“Didthatundermine your conclusion that the defendant committed the murder?”
“No. He could have disposed of the gloves before he called 911.”
“Did you or anyone else find any gloves on the property?”
“No, but because we determined that the homicide was by manual strangulation, we didn’t conduct a search, as we would have for a murder weapon. In addition, the other evidence of guilt was so overwhelming that it justified the charge.”
“Did you find any fingerprints of the defendant’s on Anna’s neck?”
“No, our Forensic Unit doesn’t have the capability to take fingerprints from skin or fabric.”
“Detective Hickok, what did you do next in your investigation?”
“My partner and I met with an assistant district attorney and presented the evidence. He determined that the evidence was sufficientto charge the defendant, and we placed him under arrest and in the morning, he was arraigned.” Detective Hickok turned to the jury. “That’s a fancy word for formally charged.”
“Thank you, Detective Hickok. I have no further questions.” Linda smiled, obviously pleased, and returned to counsel table.
“I have cross, Your Honor,” Thomas said, already on his way to the stand, as Linda passed him without a glance, then sat down.
Judge Gardner nodded. “Please proceed, Mr. Owusu.”
Thomas stood at a distance from the stand. “Detective Hickok, when you went to the crime scene, weren’t you aware that Dr. Alderman had already been brought in for questioning in connection with the murder?”
“Yes.”
“And weren’t you also aware that Dr. Alderman had told the 911 dispatcher that he had discovered the body?”
“Yes.”
“And finally, weren’t you aware that Dr. Alderman was the subject of the PFA Petition?”
“Yes.”
“Detective Hickok, you testified that you investigated through the night, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And what time of the night did you reach your conclusion that Dr. Alderman committed the murder?”
“By about four in the morning.”
“So you and your partner had decided, only seven hours after the crime, that Dr. Alderman was guilty, isn’t that correct?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t interview any other suspects that night, did you?”
“No.”
“You didn’t seek any other suspects, did you?”
“No.”
“Didn’t look for asingleother suspect, did you?”
“We had a prime suspect.”
Thomas stood taller. “Detective Hickok, I’ll repeat the question. You didn’t look for asingleother suspect, did you?”
