Counterpart, Robert F. Clifton [100 books to read TXT] 📗

to urinate. Since I am familiar with the trail and not wishing to expose myself I made my way to a place that I knew would offer concealment while I relieved myself. I went into an area off of the trail , entered high weeds and bushes and then saw a young woman who lay on her back. I stood for a moment and not seeing any signs of her breathing believed that she was dead. Using my cell phone I called the Township Police Department and reported what I had found. They, in turn, advised me to go to the parking lot and await the arrival of the police. Which I did.”

“Anything else?” Belcamp asked.

“No sir.”

“Your witness, Mister Bader,” said Belcamp.

“Thank you. Mister Parker please tell the court your occupation,” said Adam.

“I'm a bank teller.”

“Have you had any medical education or training?”

“No sir.”

“No further questions.”

Belcamp stood and said, “The State calls Martin Sawyer to the stand,”

Adam made a visual appraisal of the State's next witness. Like Parker who had proceeded him he was in his late twenties and athletic. He watched the man who appeared to be nervous as he was sworn.”

Belcamp began his questioning. “Mister Sawyer please tell the court about your activities on June 21, 2015.”

“I was jogging the Mullica Run trail with my girlfriend.

As we jogged along the trail we passed a man. He was seated on a white, plastic bucket fishing. The next day we, learned about the murder of Wanda Brewer and went to the police. We told them what and who we had seen on the trail.”

“I see. And could you identify that man again if you saw him?”,asked Belcamp.

“Yes, sir.”

“And do you see him in this courtroom?”

“Yes, sir. He's seated at the defendant's table.”

“No further questions,” said Belcamp.

“Mister Bader you may cross-examine,” said Judge Taylor.

“No questions at this time your honor. However, we request the right to recall the witness,” said Bader

“Mister Belcamp,” said the judge.

“Thank your honor. The State calls for Alice Townsend.”

Adam watched as the young woman was sworn in. She was rather tall. He judged her to be about five foot ten inches tall. When she stood she appeared to be slightly round-shouldered probably the result of being aware of her height while going through puberty. Unlike Sawyer, the woman appeared calm and confident.

Belcamp began his questioning. “Miss Townsend is it true that on the Sunday morning of June 21, 2015, you were on the jogging trail, known as Mullica Run? ” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Were you alone?”

“No, I usually jog with Martin.”

“When you say Martin are you referring to Martin Sawyer?”

“Yes, sir.”

And on that particular day please tell the court what you observed on the jogging trail.”

“We, that's Martin and myself came upon a man sitting on a bucket fishing,”

“I see then what did you do?”

“After hearing about the killing of a teenager on the trail both of us went to the police. They asked us to show them exactly where we had seen the man.”

“And, did you locate the place where you last saw the man?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now then could you identify that man if you saw him again?”, asked Belcamp.

“Yes, sir.”

“And do you see him in this courtroom?”

“Yes, sir. He's sitting right in front of me at that table,” the woman said, pointing to Ronald Pearl.

“Thank you. No further questions ” said Belcamp.

“Mister Bader,” said Judge Taylor.

“I only have one or two questions. Miss Townsend, you have testified that you saw a man sitting on a bucket that morning. Did you notice anything else?”

“I don't understand the question,”

“For instance was he smoking a cigarette, eating a sandwich or drinking from a cup of coffee?”

“Not that I can remember,” Alice answered.

“No further questions and again reserve the right to recall the witness.

Judge Taylor said in a loud voice. The hour grows late. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury you are reminded that you are not to discuss what you have seen or heard in this courtroom today. The court will resume tomorrow morning at nine AM.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

Trial Day Two

 

At exactly nine AM the uniformed bailiff called out,

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye, court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Roger Taylor presiding. All rise!”

Adam Bader turned his head and watched as the members of the jury filed in and stood before their seats in the jury box. Judge Taylor used his gavel and everyone sat down.

“Court is now in session. Mister Belcamp you may proceed,” said the judge.

“Thank you, your honor. The State calls Sergeant Lisa Davis to the stand,” said Belcamp.

Bader watched as the woman walked to the witness stand then stood and took the oath, to tell the truth. She was of medium height and not too thin or overweight. She appeared to be very confident. It was a sign that this was not her first time testifying in court. When the woman was seated Belcamp walked up and began his questioning.

“Sergeant Davis, for the record please tell the court how long you have been employed by the Township Police Department.”

“I have been employed there for twelve years,” Davis answered.

“And what is your current assignment?”

“I am assigned to the Crime Scene Investigation Unit.”

“And, what are your responsibilities or duty if you will?”

“To gather record and preserve any and all evidence associated with a crime.”

“On the day of Sunday, June 21, 2015, did you find it necessary to execute your duties?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where and why?”

“At a place known locally as Mullica Run, which is a jogging trail adjacent to the Mullica River. I was there responding to the fact that a dead body had been found,” said Davis.

“I see. And just what did you do in relation to first, the dead body and second the crime scene itself ?” asked Belcamp.

“Photographs were taken and a search of the area was conducted.”

“Did you or those assigned to you find anything of importance, say of importance in the way of evidence?”

“No, sir. Not that day.”

“Not that day? Does that mean you conducted more searches for evidence on another day?”

