Chapter 6

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3:51 pm

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We were given a copy of Earl Turner's DNA test, it was positive. We went to see him, with his lawyer present. His lawyer was Eugene Young. Assistant District attorney Helen Gamble was also with us.

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Joe: We thought you should know, the DNA was positive. This proves that you raped and murdered Ahlam. It also proves you raped at least three other women. It also proves at least one other person was involved, we'd be curious as to who the other person is.

Eugene: If my client were to confess, name any other partners, what kind of leniency could he expect?

Helen: Life in prison, with possibility of parole. Plus ten years for each rape.

Eugene: Forty years plus life? He'll be eligible for compassionate release before he's eligible for parole.

Helen: It's either this, or life without parole, plus eighty years.

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Eugene nodded to his client, they'd had time to discuss the likelihood that the DNA would prove his guilt. They both knew that this was the best they were going to get.

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Turner: It was Pierce. He interviewed me for the "New Frontiersman." I told him how what I was doing was neccessary to force those people to go back home. We started talking about the good old days, and decided to start doing it again.

Joe: Was he present at all four rapes?

Turner: Yes.

Bill: And the murder of Ahlam?

Turner: I didn't ask her name. She should have just let us do it, the others did. Pierce killed her. We didn't plan on it, it just sort of happened.

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4:08 pm

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With Turner's confession we went to see Pierce. His Lawyer, Jimmy Berlutti, was present.

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Berlutti; My client was at a smokeasie, a misdemeanor. You've been holding him on copyright infringement, also a misdemeanor.

Helen: Yes, you sold your character, the Knight of Labor to Disney. That means you can't use the character anymore without their written permission.

Pierce: Those bastards. They take the hero I created, and make him into a two-bit villain. I hear they're putting him in the big comic book movie this summer, he's the villain while those "refugees" are the heroes. They can't do that to my hero.

Joe: You had every legal right to do what you want with your character, including selling it for whatever Disney was willing to pay. But once you did that, they have the right to do what they want with it. You can call for a boycott of the film, but you can't use the character.

Pierce: A boycott wouldn't work, it's going to be the biggest money maker of all time.

Bill: At any rate, we're not here forcopyright infringement. Turner confessed to four counts of rape and one count of murder. He says you were an accessory on all crimes.

Berlutti: He could be lying, trying to get himself a reduced sentence.

Joe: That's possible, but there is a second set of foreign DNA on Ahlam. So we are authorized to take a sample of your DNA. If it comes back negative I will personally apologize to you.

Berlutti: If my client did confess, what kind of leniency could he expect?

Helen: I can assure you he won't face the death penalty.

Berlutti: That's no deal, the death penalty has been abolished.

Joe: For better or worse.

Helen: I'm not offering any deals. I plan to seek the maximum. Life without parole on the murder, pus 20 years for each rape.

Pierce: I didn't kill that bitch. Turner killed her, if he says I did he's lying.

Bill: But you did rape all four women?

Berlutti: Don't answer that.

Helen: By all means, let's see what the DNA says. Incidentally, we can charge you with both murder, and accessory to murder, it will be up to the jury to determine which one you're guilty of. I could ofcourse be wrong, I'll always trust DNA over my gut instincts. But if it comes back positive, we will seek the maximum sentence for you.

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5:07 pm.

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After we completed our reports Bill and I were finally allowed to leave for the day. It had been a long day, over 17 hours, but it was finally over. We each took an Uber home, neither of us were alert enough to drive. And I needed to get some sleep, I had a wedding in less than 19 hours.