Rei Ryghts: Ace Attorney
Turnabout of the Mobile Tank
by Derald Snyder
Trial- Day 1
Court Record:
Autopsy Report
SOPHIA-2 Mobile Tank
April 16, 9:28 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 4
True to her word, Sophia had been waiting for Rei at the courthouse doors when she arrived. And now, the two were waiting in the lobby for Jacob to be escorted from his cell... Soon enough, he was escorted by the bailiff, who unlocked his handcuffs.
"Morning, Sophia, Miss Ryghts," he greeted.
"Good morning, Jacob," Sophia replied. "How are you feeling?"
"Nervous as heck," the boy replied. "Did you guys find anything?"
"N-not much..." Rei admitted. "B-but I th-think I can argue th-that the incident was j-just a t-tragic accident, and n-nothing more..."
"Of course, that depends on what evidence the prosecution decides to trot out," Sophia appended. Just then, the doors opened, a familiar face striding in.
"L-Lady Blanc?!" Jacob's eyes went wide.
"Lady Blanc?!" Sophia gasped as she turned to face the new arrival.
"Lady B-Blanc?" Rei stuttered. "W-what are y-you d-doing here?!"
The CPU in question glanced over at Jacob. "Damn it all to hell," she muttered. "First my No. 1 bounty hunter gets thrown into a Leanbox jail cell, and now my No. 2 gets in legal trouble to boot?!" She turned her eyes on Rei. "I'm warning you right now, Rei, you had better not drop the damn ball this time!"
"Ahh! I'm so very sorry about last time!" Rei squeaked, sweating. "B-but I'm certain th-that my c-client is i-innocent this t-time!"
"Lady Blanc, this is nothing but a tragic accident that got blown out of proportion," Sophia interjected. "Surely the evidence will bear that out in court today..."
Blanc's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any idea who the prosecutor is for this trial?"
"W-we met her yesterday, actually," Rei replied. "Apparently she's the d-daughter of a l-legendary p-prosecutor..."
"Exactly," the CPU nodded curtly. "Which means you had better bring your A-game today, got it?!"
"O-of course!" Rei nodded twice. "Y-you know I a-always do my b-best for my c-client!"
"Good," the flat-chested goddess nodded. "Just making sure you understand the stakes. I wish I could stay and watch the trial, but I've got work to catch up on back home. So," she gave a slight nod, "good luck, Rei." With that, she turned and walked out.
"Th-thank you!" Rei replied politely, before turning back to her clients. "Okay... it's time to go."
April 16, 9:45 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 4
The chattering gallery was swiftly silenced by the judge's gavel. "Court is now in session for the trial of Jacob Fredrick."
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Rei stated, Sophia standing at her side.
"The prosecution stands ready, Your Honor," Zelda Daphnes said from the other side of the courtroom. Today, she was dressed in a sky blue business suit and skirt, the jacket possessing poofed sleeves and a black bowtie on her collar, making her look like a strange cross of royalty and businesswoman.
"Ah, Miss Ryghts!" the judge exclaimed. He was completely bald, with a large flowing gray-white beard. "It's good to see you again after all this time. I trust your trip across Gamindustri's legal systems was an enjoyable experience."
"W-well, it was c-certainly... i-interesting," Rei stammered.
"*Ahem*," Zelda cleared her throat loudly. "With all due respect, Your Honor, you and the defense can catch up later. For now, we have a trial to conduct!"
The judge visibly flinched. "O-oh yes, of course. My apologies, Miss Daphnes, it wasn't my intention to ignore you. ...now that I think about it, this is your first time actually standing in court, correct?"
"My father's reputation is both a blessing and a curse, in many ways," Zelda muttered, eyes closed and arms crossed. "But hopefully, today I can prove that I can stand on my own two feet as a prosecutor."
"Indeed," the judge nodded. "Well, in that case, let's get down to business. Your opening statement, if you please."
"Yes, Your Honor," the regal blonde nodded. "...I apologize in advance if I'm not as eloquent as my father. But anyway..." She took up a piece of paper. "The tragedy occurred on April the 14th, in the early afternoon, on the outskirts of Iris Field. The local sheriff, Norris Linebeck, who was beloved and respected throughout the community, was viciously attacked and run over by the defendant's mobile tank, SOPHIA-2. It was an agonizing death, to be sure... One that I intend to bring the full force of the law against this bounty hunter for committing."
