The trial for the former banker accused of murdering Bank of America executive Michelle Avan entered its 23rd day Monday — four years after Avan was slain in her California home.
Anthony Duwayne Turner, a former BofA banker, is accused of murdering Avan, 48, his former girlfriend, on Aug. 3, 2021. Her son reportedly discovered her battered body two days later.
Prosecutors allege Turner entered Avan's home in Reseda and killed her before leaving the following day.
The prosecution has rested and the defense is now presenting its case, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office told ThinkAdvisor in an email Monday.
Turner, 56, has 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.
His jury trial got underway in California Superior Court for Los Angeles County on June 16. Proceedings in the case (#25CJCF00398-01) are taking place at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Avan 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 before she was killed. She had been a Merrill Lynch managing director for nearly 23 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In 2020, BofA appointed Turner to be global commercial banking market executive for the Greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire markets, overseeing a 17-banker team.
Turner was registered with Merrill for about eight months in 2004 and 2005, and again for roughly three years from 2016 to 2019, then with BofA Securities from 2019 to 2022, according to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority BrokerCheck; he worked as a business banker for BofA from 2016 to 2022.
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