A 57-year-old man accused of homicide, rape and housebreaking within the killing of a distinguished banking government whom he dated provides off the looks that he’s profitable, charming and charismatic, however that look is a masks over a a lot darker facet, a prosecutor advised a jury throughout closing arguments within the man’s trial Thursday, Aug. 7.
Anthony Duwayne Turner of Los Angeles is on trial within the loss of life of 48-year-old Michelle Avan, who was discovered crushed and strangled inside her Reseda house on Aug. 5, 2021. Prosecutor Cindy Lee Wallace advised the jury Avan was killed on Aug. 3.
Turner’s legal professional, Jovan Blacknell, in contrast the case to placing Turner’s BDSM way of life on trial and stated prosecutors had been arguing that “if you are into the BDSM lifestyle, you are violent.”
Turner and Avan each labored for Financial institution of America, the latter additionally an advocate for ladies and different underrepresented teams. The 2 had an on-and-off relationship that started in 2016, in line with proof introduced throughout trial.
Wallace stated that whereas Turner comes off as calm and polished, “underneath that mask, he’s someone else much darker. He’s violent, he’s controlling and he’ll lie and spin the truth to suit his needs.”
Wallace known as Turner an abuser and stated he raped and murdered Avan after exhibiting as much as her Reseda house about 11:40 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2021, referring to DNA proof discovered on Avan’s physique and underwear that pointed to the defendant.
Turner despatched Avan a textual content message on July 31 that stated the the connection, and neither of them, had been getting the respect they deserved. That message was despatched after Turner discovered Avan had deliberate to go to San Diego with pals and didn’t inform him about it first, which he took as disrespect, Wallace argued.
Turner, who took the stand in his personal protection, stated he left a celebration in Los Angeles and drove to Avan’s place unannounced that night time to interrupt off the connection for good. Turner testified that she was nonetheless alive when he left the house round 5 a.m. the next morning.
Avan’s son discovered her physique on Aug. 5, 2021 whereas checking in on her after not listening to from her. Medical expert’s pictures displayed Thursday confirmed swelling to her face and head, inside bleeding and indicators that she was asphyxiated, Wallace stated.
The son known as Turner, who then known as police, Turner testified. He advised each the son and a dispatcher that he was going to test on Avan, however by no means confirmed up.
“He understood the young man was irate and wanted to kill him,” Blacknell stated.
Video and safety system data present Turner exhibiting as much as the home, letting himself in via the entrance door and disarming the alarm system. The sunshine to Avan’s bed room is seen occurring and off a number of instances. Turner is seen leaving the home with a white bag about 5:13 a.m.
“Despite what you heard from him on the stand, he did not go over there to break up with her, to give her a kiss and grab his toiletries,” Wallace stated. “He came there to beat her, to assault her, to place her in fear and exert his control over her.”
Turner stated he and Avan had been in a dominant-submissive relationship besides whereas they had been at work. Wallace argued that was one other masks for home violence.
She described Turner as a person who wanted to be in management, who requested that Avan and one in all his ex-wives to get tattoos that stated “Property of Anthony Turner” or “Property of King Anthony” on their our bodies and who turned violent when he felt he was disrespected.
Whereas on the stand, Turner testified to participating within the BDSM way of life the place he was a dominant and the ladies agreed to be submissive. He denied being abusive and stated any hitting was achieved with whips and paddles as a part of sexual actions.
He additionally claimed that whereas having the dialogue concerning the breakup, Avan started crying and he fell asleep on a chair, waking up round 4:30 a.m. to her nonetheless sitting on the mattress with puffy eyes, then grabbing a trash bag, packing up his belongings, saying goodbye and telling Avan he’d test in on her. He by no means did.
However Wallace stated Avan’s voice was nonetheless heard via a journal she stored. A number of the entries had been displayed in courtroom through which confirmed Avan needed to be with Turner, however was additionally in concern.
“…my body freezes and I cannot take one more step,” she stated in a single entry. “I’m terrified about what is about to happen. I’ve experienced beatings at his hands before and I prayed I wouldn’t have to endure another.”
“Michelle was successful, but she was also someone who desperately wanted to be loved,” Wallace stated.
Blacknell described Avan as a beautiful individual, however somebody who was within the midst of modifications in her life. He stated Avan was in a wedding with a stay-at-home husband who catered to her, however she needed a change. He likened Turner as a bridge to a brand new way of life.
“Every piece of evidence shows you Ms. Avan wants Anthony around,” Blacknell stated. He stated prosecutors had not achieved sufficient to show the fees in opposition to Turner and criticized the investigation by Los Angeles police detectives.
The protection legal professional at one level advised that Avan’s accidents could have been self inflicted from banging her head in opposition to a toilet counter after Turner left her house on Aug. 4.
However Wallace known as that suggestion a “fantastical lie” and stated these actions wouldn’t clarify the inner accidents and asphyxiation she additionally suffered.
She likened the protection argument to a sequence of pink herrings meant to distract the jury.
Wallace was set to complete her remaining argument Monday earlier than the case is handed to the jury for deliberations.
