The criminal trial of a former Bank of America banker accused of murdering BofA executive Michelle Avan has lasted over a week, with further proceedings scheduled, court records indicate.
The jury trial for Anthony Duwayne Turner got underway in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County on June 16, with proceedings taking place on seven days so far, most recently on Thursday, according to the court website. Proceedings in the case (#25CJCF00398-01) at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center are next scheduled for July 7, the website shows.
Turner is accused of murdering Avan, his former girlfriend, on Aug. 3, 2021. He pleaded not guilty to murder, burglary and forcible rape charges in connection with her slaying, and to two “special allegation” charges — murder while committing a rape and murder while committing a burglary — that could result in the death penalty or life in prison without parole if he is convicted.
Authorities allege that he left Avan's residence in Reseda the day after she was killed. Avan, 48, had been promoted to Bank of America senior vice president, head of global women's and under-represented talent strategy global human resources, about two months earlier. She had served nearly 23 years as a Merrill Lynch managing director, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Court records also indicate that a charge from June 7, 2021, involving an alleged injury to a fiance, girlfriend, spouse or other similarly related party was dismissed on the trial's opening day. Turner had pleaded not guilty to that charge, and to another charge stemming from a Dec. 23, 2018, incident — assault with intent to rape in commission of a burglary.
Credit: Los Angeles Times/Los Angeles Sentinel
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.