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I’m riveted watching Allen Young pace the courtroom. He’s a fresh trial lawyer that I believe the state thought would hang me. His theatrics are entertaining, but it’s his ability to gain the jury’s trust that’s fascinating. They like him, even if they despise me.
“Mr. Sullivan’s palm print was found on the pulley, but we already know that my client worked in the same fishing district as the victim. Is it possible that Mr. Sullivan used the pulley to load his diving equipment onto a boat at one time?”
“It’s possible, but not likely,” Detective Foster replies. “The charter boat Mr. Sullivan used for work has its own loading dock equipment.”
Young doesn’t miss a beat. “But it is possible, considering the charter boat had numerous reports of faulty equipment at the time.”
The detective furrows his brows. “A slight possibility.”
“Thank you. Now let’s discuss the differences among the cases. When you were first called to the scene, detective, did your initial report state that the victim’s death was more than likely an accident? That it appeared the victim hung himself to the claim of faulty equipment?”
“I did make that statement, but I quickly amended it upon the discovery by the medical examiner.”
“Right. The medical examiner reported contusions, that is bruises, around the victim’s neck, which supports the cause of death due to asphyxiation. Like one would have when strangled by a rope.”
“Yes, that’s correct. But the examination also uncovered several repeated ligature contusions. As if the rope was tightened, loosened, and then tightened again. As if someone was torturing the victim prior to his death.”
“Isn’t it possible that this contusion pattern could’ve been caused by the victim fighting against the rope, trying to loosen it from around his neck?”
“Objection, Your Honor. The witness is not a medical doctor or expert.”
“Sustained,” the judge says. “I agree. Detective Foster isn’t qualified to answer that question.”
The detective looks annoyed at having his response suppressed.
Young quickly moves on. “But unlike the other crime scenes, where it was clear a heinous murder had been committed, this first scene—the scene providing your only supposed evidence—has a number of differences, is that correct? Such as the traps the perpetrator rigged to carry out the murders? The pulley was never confirmed as a trap, is this right?”
“That’s not uncommon for a first homicide,” the detective counters. “Repeat offenders get better, bolder, as their kill method advances. The difference between the first crime scene and the others is only that of an amateur versus a proficient.”
My lawyer smiles. “In your opinion?”
“Yes. In my opinion, based on fifteen years of detective work.”
“Was the wife of the victim ever questioned in connection to his death?”
“Of course. Everyone connected to the victim was questioned.”
“But only after the second crime scene was discovered, and after the initial statement declaring the victim’s death an accident had been retracted.”
Detective Foster adjusts his posture. “That is correct.”
“So to recap the facts, you have no inculpatory evidence tying the defendant to the other murders, and the very murder you can link him to, the method is arguably different than the other crimes. You, yourself, said it wasn’t as methodical, and yet it was the only crime scene where any type of evidence was uncovered. That in itself is a deviation from the MO, wouldn’t you agree, detective? That a methodical murderer would make such a blatant mistake? And yet you want to prosecute the defendant for all four murders and have him put to death by lethal injection?”
“Objection, Your Honor! Mr. Young is badgering the witness.”
The detective flounders to answer, but Young speaks up before the ruling. “That’s all right. Nothing further, Your Honor.”
“I’m still giving my ruling to have that last statement stricken from the record, Mr. Young,” the judge says.
I have a newfound respect for the state of Delaware. Allen Young almost has me doubting my own memories.
“And there’s our reasonable doubt,” the lawyer whispers to me as he slides into his seat.
Reasonable doubt. For the other kills. Not enough to keep me from serving that life sentence…but maybe enough to keep me off of death row.
There’s a strange lightness to my head, a feeling almost like hope. It’s as foreign as my newfound emotions for London.
“Now, if your psychologist will just work her magic, I’d say you have a good chance to plead for the mercy of the court.”
