The Prosecutor and the Detective
Chapter 2
-oOo-
It was the day of the hearing for murder of the well-known singer, Tolle Koenig. A lot of people from the media and Tolle's fans surrounded the entrance to the district court. They were yelling 'JUSTICE FOR TOLLE'. Miriallia trembled as she stared at them from the tinted window of Kira's car. Kira gritted his teeth as he watched his friend then he turned his attention to the policemen at the back seat.
"My client is under your custody, am I right?", Kira inquired.
"Yes, sir", one of them replied.
"So I believe that it is your responsibility to protect her from those people", Kira stated as he pointed to those people wandering around the place.
"Of course", the other one answered with a bit of worry. Although what Kira had said was true, it was pretty hard getting the defendant to the court without a single scratch from those people, especially since the victim was very famous.
Their conversation was interrupted when somebody knocked at their window. Kira and the two policemen recognized her immediately. Kira slowly pulled down the glass window.
"Detective Athha!", he greeted.
"Use the backdoor, it's open. Zala is arriving, I'm pretty sure that he'll get their attention so use that chance to go inside", she said then left instantly that Kira never had the chance to thank her.
As Kira started the engine, they noticed that people were gathering near a certain car. True enough, Athrun Zala did get the people's attention as he stepped outside his car. He was bombarded with a lot of question which he really found annoying.
Without wasting any more time, Kira and the others went to the backdoor and went inside the building. Once they got in, the guards instantly closed the door as instructed by Cagalli who was waiting for them there.
"Follow me", she commanded and they just followed without uttering a single word. She led them to the defendant's lobby.
"I'm sure you already know the way to the courtroom from here", she said.
"Yes, thank you. You're very kind. Even though you are from the other side, you still helped us", Kira said expressing his gratitude.
"What side are you talking about? I am in no-one's side", she remarked then just left.
Kira was left to ponder. He seriously did not understand what she had said. How could she be when she was investigating for the prosecution? Dropping that though aside, he turned to Miriallia who was silently sitting on the couch.
"Don't worry. I'll do everything to prove that you are innocent", Kira stated as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Miriallia weakly smiled as she mumbled a soft "thanks".
A few minutes later, a bailiff came and told them to proceed to the courtroom.
All eyes were on them as they walked in. Kira guided Miriallia as they lumbered to the defense side. He glanced at the prosecution and found Athrun and Cagalli sitting next to each other.
The chattering subsided as the judge entered the room.
"The court is now in session for the trial of Miriallia Haww", he said.
"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor", Athrun reported with confidence written all over his face.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor", Kira also said.
"Prosecutor Zala, you opening statement, please", the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor", he started. "I am sure that you are all aware that the defendant is accused of killing her lover, Mr. Tolle Koenig who, by the way, was a famed singer. The prosecution will determine who the guilty party is based from the evidences and witnesses we gathered".
"Very well", the judge replied. "Prosecutor Zala, please call your first witness".
Athrun nodded his head. "I am calling Detective Athha to the stand", he said then Cagalli proceeded to the stand.
"Please state your name and occupation", Athrun said.
"My name is Cagalli Yula Athha. I am the detective assigned to this case", she answered.
"Detective Athha, Will you please describe to us the details of this murder".
Cagalli nodded her head once before answering.
"The victim's name is Tolle Koenig. Autopsy report says that the estimated time of death is between 10:30 P.M. -12:30 A.M. ", she began. All parties involved were already given copies of that report a few days ago so it was already submitted as evidence to the court. "It also indicates that the victim fall from a height of _ meters".
"Have you determined from which place he had fallen from?", Kira asked.
"Based from the height and the location of the body, we concluded that he fell from the balcony of his own unit", she replied. There was a brief moment of silence afterwards. Cagalli thought that Kira would have some follow up question but it never came. Apparently, Kira was actually racking his brain for anything to ask her but he got nothing.
"Please continue with your testimony", Athrun finally spoke breaking the ice.
