We are here today to decide if the defendant, Arturo Montresor, is responsible for leading an innocent and intoxicated man, Guido Fortunato, into the dark catacombs underneath the streets of this city, walling him up, brutally burning him with fire and finally leaving him there to suffer his most unfortunate death. At the conclusion of this case we will ask a verdict of guilty. The defendant’s lawyers may argue that his client is mentally insane and deserves a clean punishment. However, the prosecution will prove that Montresor is a cold and ruthless killer who intentionally led Fortunato into the catacombs and murdered him through immurement and immolation. Judging by his confessions, Montresor is a man obsessed with revenge and he will go to horrendous means to achieve it. …show more content…
The prosecution also believes that Arturo Montresor should be charged with the highest possible punishments for first degree murder. Montresor cleverly lured Fortunato to his death by playing upon his ego. Montresor had said, “He has a weak point--this Fortunato--he prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.” Montresor first tells Fortunato about “the cask of Amontillado” and says he doubts it to be authentic. Montresor then tells Fortunato that he is on his way to see Luchesi. Fortunato’s ego will not allow his friend to consult Luchesi. He verbally expresses that “Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry.” Therefore, Fortunato tells Montresor that he will come along to the catacombs with him. Another one of Montresor’s intelligent conceptions was to always address Fortunato as friend. By doing this, Fortunato would never doubt him. Montresor was Fortunato’s good friend, so nobody would suspect that he was the culprit when Fortunato’s disappearance was unveiled. This then goes on to say that Montresor always praised and flattered Fortunato