By Rachel Cook

Tribune Intern

Three days of trial and an hour of deliberation for the case of Christopher L. Blunkall finally resulted in a verdict.

On Tuesday afternoon, the prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence, which included video of the defendant being interviewed by investigators, text logs, and testimony from the nurse who examined the victim two days after the incident. Despite the presence of "[recent] penetrative trauma" to the victim's private parts, as testified by nurse Gloria Littrell, the Blunkall insisted no sexual contact occurred between himself and the victim. He also repeatedly denied sending or requesting inappropriate pictures at any time during their texting relationship.

The defense's only witness on Wednesday was Blunkall himself. When his attorney, Robert Peters, asked about his motives for continuing to text a 12-year-old, Blunkall explained, "Many stories of her family life, people treating her bad. Yes, I did feel sorry for this girl. I wanted to help her; I really did."

Assistant District Attorney Mike Randles was not convinced, asking why the defendant never told his wife about the victim, or took her to a hotel instead of to the police, a hospital, or a pastor. "I should have," was Blunkall's only response.

In closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Eddie Bernard was firm, using words like "predator" and "pedophile" to describe Blunkall. He thanked the jury -- "Every jury has its own personality. [You] were paying your undivided attention" -- but quickly moved on to attack the defendant's claims. "He wants you to believe ... that he had no sexual ambition. He says he didn't penetrate her. That's not what the facts say."

The defense's closing argument called the texting relationship a "fantasy" with "no real meaning," and claimed that the defendant "was not interested in sex. He was in a panic." Peters further argued that the victim "had a self-inflicted series of injuries," including the injuries to her private parts.

After the proceedings, the jury deliberated from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, and unanimously found Blunkall guilty of child rape. He is to be sentenced in the near future.

Rape of a child is a Class A Felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison for a person who has no prior felony convictions.