"It does sound like a brutal way to die," the judge nodded. "But why would the defendant do such a thing?"
"I portend that it stemmed from a disagreement between Sheriff Linebeck and his killer," Zelda theorized. "While Norris Linebeck was relentless in his pursuit of justice, he always did things by the book. He considered bounty hunters as immoral scum who believed themselves above the law. It's possible that the sheriff and Jacob Fredrick got in an argument, which ended with the hunter stabbing Linebeck in the gut, then running him over with his tank for good measure."
"B-but that's not what happened at all!" Sophia protested.
"C-calm down, Sophia," Rei grabbed the mechanic's arm. "Th-this is j-just the opening statement..."
"Unfortunately, Miss Sophia, I have ample evidence and witness testimony to back up my assertion," Zelda affirmed. "And now, I shall call my first witness. Detective Pericles, if you would, please." Snooper promptly marched up to the stand, his hat removed, revealing an unkempt ruffle of black hair with a few gray hairs visible. "Please state your full name and occupation for the record, detective."
The man hesitated briefly. "...Snorkel Pericles. Call me Snooper. I'm the detective in charge of this case."
"Please testify about what your investigation has uncovered. And next time, try combing your hair, please..."
"It's got a mind of its own, ma'am," Snooper lamented. "Kinda why I wear a hat most of the time... anyway." He cleared his throat. "We got the call at around quarter to 2 from a witness. When we got there, the witness had apparently managed to subdue the defendant by tasing him. We found his partner holed up in the cockpit of the mobile tank..."
"That'd be me," Sophia supplied.
"Anyway, after questioning, we released her, since she didn't appear to be directly involved in the murder."
"How about the victim?" Zelda inquired.
"Well, by the time we got there, he was DOA," Snooper stated. "Autopsy confirmed he was crushed by a massive object... through he'd been stabbed beforehand. But make no mistake, it was being crushed that did him in..."
"You're certain it was the mobile tank that did the crushing?" Zelda pressed.
"Yep," the detective nodded, holding up a leather vest in a plastic bag. "The tread pattern on the back of this vest matches with the tires of the tank."
*Victim's Vest added to the Court Record.*
"HOLD IT!" Rei cut in. "Detective, what is that scrap of paper sticking out of the pocket?"
"Oh, that? Just a weird poem of some sort," Snooper shrugged. "It's not related to the case at all, but I could let you have a look during recess, if you insist."
"I do insist, detective," Rei affirmed.
"Hmph!" Zelda snorted. "Why you should be so obsessed with a silly scrap of paper is beyond me. Anyway, continue your testimony, detective."
"Yes ma'am," the older man assented. "Anyway, we took photos of the scene, which I'll share with the court now." He pulled two photos from his pocket, which the bailiff passed to the judge. After looking them over, the judge then gave them back to the bailiff, who handed them to Rei.
*Crime Scene Photos added to the Court Record.*
Looking closely, Rei and Sophia observed that one photo was a close-up of the victim's body, while the other was a wide shot showing the SOPHIA-2 a few feet in front of the victim.
"There's the note you saw earlier," Sophia pointed at the close-up photo.
(Snooper must have stuffed it back in the victim's pocket after reading it,) Rei mused. (But why are his legs covered with snow, with the rest of his body exposed?)
"As you can see in the wide shot, the tracks made by the tank in the snow line up perfectly with the tread pattern on the victim," Snooper pointed out.
"So there can be no question that the mobile tank was the murder weapon," Zelda concluded.
"We never d-disputed th-that," Rei spoke up. "The question is, did my c-client have malicious intent w-when he r-ran over the v-victim?"
"Indeed. And there's one other thing that bothers me," said the judge. "Just what implement was used to stab Sheriff Linebeck in the first place?"
"I'm glad you asked, Your Honor," Zelda replied with a confident smile. "Detective, please present your last evidence- the final nail in the defendant's coffin."
"Yes ma'am," Snooper assented, holding up what appeared to be a giant ignition key. "We confiscated this from the defendant when we arrested him... As you can see, there's blood on the tip. This sword is most likely what the defendant used to stab the victim."
At this, Sophia leaned over and whispered into Rei's ear... the lawyer's eyes going wide, before a sinister smirk spread over her face. Pointing her finger dramatically, she shouted, "OBJECTION!"
