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Accountant weathers defense questioning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Prosecution witness Johnny Turner, despite grueling questions by defense attorney Brian Steel, remained calm on the stand Friday in the federal corruption trial of former state school Superintendent Linda Schrenko.
Steel, who at times almost shouted, tried everything to rattle Turner, a former chief financial officer for a company whose executives are accused of illegally funneling money to Schrenko’s 2002 campaign for governor.
Turner testified Thursday that software executive and former boss A. Stephan Botes, a co-defendant in the case, ordered him and Peter Steyn, another co-defendant in the case, to help funnel nearly $300,000 in federal education funds into Schrenko’s campaign.
In return, Schrenko signed a state Department of Education contract giving Botes’ company $2.5 million, Turner testified Thursday, identifying dozens of documents, business notes and bank records detailing the scheme.
Some jurors chuckled at the courtroom theatrics today, but it was Steel whose face reddened with irritation while Turner, an accountant, responded in an even and matter-of-fact tone.
Steel peppered Turner with questions, asking if he was the real culprit who is now trying to pin crimes on his boss.
“You are so document-oriented, where is one stitch of evidence besides your word?” Steel said, his voice blaring through the courtroom.
Turner darted around the question before saying he didn’t have proof because Botes gave the marching orders during conversations, not in e-mails and not on the phone.
Steel told jurors that Turner, who pleaded guilty to having a role in the scheme, can’t be trusted. The attorney pointed out that Turner is the type of person who put his own father and his business partner in jeopardy by using their businesses to funnel money into Schrenko’s campaign.
“What did you tell the man who raised you, who fed you, who made you go to school?” Steel snarled, pounding his fist on the lectern. “You threw your daddy under the bus.”
Steel continued his rapid fire at Turner.
“You played your father’s love for you and abused your trust in his eyes. What do you do when you go home to your baby? Do you say: Are you proud of Daddy?”
“How do you live with yourself sir?”
In a soft-spoken tone, Turner said he regrets his lapse in judgment.
“I can’t go back and undo it,” he said.
Steel is expected to continue questioning Turner this afternoon.
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