"There were three sets of fingerprints found on the railings of the balcony".
"Three sets?," Kira interrupted.
"Yes, one is from the defendant, the other one is from the victim and the third one is still unknown", she explained. "There were no signs that the door was forcefully open and there were no signs that the victim struggled with the killer. In fact, the unit was quite neat".
"Ms. Athha, can you elaborate on how neat the unit was?", the judge requested.
"Yes. In the morning on the day of the incident, the victim requested the housekeeping section of the hotel to do a thorough clean up in his room. According to the hotel crews, the room was exactly how they left it except for the decorations. It was actually the victim's birthday on the day he was murdered".
"Are there any questions for Detective Athha from the defense?", the judge asked.
"No, Your Honor", Kira responded.
"Very Well", the judged said. "Thank you Detective Athha", he said then Cagalli left the stand. "Mr. Zala, please call on your next witness to the stand".
Athrun called on his next witness. The man being called walked nervously towards the stand. It was his first time inside the courtroom afterall.
"Please state your name and occupation", goes the usual line when a new witness is called.
The man on the stand stared at the faces of everyone attending the trial. He felt so anxious being the center of everyone's attention that he failed to hear the prosecutor.
"Name and occupation, please", Athrun repeated with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
The man turned to him slowly and tried to open his mouth to answer him.
"I... I am Kuzzey, a bellboy in Archangel Hotel", he timidly said while stuttering.
"Please speak louder Mr. Burskirk",the judge said.
"I apologize, Your Honor. The witness is quite nervous because it is his first time being called to the courtroom", Athrun explained. The judge just nodded his head.
Athrun turned his attention back to the witness. "Mr. Burkirk, Please tell us what you witnessed on the day of the incident".
"It was almost midnight when I went to Room 308 because the resident ordered some food. That's when I saw Ms. Haww entering the victim's room", he said. His voice was still faltering but it was still understandable.
"Are you certain that it was indeed Ms. Haww that you saw?", Kira asked which Kuzzey answered in affirmation.
"Did you see the victim when he opened the door?", Kira asked again.
"No, it looks like she already knows the passcode to the victim's unit", Kuzzey replied.
Kira walked a few steps towards him before stating his next question. "So you mean to say that you never saw the victim on that night?", he said with an emphasis on the word 'NEVER'.
"Yes".
"I'm sorry Mr. Yamato but I don't see any relevance of the question to the case", Athrun interjected.
Kira smirked at him before facing the judge.
"The victim did not open the door for the defendant, Ms. Haww, it is possible that the victim was already dead even before Ms. Haww went to his unit", Kira proudly stated his conjecture.
Athrun wanted to laugh so badly but fortunately he was able to keep his composure.
"Mr. Kuzzey", he started even though his eyes were fixed on Kira. "Did you see the defendant ringing the doorbell?".
"No!", Kuzzey said while shaking his head. "She immediately entered the passcode".
"And there you have it Mr. Yamato! Ms. Haww knows the passcode of the victim's unit so there's no need for the victim to open the door for her, especially since the victim had no idea that Ms. Haww was already at his door. It does not necessarily mean that the victim was already dead during that time.", Athrun explained. "Anything else you noticed Mr. Kuzzey?"
Kuzzey seemed to think for a while trying to remember the details of what happened that day. "Now that you mention it, Ms. Haww looks like she was grinning".
"It was the victim's birthday! As the court already knows, Ms. Haww is the victim's girlfriend. She was actually planning to surprise him", Kira said trying to defend his client.
"Ah, surprise him by killing him?", Athrun said trying to provoke Kira which actually worked for Kira was looking at him with a murderous look on his face.
Kira was gritting his teeth. "Mr. Prosecutor, may I remind you that you have not established a decisive evidence to prove that my client is guilty!".
"My apologies!", he humbly said with a bow but there was a smile on his face.
Kuzzey was allowed to leave the stand and the judge decided to have a thirty minute recess.