"Ah, how long has it been since I've heard that!" The judge sighed nostalgically. "And what exactly do you object to, Miss Ryghts?"
"The weapon that Detective Pericles is holding," Rei answered. "My client has just informed me that this so-called sword is in fact not a sword at all!" She slammed her fists on the bench. "It is fact, a multi-purpose Blaster Rifle!"
"B-Blaster Rifle?!" The judge's eyes went wide. "As in, a gun?"
"Wh-what? It's a gun?!" Snooper started sweating.
"What?!" Zelda gasped. "B-but it looks nothing like a gun! It looks more like a Keybl- I mean, a sword-key!"
"...May I see that weapon for a second?" Sophia asked. The bailiff promptly passed it over to her. Grabbing the handle in a specific manner, the 'key' suddenly split open, a distinctive *ch-click!* being heard as a small barrel protruded from the tip. She then fired a tiny shot into the air to erase any doubt.
"My word! It really is a gun!" the judge gasped. The gallery started murmuring at this...
*Blaster Rifle added to the Court Record.*
"So much for being the final nail in the defendant's coffin," Rei chuckled darkly. "As we've just seen, this is in fact a rifle, not a sword. Which means it cannot be the weapon used to stab Sheriff Linebeck!"
"N... Noooooooo!" Zelda wailed, gripping the far end of the bench tightly, her long hair whipping about as a gale force wind threatened to blow her away. The gallery's chatter increased in volume...
"Order! Order!" the judge declared as he banged his gavel. "Well, this is a conundrum. If this weapon wasn't what stabbed Sheriff Linebeck, then what did?"
"Tell me, Snooper," Rei pressed, "Did you even bother to look for any other sharp and pointy objects at the crime scene?"
"Arrgh!" Snooper pulled at his messy hair with one hand. "I coulda sworn it was a sword! I'm sorry, Miss Daphnes! I take full responsibility for this mix-up!"
"Y-yes, you most certainly will!" Zelda growled, her face blushed in embarrassment. "I shall be sure to note this for when your next salary assessment comes about, you incompetent!"
"Ngooohh! Another pay cut! Curse you, Rei Ryghts!" The detective wailed in distress.
The judge banged his gavel. "Order in the court!"
"Does it always get this... excitable in the courtroom?" Sophia sweat-dropped.
"You have NO idea..." Rei moaned.
"Prosecutor Daphnes. If this Blaster Rifle was not the stabbing implement, then can you explain this discrepancy?" The judge inquired sternly.
"Um... W-well..." The regal blonde cleared her throat. "I-I have a witness who may be able to explain it... May we recess, Your Honor, so I can ascertain her readiness?"
The robed man nodded, before banging his gavel. "So be it. This court shall now take a 15-minute recess while the witness is prepared. Court is adjourned!"
April 16, 10:36 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 4
"Excellent job so far, Miss Rei," Sophia stated. "I see I was right to hire you after all."
"I-it's not over yet," the former goddess pointed. "Snooper was just a warm-up... the real b-battle will be with the w-witness..." Just then, the detective in question walked in.
"Detective Pericles!" gasped Sophia. "You're not mad for what Miss Rei did, are you...?"
"Nah," Snooper shook his head, "I've pretty much gotten used to her beating me up in court. That ain't why I'm here though..." He held up a small piece of paper in a plastic bag. "This here's the weird poem in the victim's pocket that you were so curious about."
"Oh, th-thank you..." Rei bowed her head as she accepted the item.
*Weird Poem added to the Court Record.*
"Well, if you'll excuse me," the detective sighed, "I gotta go back to the crime scene and see if I can find the weapon that was used to stab Mr. Linebeck. See ya..." With that, he exited.
"No offense," Jacob spoke up, "but I kinda wonder what the big deal is with a poem, Miss Ryghts..."
"If there's anything I've learned about being a defense attorney, it's that you leave no stone unturned..." Rei explained as she looked over the poem. "Even if something may seem insignificant at first, it could end up turning an entire case on its head... It looks like this poem was typed and printed, not handwritten..." The poem went something like this:
The offspring of the legend
the golden regal one
intelligent, but sheltered
crystal blue eyes, their light shall go out
and the legend will suffer
"...Almost sounds like some sort of prophecy," Jason observed. "Doesn't seem like it's related at all, though..."
