Hey there people! Sorry I been on a writing vacation but I been so busy with finals ugh! Lol. Two more finals and then adios sophomore year...junior year here I come...Ahh that's kind of scary lol. Well Tuesday is my last day so I will have a lot of time to finish up "Reggie's Mistakes" which has two more chapters and then I may write another. Well, enjoy the finishing up of "Oh My Love" and please leave feedback!! 3
PS – Thanks to my friend knoodelhed for helping me with this chapter. I had no idea about trials or how to even start and he gave me some very good ideas and tips. Thanks a lot!
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Otto stepped out of the old station wagon. He fixed his black suit and adjusted his black tie. He cringed at the thought of being all dressed up but he cringed even more at the thought that this was his trial day. Ray put his arm around Otto and smiled at him.
Ray – "Don't worry...I have a feeling".
Otto – "For some reason Dad I don't think your feelings are going to be enough".
Ray and Otto walked inside the courtroom and took their places.
Judge – "Otto Mitchell Rocket you are facing charges for negligent homicide for wreck less driving, street racing, and the death of Maurice Juan Rodriguez and Regina Lynn Rocket"?
Otto – "Yes Sir".
The Judge looked over at Otto's lawyer, a retired trooper who attended law school, Kenneth Josephs.
Judge – "Mr. Josephs I call you to the floor".
Kenneth rises and walks to the front of the courtroom.
Kenneth – "Jury, Courtroom, Judge Harrison...when you take a look at Otto Rocket's case you may think at first that he is a reckless teenager who, because of his competitive attitude he decided to race someone on the highway, and caused a horrible accident". "This accident killed his sister and his best friend". "At first I thought those horrible thoughts but after I got a better glance at the case I realized that my client is more then innocent". "I realized that there is some thing very wrong with the case when I reviewed the evidence".
Prosecutor – "Innocent"? "I object"!
Judge H. – "Sustained". "Continue Mr. Josephs".
Kenneth – "Thank you". "As I was saying, as I was reviewing the evidence I realized that by Otto driving as fast as he did he could have actually saved a life"? "Yes that is right". "Otto saved the life of Mr. Samuel Dullard and right now I would like to call Mr. Samuel Dullard to the stand".
The courtroom doors opened and everyone turned to look. Sam walked through the courtroom doors, and surprisingly, with a lot of confidence, he walked to the stand. The judge read him his rights and he sat down.
Kenneth – "Mr. Dullard, I understand you were in the car during the time of the accident and you remained unharmed"?
Sam – "Yes Sir". "I remained unharmed because I was the only one wearing a seatbelt".
Kenneth – "Yes". "Also the person driving the other vehicle hit Otto's car in such a way that it collided with Otto's car on the back side not towards the front". "Correct"?
Sam – "Yes Sir".
Kenneth – "Okay, in your own words, can you please tell me what happened"?
Sam – "Yes Sir". "Otto had just got his license and decided to take him and his friends out driving". "We all got in the car and Otto and I were in the front and Reg and Twister were in the back making out as they always did". "Otto got on the highway and really started to burn rubber on that mustang...when he finally reached 95 mph I started to get a little scared". "I looked over and noticed that there was not a lot of people on the highway so I thought maybe it will be okay". "All of a sudden a very intoxicated man pulled us over...If I remember right he was driving a bright green spider convertible". "The man was challenging Otto and egging him on...telling him that Otto wasn't that fast and that he wanted to challenge him". "Otto accepted the challenge, of course, and they started racing". "Otto only went up 5 mph so he was going 100 but the other guy ha...had...to be going almost 150 mph". "I swear he was so drunk...we...well at the end he started to go so damn fast". "I have no idea how fast he was going but Otto got a little scared at this point and he slowed down his car and looked like he was about to stop when the guy sped up and on purpose pounded Otto right in the back...Otto turned his car around so that the guy's car didn't totally wreck his car...and... it was just horrible...so much...."...
Sam burst into tears. He could not take the pressure anymore. Reliving the moment was just as bad as experiencing it. Kenneth had a lot of compassion for Sam and smiled at him gently.
Kenneth – "It's going to be okay, Son". "You can sit down now".
Sam – "Oh...Okay".
Kenneth – "Now from what you all heard Sam stated that because Otto had to make that sharp swerve to the right he saved Sam's life". "Even though he made a bad decision and that decision took two people's life he, at the end, used his smarts and knew that he had to get out of the way of the car that was coming towards him". "If he did not move then Sam would not be with us today...or even Otto for that matter".
