When Manners Trump Murder

 

It’s a common story: Friends gather for dinner, one friend kills another, and the result is that the hostess is never thanked for all the work she spent preparing and serving the meal.

Not so in this case, according to yesterday’s Washington Post, reporting on a murder that took place on December 20, at a holiday dinner party. Frank Trujillo, a married father of two, invited Mario Perez, also a father, and his girlfriend, to dinner. According to the Washington Post, “The children played, drinks were served, and the two fathers made their way to the house’s lower level, talking about work.”

Perez drank a lot, and became verbally abusive.  Trujillo went upstairs into his bedroom, and got his gun (NRA take note: This is what makes you guys swoon and hyperventilate, one man’s right to insert a gun into whatever situation he chooses).  Perez then came upstairs,  and Trujillo shot him in the chest.

Trujillo is now charged with first degree murder, using a gun to needlessly shoot an unarmed man” (“Boo!” shouts the NRA). Trujillo’s attorney claims “self-defense, period.” How else to stop a “threatening man in an alcohol-fueled rage?” (“Hoo-ray!” shouts the NRA).

While the lawyers slugged it out in court, a text was produced by Trujillo’s attorney, written by Perez’ girlfriend and sent to Trujillo’s wife, several hours after the murder. The text read: “Know that I don’t hold a grudge against anyone nor Frank.  He reacted in a defensive way.  Thank you guys for having us over. I really enjoyed being there.” 

Life in the Boomer Lane has never read Miss Manners, but she suspects that neither MM nor any other doyenne of acceptable social behavior has a chapter on what to do after being offered hospitality by someone and then having one’s date be shot and killed by the host. It sounds pretty tricky to LBL. Perez’ girlfriend has broken new ground in the world of manners.  LBL can only hope that a lot of other dinner guests will not have to refer to her text when they, themselves, are considering what to do after a dinner party gone sour.