California man on trial for murder claimed BDSM lifestyle as mask for domestic abuse, prosecutor says

A 57-year-old man accused of murder, rape and burglary in the killing of a prominent banking executive whom he dated gives off the appearance that he is successful, charming and charismatic, but that appearance is a mask over a much darker side, a prosecutor told a jury during closing arguments in the man’s trial Thursday, Aug. 7.

Anthony Duwayne Turner of Los Angeles is on trial in the death of 48-year-old Michelle Avan, who was found beaten and strangled inside her Reseda home on Aug. 5, 2021. Prosecutor Cindy Lee Wallace told the jury Avan was killed on Aug. 3.

Turner’s attorney, Jovan Blacknell, compared the case to putting Turner’s BDSM lifestyle on trial and said prosecutors were arguing that “if you are into the BDSM lifestyle, you are violent.”

Turner and Avan both worked for Bank of America, the latter also an advocate for women and other underrepresented groups. The two had an on-and-off relationship that began in 2016, according to evidence presented during trial.

Wallace said that while Turner comes off as calm and polished, “underneath that mask, he’s someone else much darker. He’s violent, he’s controlling and he’ll lie and spin the truth to suit his needs.”

Wallace called Turner an abuser and said he raped and murdered Avan after showing up to her Reseda home about 11:40 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2021, referring to DNA evidence found on Avan’s body and underwear that pointed to the defendant.

Turner sent Avan a text message on July 31 that said the the relationship, and neither of them, were getting the respect they deserved. That message was sent after Turner found out Avan had planned to go to San Diego with friends and did not tell him about it first, which he took as disrespect, Wallace argued.

Turner, who took the stand in his own defense, said he left a party in Los Angeles and drove to Avan’s place unannounced that night to break off the relationship for good. Turner testified that she was still alive when he left the home around 5 a.m. the following morning.

Avan’s son found her body on Aug. 5, 2021 while checking in on her after not hearing from her. Medical examiner’s photos displayed Thursday showed swelling to her face and head, internal bleeding and signs that she was asphyxiated, Wallace said.

The son called Turner, who then called police, Turner testified. He told both the son and a dispatcher that he was going to check on Avan, but never showed up.

“He understood the young man was irate and wanted to kill him,” Blacknell said.

Video and security system records show Turner showing up to the house, letting himself in through the front door and disarming the alarm system. The light to Avan’s bedroom is seen going on and off multiple times. Turner is seen leaving the house with a white bag about 5:13 a.m.

“Despite what you heard from him on the stand, he did not go over there to break up with her, to give her a kiss and grab his toiletries,” Wallace said. “He came there to beat her, to assault her, to place her in fear and exert his control over her.”

Turner said he and Avan were in a dominant-submissive relationship except while they were at work. Wallace argued that was another mask for domestic violence.

She described Turner as a man who needed to be in control, who requested that Avan and one of his ex-wives to get tattoos that said “Property of Anthony Turner” or “Property of King Anthony” on their bodies and who became violent when he felt he was disrespected.

While on the stand, Turner testified to engaging in the BDSM lifestyle where he was a dominant and the women agreed to be submissive. He denied being abusive and said any hitting was done with whips and paddles as part of sexual activities.

He also claimed that while having the discussion about the breakup, Avan began crying and he fell asleep on a chair, waking up around 4:30 a.m. to her still sitting on the bed with puffy eyes, then grabbing a trash bag, packing up his belongings, saying goodbye and telling Avan he’d check in on her. He never did.

But Wallace said Avan’s voice was still heard through a journal she kept. Some of the entries were displayed in court in which showed Avan wanted to be with Turner, but was also in fear.

“…my body freezes and I cannot take one more step,” she said in one entry. “I’m terrified about what is about to happen. I’ve experienced beatings at his hands before and I prayed I wouldn’t have to endure another.”

“Michelle was successful, but she was also someone who desperately wanted to be loved,” Wallace said.

Blacknell described Avan as a wonderful person, but someone who was in the midst of changes in her life. He said Avan was in a marriage with a stay-at-home husband who catered to her, but she wanted a change. He likened Turner as a bridge to a new lifestyle.

“Every piece of evidence shows you Ms. Avan wants Anthony around,” Blacknell said. He said prosecutors had not done enough to prove the charges against Turner and criticized the investigation by Los Angeles police detectives.

The defense attorney at one point suggested that Avan’s injuries may have been self inflicted from banging her head against a bathroom counter after Turner left her home on Aug. 4.

But Wallace called that suggestion a “fantastical lie” and said those actions wouldn’t explain the internal injuries and asphyxiation she also suffered.

She likened the defense argument to a series of red herrings meant to distract the jury.

Wallace was set to finish her final argument Monday before the case is handed to the jury for deliberations.