Prosecutor – "I object"! "This is ridiculous"!
Judge – "Sustained".
30 minutes later ... (after many witnesses and stories being told)...
Judge - "Prosecutor you may call your next witness to the stand".
Prosecutor – "I call Mr. Otto Rocket to the stand".
Otto took a deep breath and walked over to the stand. The judge read him his rights and Otto sat down.
Prosecutor – "Now Mr. Rocket...You realize the horrible actions you have done"?
Otto – "Yes Sir".
Prosecutor – "From what I been hearing I think this is ridiculous...I mean you did something wreck less and stupid...you decided to street race someone the first day that you had your license, what were you thinking"?
Otto – "I'm not sure Sir".
Prosecutor –"Not sure"? "Well I really wish you were sure because if you were then your best friend and sister would be alive". "Shame on you"!
Kenneth – "Objection"!
Judge – "Sustained". "Continue prosecutor but please try to be a little more civilized".
Prosecutor – "Okay I'll try". "Anyway... lets go back to your sister and best friend". "Did you have something against them"? "Did you intend for this to happen"?
Otto could not believe what he was hearing. How could someone accuse him of wanting to kill his best friend and sister? That was just crazy. Otto could not even speak because he was so shocked so he just sat there shaking.
Prosecutor – "ANSWER ME NOW"!
Otto – "No, of course not". "I would never do such a thing, I loved both of them very much". "They meant everything to me". "I swear".
Prosecutor – "AND WHO TOLD YOU TO SAY THAT"? "Likely story, punk".
Kenneth – "OBJECTION"! "THIS IS RIDICULOUS".
Judge – "This is very wrong". "Have you no sense of decency, counselor"? "This man lost not only his best friend in the whole wide world, but his big sister who was his strength and refuge". "The information already in your possession already establishes that he was thought a suicide risk". You're this close (holds up thumb and forefinger) -- another instance of unprofessional conduct like that and I will dismiss the charges. And yank your law license."
Prosecutor- "Sorry judge". "That is all".
Otto stepped down from the stand and wiped away a few tears from his eyes. He spotted his dad giving the prosecutor a very hateful look. Otto just looked at his dad and tried to smile but he realized that he could not get a smile out right now if he tried. He just sat down and waited for what was going to happen next.
Judge – "The jury will now make a decision".
The jury got up, as did the other people in the courtroom to get some fresh air. Otto followed his father and lawyer outside.
Otto – "Dad, I cannot believe that they would accuse me of wanting to kill Reggie"? "And Twister"? "I'm just...I don't know".
Ray – "I know son, I know".
Kenneth – "Yes, lawyers like that can get very hard and make up stories like that". "Otto, he was just trying to brake you down but never let him". "You know the truth and that is all that matters".
Otto – "I just hope the truth is enough".
Kenneth – "Don't worry I think it will be".
Kenneth gave Otto a big smile and walked off to talk to someone. After about 35 minutes passed the jury had finally made a decision. Everyone reentered the courtroom and took their places.
Judge – "The court is now in session".
Judge – "The jury has come to a decision that Mr. Otto Mitchell Rocket is...".
Everyone in the courtroom held their breaths and started to shake, especially Otto.
Judge – "Not guilty".
Otto sat there with his mouth open. "Not guilty"? He could not believe his ears. Was he dreaming? Or did he fall asleep in court and was dreaming what he wished would be true? Ray reached over and hugged Otto very tightly. Otto thought the hug felt real so it must have not been a dream.
Ray – "Son, your not guilty"! "Did you hear that"?
Kenneth walked over and patted Otto on the back.
Kenneth – "You did good son". "Congratulations". "I told you I knew it would all be okay".
Ray – "Ken, I don't know how I could thank you". "You're a wonderful lawyer, thank you for making my son a free man". "I'm glad we were on the same page and knew that he was never guilty of anything or a horrible person for that matter".
Kenneth – "Your welcome, Ray". 'I was glad to work for you".
Kenneth walked off and Ray turned to face Otto. He still looked very shocked. Finally Otto stood up and faced his father. Ray turned to give Otto a big smile and Otto gave an even bigger smile in return.
Otto – "Dad lets go home".
Ray just kept on smiling, put his arms around his son and they walked over happier then they had been in weeks.
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Well that's the end. Did you actually think I was going to make Otto guilty? Come on now! Lol. I am going to do an epilogue probably tomorrow and that will be all. PLEASE review and tell me what you thought since this was my last chapter – It will mean a lot to me. Thank you 3