Final Argument: An Examination Into The Murder Of Mac And Muff Graham On Palmyra Island And Subsequent Trial Of Stephanie Stearns-..

In August of 1974, two sailors from San Diego, Mac and Muff Graham, were brutally murdered by Buck Walker and Stephanie Stearns on the South Pacific island of Palmyra. Muff's murder was particularly egregious in that she was horribly tortured before her death. After killing the Grahams and stealing their sailboat Walker and Stearns returned to Hawaii to obtain a new registration and repair a plank in the hull that was damaged by bullets discharged from Muff's derringer as she fought for her life with Stearns in the cabin of the Sea Wind. Before Stearns and Walker could depart for the South Seas they were discovered aboard the Sea Wind and arrested for theft of the boat. In separate trials, both were found guilty of theft and several lesser charges. Walker was returned to prison on parole violations and Stearns sent off to jail for a few months. Seven years later Sharon Jordan and her husband, while beach combing on Palmyra Island, discovered the remains of Muff Graham. Officials were notified and warrants for murder were issued for both defendants. Walker was tried in July 1985. After two weeks in trial he was found guilty, the jury deliberating for less than two hours. Stearns' trial followed in February 1986. She was defended by Vincent Bugliosi, well known prosecutor of Charles Manson. He was assisted by attorney Leonard Weinglass of Chicago Seven fame. Stearns was found not guilty despite overwhelming evidence she planned the murders and participated in execution and torture of Muff Graham. Judge King, presiding over the trial, made numerous rulings which greatly assisted Stearns. Another factor playing a major role in Stearns' victory was the weak and confused prosecution directed by the U.S. Attorney's office. In Bugliosi's subsequent best selling book "And The Sea Will Tell", (ATSWT) which purportedly recounts the trial, he completely misrepresented his skills while reviewing his supposed cross examination of Edwin Pollock (aka Bernard Leonard in ATSWT). The court reporter's transcript reveals it was Pollock, a crucial witness, that schooled Bugliosi. Moreover, what Bugliosi presents as a withering cross-examination of another key witness, Curtis Shoemaker, did not occur as he suggested, but became a confused morass with Bugliosi, chastised by Judge King, limping off stage. In his trial summation he employs the "lie of the half truth" as a persuasive device on numerous occasions. Moreover, after all his carping about searching for the truth one finds him shamefully suborning perjury as he examines Stearns who purportedly recalls a conversation that Bugliosi, himself, admits never occurred. "Final Argument" exposes many of the lies propounded by both Stearns and Bugliosi in their headlong pursuit of a not guilty verdict. It shows Bugliosi to be an idol with feet of clay. Time and again the murder trial transcript reveals he crosses the line of propriety and ethics in pursuit of a not guilty verdict. All this is followed by whoring after fame and fortune in presenting a shamefully false narrative of his trial exploits in his best selling book "And The Sea Will Tell". This revised version of Final Argument has eliminated some of the redundancy found in the original and takes a closer look at Bugliosi's questionable defense tactics that permitted him to prevail.