We offer condolences and ask Lara about her sister. Calmly and determinedly, she explains why she wanted to meet with the police.
“Bernard did it. He killed her.”
That accusation changes the mood. One of the most famous women in the world just told us that her brother-in-law murdered her sister in cold blood. Unfazed, Scott asks, “Why do you say that?”
“Sara was going to divorce him. He wanted to control her, and she wasn’t going to let him do it anymore. She had already made a fool of him by having an affair with that boy. That enraged him. After he found out, he flat-out told her he was going to kill her.”
I speak up, “Did you hear him say that?” The potential trial is on my mind. If Barton told his wife he was going to kill her, I face a hearsay problem since Sara can no longer testify about anything Barton said to her. But if Lara heard the comment herself, the statement qualifies as an admission of a party opponent, erasing any hearsay worries.
“No. I didn’t hear it. Sara told me.”
Scott asks, “What affair are you referring to?”
“Brice Tanner.”
Lara proceeds to describe the details of Sara’s involvement with Brice. The affair was a revenge ploy to make her husband look like a fool for his serial adultery. Except Brice took matters more seriously, even speaking of marriage and a new start in a different city. Sara dismissed such sentiments as youthful folly.
Scott asks, “Are you aware that your sister and Brice Tanner were filmed having sex together?”
Lara dabs a tear that slowly exits one eye. We let her have her grief. A silent interlude passes before she speaks up, “Yes. Bernard was infuriated when he found out. He texted her and called her a whore. When he got home that night, he hit her. You know about the 911 call, right?”
We don’t but keep our ignorance to ourselves. Instead, Scott nods and asks, “Why don’t you tell me what you know about the call?”
She responds, “They had a big fight the day he learned about the video. Bernard punched her in the back. She locked the bedroom door and called the police. He banged on the door the whole time, threatened to kill her. The police arrived. Sara decided not to press charges. She didn’t show them the bruises on her back. The police left. Sara showed me the bruises the next day. I took a picture.”
The crying starts in earnest. I hand her a box of tissues, thinking about that picture. When the tears slow, Scott gently continues with his questioning, “Why did she stay with him?”
“Why does any abused woman stay with her abuser? I don’t know. I tried to get her to leave. She said she didn’t have the energy. Her life was dark, full of disappointment. She was trapped in her unhappiness and didn’t see a way out. I should’ve been more insistent.”
Things linger for a bit until Scott nudges forward again, “Thank you for answering our questions during this difficult time. You are being a tremendous help to the investigation. But I have to ask you another question that may upset you. Did Sara have any other affairs besides Brice?” Given what we know, Scott cannot avoid this topic.
Lara fires back, “What do you take my sister for, Detective Moore?” Based on the video with Brice and Sam’s description of Sara, I have a pretty fair guess how Scott would answer.
“I have to ask.”
Lara sits in stony anger. I jump in.
“Ms. Landrum, let’s assume that Bernard murdered your sister. We go to trial. With his life on the line, he will throw the kitchen sink at anyone and everyone he can. He will attack your sister’s character. The gloves will be off. The more we know at the outset, the better we can handle whatever Bernard throws at us. At trial, knowledge is power. Detective Moore is right. We have to ask this question because Bernard’s lawyers are going to go around town asking it.”
I often use this tactic when questioning friendly witnesses on uncomfortable topics. I reference the defense team, make them out to be the bad guys, and tell the witnesses that the bad guys are going to ask them some terrible questions. I then ask the witnesses the terrible questions. The witnesses still don’t like being put on the spot, but they blame the ruthless lawyers on the other side, not me. I count that outcome as a double win. My messy questions get answered, and I build a sense of solidarity with my witnesses.
Lara accepts my explanation, “I’m sorry I overreacted. The answer is no. My sister didn’t have any other affairs.”
She doesn’t know about Sam. The answer portends caution. Sara did not share everything with her sister. What else is out there about which Lara does not know?
Before we leave, Lara texts each of us the picture of her sister’s blackened back after Barton hit her. The photo speaks for itself. Barton didn’t hold back. I hate him already.
***
Back in the car, I ask Scott, “What do you think?”
“She’s hot.”
“You’ve always had a weakness for blonds and that wasn’t what I was talking about.”
“I think I want to hear that 911 call.”
***
Scott and I meet up again early evening. He has promised his ex-wife that he will not miss his daughter’s softball game, and time is short. He first plays a recording of the 911 call. The incident occurred a few months ago. Sara screams into the phone, “My husband is trying to kill me!” I hear loud banging on a door as Barton tries to get into the room. Sara pleads, “He has
