Saturday, July 17, 2004 --
1:30 PM
The witness, who worked with the victim, was interviewed at the
Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department. The interview was conducted
by Detectives Armstrong and Murphy and was recorded on a portable tape
recorder with the witness' knowledge and consent.
TA = Detective T. Armstrong
SM = Detective S. Murphy
NP = Nora Percy
SM: Good morning, Ms. Percy. How are you today?
NP: I'd be better if I knew what all this is about! I told you
everything I know the first time you had me in here. What's going on?
TA: Calm down, ma'am. We'll get to that, but first state your name
and address for the record, please.
NP: This is ridiculous and a waste of my time
SM: It will go a lot faster if you just cooperate, Ms. Percy. Now,
your name and address please.
NP: Oh all right. Nora Percy. I live at 120 Faculty Row -- but you
already have all of that.
TA: Now, Miss Percy. You know this is an ongoing investigation into
the murder of Kristal Waterson. Our problem is we haven't been able to
eliminate you as a suspect. Tell us why it couldn't have been you.
NP: It couldn't have been me because I had nothing to do with that
woman's death. It's that simple. What do you have that makes you think I
was involved?
SM: We're asking the questions, ma'am. Do you suspect someone in
particular or know for sure who did it?
NP: Of course I don't know who did it. That's your job. I just know I
had nothing to do with that woman's death. Talk to her students. She was
much friendlier with them than she was with me.
SM: The last time we spoke to you, you said you knew we had forensic
evidence against Hunter Nelson. Yet we hadn't released any information
on that to the media.
NP: So?
TA: So how could you know something that only we and Miss Waterson's
killer could know?
NP: I didn't know you had anything, and since you released that
Nelson kid, you must not have.
TA: But that's not what you said.
NP: Look, John and I talked about it. He said you must have had some
kind of forensic evidence to charge Hunter Nelson, because otherwise
you'd make jackasses out of yourselves. Looks like you did anyway.
SM: How might Mr. Brewer have known we have forensic evidence?
NP: It's Dr. Brewer, and John reads about that stuff. But I can't
read his mind. Go ask him yourselves.
TA: Tell me again where you were the night of the murder.
NP: This is ridiculous. I told you once I was with John -- John
Brewer -- all evening, from the time we met at Old Venice until I went
home about 2:00 a.m.
SM: But you weren't with him on the drive from the restaurant to his
home were you?
NP: Well, no but--
TA: And he wasn't there when you arrived.
NP: No, but--
SM: Where do you suppose he was?
NP: If you would give me a chance to get a word in, I'd tell you.
TA: Okay. Tell us.
NP: He stopped at the liquor store to get a certain kind of wine I
like. He had the bottle in his hand when he arrived. He's very
thoughtful that way.
SM: And what kind of wine did he buy?
NP: I especially like Beringer's White Zinfandel. It's too sweet for
his taste so he gets it just for me.
TA: And where were you during this separation time?
NP: I drove directly to his house, and then I waited in my car in his
driveway until he arrived. It couldn't have been more than a few
minutes.
SM: But you don't know if anybody saw you there.
NP: No, unless his nosy neighbor was peeking out her window. Why
don't you go ask her?
SM: Ms. Percy, did you commit this crime?
NP: What? Are you crazy? How many times do I have to tell you I had
nothing to do with her death? I'll admit I wasn't fond of her, but I
surely didn't wish her dead -- well, anyway I didn't kill her.
SM: Would there be any reason for us to find evidence that you were
in Ms. Waterson's apartment?
NP: Of course not, because I never was in her apartment. I told you
before we weren't exactly buddies, but I had nothing to do with her
murder -- and I'm leaving now. I've had enough of this nonsense.
TA: Miss Percy, you are free to go, of course, but we may be talking
with you again.
NP: Not without my attorney you won't! I'm sick of this harassment.
Goodbye.
Interview ends -- 1:53 PM
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