EXTORT: 93 pages of text messages

attempts to minimize Ms. Kaur’s despicable conduct and impugn the integrity of the investigation,” Deputy District Attorney Diego Heimlich said of the verdict.

Evidence included 93 pages of text messages highlighting 20 meetings between Kaur and Williams where he would give her between $100 and $260.

Attorneys gave closing arguments Friday morning to the jury in Judge Brian Aronson’s court.

Heimlich said the text messages between Kaur and Williams showed how she ordered him around.

“That’s how people train dogs and circus animals,” Heimlich said. “That’s not how you treat another human being."

Doctors diagnosed Williams with autism in 1996, Heimlich said. Due to his developmental disability, Williams could not consensually enter a contract.

“In these text messages, she continues to threaten him,” he said. “She’s not trying to tutor him; she’s not trying to help him; she’s taking advantage of him."

Raj Chima, Kaur’s defense attorney, alleged that Wiliams had been coached in his responses by the prosecution. He said that during his cross examination, Williams had changed statements. He said Williams had been coached to say he was afraid of Kaur.

“Is it possible for someone to tell you that you were in fear?” Chima said. “No, that’s psychologically impossible for human beings."

He said Heimlich cherry-picked evidence and ignored other information. For example, he noted how it was presented that Williams’ sister had retrieved the text messages, but that she did not testify.

“Wouldn’t (the Williams family) have the ability to edit text messages with a $2 app?” Chima said.

Chima said he did not condone what his client had done, but said the evidence did not prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He said the jury should not convict her for being a bad person.

Heimlich, in a rebuttal, said Williams is easily confused by complicated sentences and is influenced by other people because of his autism.

“His answers seemed to change (during cross examination) and that’s consistent with what we see here: someone who is easily influenced,” he said.

Heimlich said Williams’ mother, Sonya Williams-Harris, had to explain to her son the concept of fear.

“It doesn’t mean he wasn’t afraid,” Heimlich said. “He can’t express it like you or I.”