"M-maybe not," Rei sighed as she pocketed the paper, "but we'll hold on to it, j-just in c-case..."
"Recess is about over," stated Sophia. "We should get back into the courtroom..."
April 16, 10:51 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 4
The judge banged his gavel. "Court is now back in session. Prosecutor Daphnes, is your witness ready?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Zelda nodded. "The prosecution calls Nala Janeway to the stand!"
The witness walked up to the stand, looking slightly nervous. She had chocolate brown hair, which pulled back into a braided ponytail with a pink bow, and a flower clipping on one side. She work a deep pink blouse and matching skirt, as well as pink winter boots.
"Please state your full name and occupation, witness," Zelda ordered.
"N-Nala Janeway. I'm a college student."
"Miss Janeway, you were the one who witnessed this horrible crime, and stopped the defendant from escaping, correct?" The prosecutor stated.
Nala shivered. "Y-yes... it was such a frightening experience..."
"...I understand this might be diffcult for you," Zelda sympathized, "but we need you to recount what happened on that tragic day, as best as you can recall..."
The witness swallowed nervously. "Y-yes ma'am. I-I'll do my best." Taking a deep breath, she began her testimony. "I was just going for a walk out by Iris Field to clear my head... suddenly, I heard some sort of commotion. I turned and saw the sheriff and the defendant arguing about something, when the defendant suddenly seemed to punch him in the gut! But then I saw blood, and I realized he'd been stabbed!"
"HOLD IT!" cried Rei. "Are you saying you didn't actually see what the defendant used to stab Sheriff Linebeck?"
"W-well..." Nala stammered, "I saw him throw something away afterwards... it got buried in the snow, so I couldn't see what it was..."
"Well, I'm sure Detective Pericles will find it soon enough... if he doesn't want another pay cut, that that is," Zelda said. "Continue your testimony, Miss Janeway."
"Y-yes ma'am," the girl nodded. "Anyway... after that, he got in his mobile tank thingy, revved the engine, and...!" She buried her face in her hands. "I looked away, didn't actually see it... b-but I heard the crunch... that sickening crunch... I knew then it was all over."
"But if that's the case," Rei cut in, "Why would he get back out of his tank? Wouldn't he just speed off?"
"Please, Miss Ryghts," Zelda dismissed her opponent with a wave of her hand. "Obviously, the defendant wanted to make sure he was dead this time. After all, the autopsy report confirms Sheriff Lineback was still breathing after the stabbing..."
"Y-you're probably right, Miss Daphnes..." Nala deferred. "Anyway, he looked up and saw me, I screamed, and then I tased him, a-and called the police..."
The judge had been listening patiently, shaking his head when Janeway finished. "Miss Janeway... it greatly disturbs me that a lovely young lady like yourself had to see such a traumatizing event. You have my sympathies."
"Th...thank you, Your Honor," Nala sighed.
"Now then, Miss Ryghts, your cross-examination, if you please."
"Yes, Your Honor," the horned lawyer nodded.
"This won't be easy," Sophia muttered. "I know she's lying, but her story does seem to match up with the facts..."
"Not all of them," Rei disagreed. "I think there might b-be o-one detail th-that she overlooked... b-but I h-have to c-confirm something f-first..." Turning to the witness stand, she then asked, "M-miss Janeway, about when the v-victim was s-stabbed... d-did the defendant j-just leave him laying th-there?"
"Huh...? No, I d-don't think he moved the body at all..." Nala said in mild confusion.
"Well, in that case, Miss Janeway..." Rei Ryghts gave her signature 'psycho smirk'. "Your testimony contradicts this piece of evidence! TAKE THAT!" She presented the close-up crime scene photo.
"And just how does that picture contradict her testimony?" Zelda challenged.
"Well, if Sheriff Linebeck had been stabbed and collapsed where his body was found..." She slammed her fists on the bench. "Wouldn't there be a lot more blood around his corpse?!"
"Oh!" gasped Nala with wide eyes.
"Ah!" cried the judge.
"OBJECTION!" Zelda protested. "C-clearly the blood is just hidden beneath the snow!"
"...which brings me to my second contradiction," Rei's smirk widened.
"S-second contradiction?!" The young prosecutor began to sweat.
