No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin

Author:Susan Kuklin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Roy in cap and gown

What about that confession back when he was arrested? Roy told the court that he lied about shooting Gardner “so they would leave me alone.” He felt that the police had already made up their minds that he pulled the trigger. He said he thought a confession was the best thing he could do to make it easy on himself.

Kevin M., one of the three roommates living in the apartment, testified that he heard one of the other two boys say, “Man, you can’t just take the car from him. You have got to tie him up or kill him or do something.” But they had full immunity and were not tried as accomplices.

The defense attorney put a young woman on the stand. She said she heard Demetrus and her sister arguing about something. She heard her sister say to Demetrus, “I know you are the one that shot Kevin.” And then she heard Demetrus reply, “Yeah, I am the one that shot him, but you see who is taking the blame and you see who is walking free.”

The sister testified immediately afterward. She backed up the previous testimony, that Demetrus had in fact admitted he was the one who had shot Gardner and that “Burgess was taking the blame.” The defense then put up a third witness, Craig Turner, who testified that Demetrus had twice implied that “they got the wrong guy.”

No matter. Based on the testimony of the three roommates who had immunity, the jury found Roy guilty of capital murder.

Roy’s ready to talk more.

Between my trial and the sentencing was thirty days. Besides my graduation, I never left the municipal prison. At the sentencing my mother, my father, and a lady who goes to our church all talked for me. My little brother was on the stand and spoke on my behalf. That brother of mine, he stood up in that courtroom and begged for my life. A little kid. I would say he was about ten then. But the judge knew that he was going to slaughter me anyway.

The jury came back ten against two in favor of life without parole. The judge overruled it and sentenced me to death.

I couldn’t believe it. They had a conviction and a jury recommendation. Ten people out of twelve said I should get life without parole. Two people said I should be executed. I’m thinking they’re going to give me life-without, right? Kevin’s family was there. I wanted to talk to them. I … I want to … I just saw them that one time, at the trial. Even they say I got a raw deal. I wanted to tell them—whew! Hold on a minute. Hold on. If I— If I saw them again, I’d … I’d get on my knees and beg for forgiveness.

Roy leans way back in his chair. Way back. Twenty seconds. Thirty. Forty-five.

I mean, ten to two! I’m not mad at the judge. It gave me a chance to do a little growing before they threw me to the lions, here, in this place.

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