[COPY]
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ZOOTOPIA CITY CIRCUIT CRIMINAL DIVISION
CITY OF ZOOTOPIA,
Plaintiff,
vs.
DAWN BELLWETHER,
Defendant.
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Case No.: 16-FC-55
Division: T1DR /r/Z
This case came on to be heard before the HONORABLE Avec Saut, Kangaroo, Circuit Judge, at the Zootopia City Courthouse, City Center, Zootopia, Zootopia, on [DATE REDACTED], commencing at approximately 0900 hours.
APPEARANCES:
Rex Ravenger, Mouse, ZOOTOPIA CITY ATTORNEY GENERAL,
1001 Fountain Square, 8th floor,
City Center, Zootopia 90310
On behalf of the City.
Fido Packer, Wolf, Esquire,
Catrick Prowlen, Leopard, Esquire,
Packer and Prowlen Criminal Defense,
958 Lock Night Drive,
Nocturnal District, Zootopia 90311
On behalf of the Defendant.
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INDEX
[OMITED]
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(THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS ENSUED IN CLOSED SESSION COURT.)
(DEFENDANT IS PRESENT.)
BAILIFF: All rise. The HONORABLE Judge Saut is presiding. Court is now in session. Please be seated.
THE COURT: Okay. Thank you. Good morning.
PACKER: Good morning sir.
PROWLEN: Your Honor.
RAVENGER: Sir.
THE COURT: Yes, yes. I want to first address the matter of our gathering here in the pre-trial phase. It was my understanding that the Defense had several additional motions it wished to be considered in this phase?
PACKER: Yes your honor. If you would turn to -
THE COURT: That will not be necessary. I have my copy here along with the reports filed. I will spare you the suspense and let you know now that all motions have been rejected.
PACKER: Your Honor, if –
THE COURT: Please let me finish Mr. Packer. I will have my turn and then you will have your turn. Is that agreeable to the Defense?
PROWLEN: It is, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Good. Your motions were rejected on the grounds that they had no basis for ever having been filed in the first place. I understand it is your obligation to do whatever is necessary for your client but you will not tie up my court room with stalling maneuvers. I have that policy with all the cases I see. I think we all understand the high profile nature of this case and I intend there to be order and blind fairness during its proceedings. Is that understood?
PACKER: It is. Your Honor if -
THE COURT: I appreciate your enthusiasm Counsel, but that was a yes or no question. As a lawyer I hope you can appreciate that. I will let you know when it is your turn and you may bring up any concerns you may have then. On the issue of competency to stand trial that was raised by the Defense: The reports that I received were extensive. Each finds her competent to proceed. Given that several of these reports came from your office, it is the opinion of The Court that you have already had your chance to make this case and back up the motion, which you have failed to do. On the motion to change venue, I can assure you that voir dire will be pursued aggressively. The other motions, too numerous to go into individually, have also been rejected, but I assure you they were each given careful thought prior to judgement. Do you have anything more to add before we get moving today?
PROWLEN: The Defense would first like the record to reflect that it is disappointed with such summary judgement on such an important case. We second would like to submit motions to suppress evidence of article 24 and article 68 on the grounds that chain of custody could not be established. There is documentation of that in this morning's packet, if you could turn to page 91.
THE COURT: I have read it and reading it again here, and using the same standard that was used for the previous 47 suppression motions, The Court will again reject these motions. Is that understood?
PROWLEN: It is. If it pleases The Court we are then ready to move to the plea.
THE COURT: It does. The Defense has reviewed the charges, correct?
PROWLEN: It has.
THE COURT: And it understands them?
PROWLEN: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And the Defendant understands them as well?
PROWLEN: That is correct.
THE COURT: It was The Court's understanding that the Prosecution was not inclined to offer a plea bargain. Is that still the case Mr. Ravenger?
RAVENGER: It is, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And the ramifications of that are understood by the Defense?
PROWLEN: They are.
THE COURT: Then for the sake of time today, I will begin reading the list of charges. Any objection to that?
PROWLEN: None. The Defense is ready.
THE COURT: Good. If the Defendant will please rise, I will begin the reading.
PACKER: If it pleases The Court, our client would wish to stay seated.
THE COURT: Very well. The city of Zootopia charges the Defendant, Dawn Bellwether, with the following:
107 counts of conspiracy to poison
107 counts of conspiracy to disturb the peace
107 counts of conspiracy to attempted mass murder
1 count of attempted murder
68 counts of conspiracy to aid drug trafficking
68 counts of conspiracy to aid drug manufacturing
107 counts of accessory to aggravated predation
4 counts of conspiracy to blackmail public officials
759 counts of gross misuse of public resources
Felony tax evasion
Money laundering
Conspiracy to commit voter fraud
84 counts of slander
Conspiracy to commit treason against the state
343 counts of gross violations of basic mammal rights
1294 counts of falsifying data on official documents
214 counts of bribery
1 count of being a criminal mastermind
THE COURT: Does the Defendant understand the charges being levied against her and does she know the options available for her response at this time?
PROWLEN: She does, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And how does the Defendant plea?
BELLWEATHER: Not Guilty.