"Take another look at the close-up photo," Rei expounded. "The victim's legs are completely buried in snow! If the Sheriff had just collapsed where his body was stabbed, his legs would at least been partly visible, even after being run over! Unless... someone deliberately covered him!"
"Deliberately covered him?!" The judge blinked. "As in, he was buried alive?!"
"Exactly!" Rei nodded. "Which means the possibility exists that the defendant ran over the victim by accident... because he couldn't see Sheriff Linebeck buried under the snow!"
"Aaahhhhh!" cried Zelda as once again braced herself against a harsh wind, the gallery chattering excitedly.
"Order! Order! Order!" the judge banged his gavel repeatedly.
"Incredible!" Sophia cried, "You managed to turn the narrative completely on its head! Way to go, Miss Rei!"
"But... But... But that's not..." Janeway stammered.
"OBJECTION!" Rei cut her off. "That'll be enough out of you, maggot. Your Honor, I demand this witness' entire testimony be stricken from the record!"
"OBJECTION! On what grounds?!" Zelda shot back. "Just because she got one tiny detail wrong? Look at her! The poor girl is traumatized! Of course she's not going to recall every detail perfectly!"
"Because her testimony makes no sense!" Rei retorted. "After all, if Mr. Fredrick was going to kill Sheriff Linebeck when their argument got heated, then why wouldn't he just take his Blaster Rifle and shoot him dead?! It'd be far more certain than stabbing him!"
"Aaaaaaahhh!" Zelda cried as she clung to her bench from another gale force wind. The gallery started chattering again.
"Order! Order in the court!" the judge cried as he banged his gavel. "Miss Ryghts makes a valid point. It would seem to make more sense for the defendant to simply shoot the victim, rather than stab him..."
"Exactly, Your Honor," Rei nodded. "That's why I believe this witness' testimony cannot be trusted! I highly doubt she even saw what really happened!"
"OBJECTION! Need I remind you, that Miss Janeway was the one who called the police to begin with?" Zelda counter-argued.
"OBJECTION! Just because she reported the crime, doesn't mean she actually saw what happened!" the former goddess retorted. "Do you even have any proof that she was there at the time the victim met his end?!"
Suddenly, the prosecutor seemed to regain her composure. "As a matter of fact... I do have proof of that."
"Wh-what?!" Rei faltered.
"You do?!" the judge's eyes went wide.
Zelda nodded, holding up what appeared to be a small videotape. "This is security camera footage from the time the crime was committed. Unfortunately, the actual incident was out of the camera's range, which is why I did not present it until now."
*Security Camera Footage added to the Court Record.*
"But it shows Miss Janeway?" the judge guessed.
"That it does," the regal blonde nodded. "Bailiff, would you please bring in the monitor and video equipment, so we can play this tape back?"
"Yes, Prosecutor!" the NPC bailiff agreed, exiting the courtroom. He returned a minute later, pushing a TV and VCR on a rolling stand.
"It must be a pretty old security camera, to have to use such outdated technology..." Sophia muttered under her breath. She and Rei watched as Zelda Daphnes handed the tape to the bailiff, who inserted it into the VCR and pressed PLAY.
The TV showed static briefly, before clearing, the time stamp reading '4/10 1:26 PM'. Iris Field was clearly visible in the distance, as a dark blue winter coat passed in front of the camera, which was followed a few seconds later by a familiar pink blouse and skirt...
"There!" declared Zelda, as the bailiff paused the tape. "As you can see by her clothing, that is indeed none other than Nala Janeway herself!" The crowd murmured at this...
The judge banged his gavel once, before nodding, "Yes, this does appear to show that the witness was at the scene of the crime just before the incident occurred..."
"So what was Miss Janeway doing, following that other person?" Sophia asked.
"O-oh, that was just a coincidence," Nala shook her head. "We just happened to be going the same way..."
"HOLD IT!" Rei suddenly shouted as she slammed her fists on the bench. "Prosecutor, unless I miss my guess, isn't that your winter coat we're seeing on the camera?!"
Zelda shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes, that is indeed yours truly on camera..."
"Wh-whaaaat?!" the judge cried in surprise. "Miss Daphnes, *you* were at the scene of the crime?!" The gallery started to buzz in confusion...
"Isn't that a conflict of interest, to prosecute this case if you were actually there?!" Sophia protested.
