Jennifer Walters was talking to someone on the telephone about the case with Peter in court. She had been contacted by a lawyer representing an inmate who insisted on being a character witness for Peter. She tried to argue they had all the witnesses and evidence they needed but the inmate's family lawyer said that his client insisted and wouldn't take no for an answer.
She sighed after finally agreeing, wondering how Peter would take this.
If Peter still had any doubts that he would be coming out of this predicament proven innocent; they were now truly dead. Before he had a successful lawyer on his side; the Avengers on his side and evidence proving he was not responsible but now it was pretty much a no brainer since not only Beck survived but he got arrested after he jsut had to do his public return.
He was sure Beck was dead and he had EDITH made sure the illusions were done but he had access to EDITH before so who knows what he did to fake his dead. Beck was transferred from the San Francisco police to the UN custody.
His illusions caused damage and almost killed civilians in different parts of the world so his charges would be pretty much war crimes.
Of course he had to watch all the news reports talking about his statements from prison about his charges and its connection to the case which was dealing with both his innocence and the counter suit against the Daily Bugle. It was almost comical to watch before Beck actually was sticking to his made up backstory of being an interdimensional warrior.
He refused to stray from saying he had finished sending the Elementals back to their dimension when Peter had attacked him with his drones; how he was trying to stop anyone else from being the next Iron Man (not that Peter cared about being the next Iron Man anymore). He then span a tale about how his Earth's god sent him back to earth because he was needed to be their new greatest champion.
That pretty much turned supporters against Spider-Man in this case to Peter's side; being embarrassed they actually bought the story after hearing THAT!
Of course steadfast Jameson eat it up, ignoring advice from his legal team to stay quiet about anything about the Spider-Man, Peter Parker or Mysterio while in public or on the site for the time being:
"Quentin Beck; this man put his life on the line to save an Earth that was not even his. He was betrayed by an attention seeking juvenile delinquent! This interdimensional warrior was brought back to protect us all again and yet this brave hero sits rotting in a holding cell while the one who brutally murdered him and slandered his good name walks free! Folks, where is the justice?"
Then the proceedings started: Peter testified about how he got his powers and made his suit and operated as Spider-Man for 6 months. Then he was recruited by Tony Stark and taken to Germany to try and apprehend Captain America without even hearing of the Sokovia Accords or any details about what had happened.
He then admitted his mistakes afterwards in trying to catch Adrian Toomes alone and it led to the ferry incident. While people were critical, most could understand that he was operating with little information from his supposed mentor and not even assuring him that he was getting the proper authorities involved.
Plus they were highly outraged to learn that Tony had taken Peter under false pretences to Germany (which they were considering pretty much kidnapping) and then after that; did not bother to do much actual mentoring to the young Superhero he was mentoring.
He then testified about the events that led up to what happened in London. After some cross examination he was excused.
The EDITH glasses and its records and files were admitted into evidence; Peter knew he would never hold them again. After the case it will probably be erased and dismantled and for the best.
The court and government considered it arrogant and irresponsible for Tony Stark to have created a dangerous defence system with access to drones and hacking; with the intention of handing it over to a 16 year old with little instructions. Plus they were not amused by the acronym.
Peter was excused and then Happy Hogan testified sheepish to admit that he was Peter's official liaison which was a job he treated as a nuisance. He maintained that Peter was a brave good kid who actually saved his job. Then there was Aunt May who testified that she didn't know about Peter being Spider-Man at first and was critical of superpowered beings and their incidents being nearby.
She didn't know what to think when she learned by accident but accepted it; saying she didn't know what to do as she doubted she could prevent him from doing what he thought was right. The court was critical of her allowing Peter to be Spider-Man but understood it was a difficult situation with little precedent.
Jameson objected and asked her what it was like having raised an attention seeking menace but was made to sit down.
Then the other Avengers did their testimony; the ones who were at what happened in Germany testified that Peter seemed like a nice enthusiastic kid. They were not aware of how young he actually was but suspected something form how he talked. Then they would talk about having spoken to him during the funeral for Tony Stark and he seemed like a great kid.
Bruce Banner and Janet Van Dyne had said as much since they were not at the battle of Germany. Several times Jameson was admonished and warned when he was asking how they could call themselves heroes by siding with the menace. He was now dangerously close to being held in contempt.
King T'Challa had testified not only to defend Peter but as it turned out there were Wakandan relief workers put at risk at the Elemental attacks plus in London during the events. He finished his testimony (which had most at his every word) with a speech how it sickens him how a cowardly selfish charlatan could try to pin his crimes and publicly reveal the brave warrior who stopped him.
Jameson was forcibly stopped by his legal team from saying anything as him publicly ranting against the king of a Sovereign nation (the most technologically advanced in the country) in open court would spell doom for his career and reputation.
Then Steve Rogers all elderly entered the court and people were in awestruck as the first Avenger was still a powerful sight at his now aged state. He stated how he wasn't actually dead but retired; that he spent time in multiple timelines before coming back here for retirement. It sounded pretty ludicrous but no one dared speak against it and it was admitted.
He talked about his encounter in Germany and he could see that Peter had heart and reminded him a whole lot of himself when he was younger and Peter was ready to faint. He talked about how he trusts Peter and that it was an honour to fight beside him against Thanos.
His legal team could not stop Jameson's ranting: "what would you know about being a hero Rogers? You go about in the US colors and decided you were too good to listen to the countries when they wanted you and the Avengers to actually be held accountable for your actions! You decided the Accords were too good for you and apparently so was this timeline if we beleive what you say! I bet your HYDRA minders cooked up this story of you going to timelines and put on your makeup!"
That was the last straw and he was sent out of the courtroom while being held in contempt. Then came the testimonies of most of his classmates and former classmates from before the Snap and they said a lot of what they had already said online. Flash himself surprised Peter by being in tears when explaining he was ashamed of how he treated poor Peter Parker know that he knew he was the selfless hero he looked up to and put his life on the line to protect his life, his neighbourhood and classmates.
Then came the last character witness and Peter was told of who it will be beforehand. "I would like to call our last character witness to the stand." Jennifer said before clearing her breath, she then told the court "we would like to call to the stand... Adrian Toomes."
I updated the first two chapters to fix details i got wrong.
The talk of EDITH not belonging in anyone's hands was inspired by this Anti Tony blog (again I don't totally hate him but hate the amounts of people who praise him while hating on Team Cap, I respect people's opinion but I will not lie when I say Cap and Peter are my fave MCU heroes and that Tony is a very flawed arrogant individual) on Tumblr. I know Jameson is a massive Cap fanboy in the comics but he was not when he appeared on Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. This Jameson is based on the worst qualities of him which looks like what we will get when we see him next in the MCU.