0800 Zulu
Court Room
The trail was set to start at 0800 but ended up starting at 0815 because Harm and Mac got there late. "Sorry we're late your honor. There was to much traffic." "Save your excuses commander and lets proceed." "Yes your honor." "Colonel you may call your first witness." "Yes sir. Government calls Lieutenant Wyatt Jones to the stand."
"Lt. About what time did you and Sgt. Morris go clubbing the other night? "Objection calls for speculation." "I'll rephrase your honor. Lieutenant what time was it when you and the sergeant go clubbing?" "0900 ma'm." "Are you sure? "Yes ma'm. I looked at my watch right as we entered." "Was the defendant a heavy drinker?" "No ma'm. But that night he had been going through a tough time." "Can you elaborate lieutenant?" "Yes ma'm. The night before we went to the club, the sergeant's father died. Then the next day his marriage was falling apart. His wife handed him some divorce papers and then around 1800 she filed for custody of their two year old daughter." "How many drinks did the Sgt. Have that night at the club?" "About ten, maybe eleven." "Thank you lieutenant. No further questions." After Mac was done cross-examining the witness, Harm cross-examined next. "Lieutenant you say the sergeant had about ten drinks is that right?" "Yes sir that's right." "Well did you ever try and stop the sergeant?" "Yes sir. Around his fourth drink I told him that he had probably had enough and that maybe we should leave." "And what was his reaction lieutenant?" "Not a very good one sir. He pushed me hard against the bar." "Then what did you do?" "I told him again that we should go or I'd tell the commanding officer." "Is that where you got your black eye lieutenant?" "Yes sir. After I told him I would tell the commanding officer he punched me in my left eye." "What happened next?" "The sergeant had spotted me about ready to head out the door. That's when he grabbed me from behind and pinned me to a wall. I told him he was drunk, he then punched me hard in the stomach and then said I couldn't leave." "Thank you lieutenant. No further questions your honor." Harm then went back to his seat. "Redirect your honor." Mac said from behind the desk. "Proceed." "Lieutenant you stated that sergeant Morris said you couldn't leave. So would you say you were his prisoner? "If you put it that way, yes." "What happened when you got to the tomcat? "I told the sergeant that it was against regulations to steal any aircraft or other item belonging to the U.S. navy." "What happened after you told him about the regulations?" "He said he didn't care about regulations. He then told me to get on the plane but I lied to him saying I needed to use the head. So he got on board the aircraft while I ended up releasing the fuel tanks." "Is that why the aircraft didn't go into flames when you crashed?" "Yes ma'm." "Thank you. No further questions. Once Mac sat down, Harm asked for a redirect. "One more question your honor." "Go ahead commander." "Lieutenant if you supposedly used the head, why didn't you just run? "Because I knew that if I did the sergeant would get suspicious and then probably find me and put up a fight." "Thank you. Nothing further. "We will continue tomorrow at 0900. Commander, colonel don't be late. Dismissed."