"Only if I was personally involved with the crime, which I was not. I had no knowledge of the incident until I watched the news later," Zelda clarified. "But once I found out, I was very upset that such a vicious crime had occurred practically under my nose... which is why I insisted on handling this case myself."
The judge again banged his gavel to silence the gallery. "I see, Miss Daphnes. That's certainly understandable, seeing it from your point of view..."
(So she had no knowledge of the crime until it was reported...) Rei mulled to herself. (So I guess it wouldn't be a conflict of interest, if that were true... But something's bothering me... something about the evidence...) Suddenly, something clicked in her brain, causing her to have an epiphany! "AAAAAAHHHH!" she cried aloud. (There... there *is* a connection!)
"M-Miss Ryghts? Is something the matter?" The judge asked worriedly.
"Did you deduce something about the case?" Sophia guessed.
The horned lawyer nodded to herself, before saying, "That... that supposedly useless piece of evidence... it just might be connected to the case after all!"
"What 'useless' piece of evidence?" Zelda demanded.
In response, Rei pulled the weird poem from her pocket. "This slip of paper that was found in the victim's vest pocket. At first, I thought it was some strange poem, but... well, let me read it to you:
The offspring of the legend
the golden regal one
intelligent, but sheltered
crystal blue eyes, their light shall go out
and the legend will suffer..."
"Hmmm..." the judge pondered with his eyes closed. "It almost sounds like a prophecy of some sort..."
"That's what I said!" Jacob spoke up from the defendant's chair.
Rei decided to get right to the point. "Miss Daphnes, aren't you the daughter of a legendary prosecutor? You're certainly regal enough, with golden blonde hair and crystal blue eyes..."
Zelda's eyes went wide at this. "Y-you mean to say... the poem describes ME?!"
"Crystal blue eyes, their light shall go out and the legend will suffer..." Sophia recited... "If you ask me, it almost sounds like a death threat..."
"D-death threat?!" the prosecutor grunted, sweating.
"Aaahhhh!" Rei cried out again. "Th-that's it! Your Honor, this is no poem! These are orders for an assassination!"
"A-ASSASSINATION?!" The gallery went into a tizzy at this...
*Assassination Orders updated in Court Record.*
"WH-WHAAAAAT?!" screamed Zelda as she braced herself against another harsh wind. "B-but who would want to assassinate me?!"
"...the orders were found in Sheriff Linebeck's pocket. Do the math," Rei deadpanned.
"A-are you saying Sheriff Norris Linebeck... is an assassin?!" the judge cried incredulously.
"It's certainly a possibility," Rei shrugged. "Regardless, this definitively proves that Prosecutor Zelda Daphnes does, in fact, have a personal connection to the crime, even if she herself was unaware of it!" The lawyer slammed her fists on the bench. "And that means, in accordance with the law..." She pointed dramatically. "You, Zelda Daphnes, have no choice but to recuse yourself!"
"Noooooooooo!" Zelda wailed, as the wind grew stronger and stronger... "FAAAAAAATTHHHEEEEEERRRRR!" she screamed as she finally lost her grip, tumbling backwards onto the floor, one leg sticking up somewhat comically from behind the bench.
"M-Miss Daphnes! A-are you all right?!" cried the judge as the gallery chattered loudly.
"...Wow. You literally blew her away," Sophia commented to Rei.
"Hnnngh..." the regal blonde groaned as she righted herself, sweat dripping down her face. "If... if what the defense says is true, then... I have no choice. Your Honor... I h-hereby... r-recuse myself f-from this trial..." It seemed painful for her to even get the words out.
The judge banged his gavel to quiet the crowds, before sighing and shaking his head. "In accordance with the law, I accept your recusal. But personally speaking, I am very sorry that your first time in court had to turn out like this..."
"Th... thank you, Your Honor," Zelda grunted as she hugged herself. "Now, if you will excuse me..." She slowly turned and walked out of the courtroom, a haunted look on her face.
(I... I almost feel sorry for her now...) Rei thought to herself. (But the law is the law...)
"Well, now that Miss Daphnes has recused herself, we will have to suspend this trial for the time being, until a new prosecutor is appointed," the robed man intoned. "However, we will reconvene no sooner than tomorrow at 10 AM, in order to give the defense time to prepare. That is all, court is adjourned for today." He then banged his gavel one final time, bringing a formal end to proceedings.
To be continued...