunnarson from his profile. The fact that I heard the neighbor himself recognize Mr. Gunnarson should alone be proof enough" Mr. Rodgers explained.
"So you are certain that it was Gunnarson? Mr. Gunnarson, please stand up and show your right profile to Mr. Rodgers" Mr. Mason requested.
"Objection your honor; just showing him his right side wouldn't prove anything" Mr. Taylor pointed out.
"A fair point... ok, we'll do this. Mr. Gunnarson, you stand over here, and Mr. Rodgers, you stand at the approximate distance you were from Gunnarson and see if you still recognize him" The Judge ordered.
So after some moving around, Mr. Rodgers took a good look.
"So, are you certain that it is Gunnarson you saw?" Mason said.
After taking a moment to register everything, Rodgers looked to Mason and said "yes; that profile is exactly what I saw from the stairwell"
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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 23:40:17 GMT -5
"But, since you did only saw the profile, can you agree that it is possible someone else, with the exact same profile, could have been the killer?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 23:43:48 GMT -5
"If that were the case... it would have to be someone with a striking resemblance to Mr. Gunnarson, since I heard the neighbor identify him as such prior to being shot; and the fact that he went into Gunnarson's apartment right afterwards" Mr. Rodgers explained.
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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 23:44:57 GMT -5
"I see. Now then, next question I have for you is..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 23:48:54 GMT -5
"How familiar are you with Mr. Gunnarson?" Mason asked.
"We exchange pleasantries every now and then; but nothing deeper than that; he has his life and I have mine. Sometimes people ask me what he is like since I am his neighbor, but I don't know much about the man" Rodgers explained.
"I see" Mason replied. He stood silent for a minute.
"Any further questions Mr Mason?" The judge finally asked.
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Post by Eyes on May 2, 2017 23:50:05 GMT -5
"Just one more your honor. Now then Mr. Rodgers, my finally question for you is..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 2, 2017 23:58:59 GMT -5
"Do you personally believe Gunnarson killed Mr. Orwell?" Mason asked.
"I cannot believe that he would do such a thing; but I know what I saw, and I cannot lie about that" Mr. Rodgers explained.
"Then that will be it; no further questions" Mr. Mason said as Mr. Rodgers stepped down.
"And now, I will put on the stand... Adolf Gunnarson himself" Mr. Taylor stated.
Gunnarson, tired of sitting around, decided to take this chance to try and show his side of the story. After being sworn in and the formalities...
"So Mr. Gunnarson, you said you never left your apartment, just to clarify what was said earlier in passing?" Taylor asked.
"that is so" Gunnarson replied.
"Then tell me this... let's assume for a moment that you aren't the murderer. If you are innocent, then tell me this- as a man of justice... how did you not hear six loud gunshots from just across the hall? And by extension, knowing your reputation, why didn't you go investigate said gunshots, or alert the police?" Taylor pointed out.
Everyone in the audience gasped at that important point
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Post by Eyes on May 3, 2017 0:04:15 GMT -5
"Sometimes I take a short nap in the evening before dinner; this was one of those instances. I admit, I was woken up by a loud noise, but I had no idea that what I heard was gunfire."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 3, 2017 0:10:02 GMT -5
"What else could it have been?" Taylor asked, confused
"The boiler that heats the building is really old; honestly I thought it was acting up" Gunnarson said.
"Ok, so you were napping... and conveniently, you did not wake up to the sound of another person entering your apartment... TWICE on that matter?" Taylor asked; assuming that it was an outsider, that meant the person entered Gunnarson's apartment twice; once to get the gun, the second to return it.
"If may quickly add, analysis of Gunnarson's door revealed no signs of forced entry" Walton said from his seat. Now everyone was staring at Gunnarson.
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Post by Eyes on May 3, 2017 0:12:58 GMT -5
"I'm sorry, but that's how it is. I did not actually hear anyone enter my room. Of course, I slept in my bedroom with the door shut, so I suppose it is possible to have missed it."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 3, 2017 0:16:36 GMT -5
"So what you are telling me, is that you basically slept through a murder, and a break in?" Taylor explained.
"I suppose that is one way of putting it" Gunnarson admitted.
"... for the record, that has to be the weakest alibi I have ever heard. No further questions" Taylor said as he went to sit down.
"Any questions for your client Mr. Mason? You are of course not obligated to do so" The judge offered.
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Post by Eyes on May 3, 2017 0:18:58 GMT -5
"No, I do have one. Mr. Gunnarson, this may sound like a strange question, but..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 3, 2017 0:24:45 GMT -5
"...is your revolver kept in the main room of your apartment?" Mason asked.
"Yes; on a table near the the door. When I woke up though I put it back in my holster" Gunnarson explained.
"Very well. No further questions" Mason said.
The rest of the day, Taylor presented a rather solid case against Gunnarson; much evidence and expert witness testimony took up the rest of the day. But fortunately, at the end of the day.
"And the prosecution rests, your honor" Mr. Taylor said.
"In light of what time it is; court is adjourned; Mr. Mason, you shall present your cause when we reconvene" the judge declared as the court adjourned.
Mason and Gunnarson talked at the table "What are we going to do? We come back tomorrow and have little to go on" Mason pointed out
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