“Not exactly a search. The next day, a Monday, witnesses had shown our detectives the location where they said they had seen a man fishing on the banks of the river. The detectives called for my unit and we responded. Upon our arrival, we photographed a Styrofoam cup and a white paper bag. These were then taken as evidence.”

“Please tell the court just what you did with that evidence.” said Belcamp.

“That evidence was tagged, and then sent to the New Jersey State Police Laboratory,” Davis answered.

“I see. Did you do anything else regarding evidence related to this case?”

“Yes, sir. On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, I went to the morgue located at the local hospital. There I took evidence samples from the throat and back of the neck of a deceased, young female.”

“You mention evidence samples. What exactly were the samples?”, asked Belcamp.

“We were looking for DNA samples that might have been left by the assailant,” Davis answered

“Why examine the throat and neck area of the deceased?”

“According to the pathologist, the death of the victim was due to manual strangulation. Therefore, those were the places to look for evidence of the type I have mentioned.”

“Was that then the end of your duty in relation to this matter?,” asked Belcamp.

“No. The victim's clothing was also preserved recorded and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Several weeks later I took a DNA sample from a man brought into headquarters for questioning.”

“Please tell the court what you did with that sample,”

“That sample was sent to the New Jersey State Police Laboratory.”

“And if there were any results from that laboratory what were they?”

“The results were that the DNA found on the Styrofoam cup, white paper bag, the victims jogging shorts and the victim matched the DNA sample I took from the man at headquarters.”

“And just who was that man?,” asked Belcamp.

“Ronald Pearl.”

“Do you see him in court today?”

“Yes. He's seated at the defendant's table,” said Davis.

“No further questions,” said Belcamp.

“Mister Bader, you may cross,” said Judge Taylor.

“Thank you, your honor. Sergeant Davis, did Ronald Pearl give his DNA sample to you voluntarily?”

“Yes, he did.”

“And, did you take DNA samples from Officer Benson?”

“No. I had no reason to do that.”

“No reason? We have heard the testimony of Officer Benson who under oath stated that on June 21, 2015, he did attempt to ascertain whether or not the victim was alive or dead. He did that first by searching for a pulse beat in the victim's wrist. Then, not finding one searched again by placing his hand or fingers if you will on the victim's throat. Under questioning, you have stated that you took DNA samples from the throat and neck of one Wanda Brewer. My thought now Sergeant is that surely Officer Benson left his DNA on the victim and by doing so also contaminated the sample that you took. Is that right?, asked Bader.

“It is possible,” Davis replied.

“Yes, it is. In this case, it could also be considered, probable.

No further questions.”

“You may step down Sergeant,” said the judge.

“ The State calls Doctor Norman Pearson”, said Belcamp.

After the Doctor was sworn he sat down in the witness chair.

“Doctor Pearson please tell the court your position in the county and where you are employed,” said Belcamp.

“I am the current County Coroner. At the same time, I am employed as the head pathologist at the local hospital.”

“How long have you been the County Coroner?”

“Fifteen years.
“Fifteen years. Then I can assume that during that time you have examined the deaths of many people in the county.”

“That's correct.”

“On or about June 22, or 23 did you examine the remains of one Wanda Brewer?”

“Yes I did,”

“And what did you find that was the cause of her death?”

“The young woman died as a result of asphyxiation caused by manual strangulation.”

“You say manual strangulation. Define manual please.”

“Manual means by the use of the hands, opposed by the use of an instrument such as a rope or something similar.”

“And it was you that suggested that the Township police should look for DNA evidence on the victim's throat and the back of the neck.”

“That is correct.”

“ As both the County Coroner and a pathologist did you witness Sergeant Lisa Davis take samples from the victim?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Thank you. No further questions ” said Belcamp.

Adam stood then walked to the witness stand. “Doctor

did you examine the body of the deceased for the possibility of sexual assault?, he asked.

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you look for any signs of blunt force trauma, such as bruising, scratches, cuts, things of that nature?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Did you remove any foreign material such as skin cells from under Wanda Brewer's fingernails?,” Bader asked.

“No I didn't,” said Doctor Pearson.

“Why not?”

“To tell you the truth, it never occurred to me. I had determined that the young woman had died as a result of manual strangulation. I examined her for sexual assault and blunt force trauma. Finding none of those things I had no reason to examine. anything under her fingernails ” said the Coroner.

“You had no reason. Perhaps a good reason would have been that if and when evidence was found it would not have come from Ronald Pearl. No further questions ” said Bader.

“You may step down Doctor,” said the judge.

Belcamp stood and said, “The State now calls Doctor Frederick Elco.”

Bader watched a short rotund man with a neatly trimmed, full beard walk to the witness stand. He was attired in a black pinstripe suit, white shirt, and a blue necktie.

“He comes appearing as the intellectual, “ Nancy whispered to Adam.

Belcamp began his questioning. “Doctor Elco please tell the court your qualifications,” he said.

“I have a Ph.D. in the fields of chemistry, biology, and genetics,” said Elco.”

“And what accomplishments have you offered to these fields of study?.” asked Belcamp.

“I was involved in the use of radio rays to study the structure of transfer RNA which decodes DNA. At the time it was considered groundbreaking research,” Elco replied.

“Now I know when it comes to the subject of DNA the definition is somewhat technical. Could you as a noted expert