Ex-BofA Banker's Murder Trial Postponed to March

What You Need to Know

A key detective in the case became unavailable due to pregnancy complications, prosecutors told the court.

The trial of a former Bank of America banker accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, BofA executive Michelle Avan, in 2021 has been postponed until next year because a key prosecution witness is unavailable.

Anthony Duwayne Turner’s murder trial (case No. XNWLA095328-01) had been scheduled to get underway Monday in California Superior Court in Los Angeles County.

A judge agreed Monday to continue it to March 3, 2025, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office told ThinkAdvisor via email.

Prosecutors sought a postponement because a detective, “a material and necessary witness for the people,” has encountered pregnancy complications, will be admitted to the hospital later this month for induced labor and therefore “will be unavailable as a witness much sooner than anticipated,” according to a motion filed by the DA’s office Friday.

Both sides expect the trial to last three to four weeks, according to the filing.

Turner faces murder, burglary and forcible rape charges in connection with Avan’s slaying on Aug, 3, 2021, and has pleaded not guilty, court records show. He left Avan’s residence in Reseda the day after her life was taken, authorities allege.

Avan, 48, had been promoted to Bank of America senior vice president, head of global women’s and under-represented talent strategy global human resources, shortly before she was killed. She had served nearly 23 years as a Merrill Lynch managing director, her LinkedIn profile indicates.