Page 78 of Matlock
“No.”
“No threatening texts or emails?”
“No.”
“No history of violence between Simon and Alan Sanders?”
“No.”
“No evidence that Simon had purchased the weapon or brought it to the scene?”
“No. The knife came from Alan Sanders’ kitchen.”
Tony stopped walking and turned to face Declan directly.
“Sheriff, in your professional opinion, does the evidence you collected suggest premeditation?”
Declan met his gaze directly.
“No. There was no evidence of premeditation.”
“You’re certain of that?”
“Yes. The evidence doesn’t support premeditation. Mr. Nelson didn’t plan this.”
“Thank you, Sheriff. No further questions.”
I leaned toward Tony as he sat down, my voice barely a whisper.
“He said I was calm. I wasn’t calm. I was in shock.”
Tony’s hand moved to his legal pad, and he wrote a single word:Noted.
His knee brushed mine under the table.
Just for a second.
But it was enough to make my pulse spike.
Rosalind called her next witness.
“The State calls the Medical Examiner, Dr. Elizabeth Wallace.”
Dr. Wallace was a tall woman in her thirties with gorgeous red hair pulled back in a tight bun. She wore a navy suit and carried herself with a kind of intense professionalism.
Once she was sworn in and took the stand, Rosalind approached.
“Dr. Wallace, can you please describe your findings from the crime scene?”
“Of course. I analyzed the blood evidence collected from the scene, including samples from the victim’s body, the floor, the murder weapon, and the defendant’s clothing.”
“And what did you find?”
“The blood on the defendant’s clothing matched the victim’s blood type. DNA analysis confirmed it was Alan Sanders’ blood.”
“So Mr. Nelson was covered in the victim’s blood?”
“Yes.”
