Monday, December 3, 2007, 3:41 PM

The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and was recorded on a portable audio tape recorder with the witness's knowledge and consent.

Detective Samantha Murphy
Detective Ted Armstrong
Lee Merryweather

Detective Murphy: Good morning. Thank you for coming in.

Lee Merryweather: That’s okay. I’m out of work right now, so it’s no problem.

Detective Murphy: Please state your name and address.

Lee Merryweather: Sure. My name is Lee Merryweather and I reside at 200 Park Drive, near Avent Park.

Detective Murphy: Alright, down to business. Tell us, how did you like working for Victor Jennings?

Lee Merryweather: It was never boring. He had some very interesting clients and associates. The trips we made to California were so much fun. I got to meet some very famous people. I met artists from almost every field of entertainment. Victor was well-known among the famous.

Detective Murphy: So, would you say then that Mr. Jennings was a good employer?

Lee Merryweather: He had his moments. I made it clear to him that if I took the job as a personal assistant that I expected to be treated with respect and there was to be no funny business.

Detective Armstrong: And what did he say to that?

Lee Merryweather: He laughed. He told me that I had nothing to worry about because he didn’t mix business with pleasure. What I didn’t like about him, was his attitude. He strutted around like a rooster and thought too highly of himself. He was like that all the time. I can't think of the word for someone like that. Oh wait, it's cocky. He was so cocky and sure of himself. But, he was believable. I think he could fool anyone.

Detective Armstrong: And did he keep it that way? I mean, the business and pleasure thing?

Lee Merryweather: Yes, he did. Oh, I saw him looking at me in a way that made me uncomfortable, sometimes, but he never made a pass or said anything out of the way. I was surprised, too, because I hadn’t been there long before I started hearing about accusations of rape and other criminal activities.

Detective Armstrong: Why did you stay after you heard those kind of stories?

Lee Merryweather: I told you, I liked the job. I loved meeting stars and other famous people. I thought I could move up in the world if I met the right ones. I almost made it, too.

Detective Murphy: What do you mean? How?

Lee Merryweather: Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood. They were very friendly towards me and always invited me over whenever we were in town, for dinner or for whatever party they had going. I was ready to ask for employment with them.

Detective Armstrong: That would have been nice. We have some additional questions about the day he died. You spent a lot of time in his house?

Lee Merryweather: Yes, but only because he was not allowed off the property. He needed help with many things.

Detective Murphy: When you went into the house that evening, did you notice anything that was disturbed or out of place?

Lee Merryweather: No, not anything worth mentioning, anyway. When I went in, I expected him to be in the office. When he wasn’t I just went from room to room, calling his name. I was worried that maybe he had risked going out, since it took me so long to get back there with the liquor.

Detective Murphy: So, when you reached the kitchen, did everything look normal?

Lee Merryweather: It did look a little messy. Victor kept everything nice and neat. He said there were fewer loose ends that way. The dishwasher door was open and something about it didn’t look right to me, but I can't remember what it was. The mat in front of the sink was kind of scrunched up, too. But that probably all happened when he fell. Right?

Detective Armstrong: Right. When Victor called to tell you to bring the booze, was anyone there with him? Did he mention anyone, or did you hear anything in the background?

Lee Merryweather: No, he didn’t say he had company and I didn’t hear a thing.

Detective Armstrong: His liquor order. Did he request anything out of the ordinary?

Lee Merryweather: No. Detectives, I do have a job interview to prepare for. If that's all for now....

Detective Murphy: Thanks for coming in. We may need to speak with you again.

Interview ends: 4:03 PM