1306 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
"The prosecution may call its first witness," says Captain Krennick.
"We call Anthony Dinozzo to the stand," says Commander Sturgis Turner, standing up.
Dinozzo, dressed in a neatly pressed black suit, rises up and walks to the witness stand. He looms around the courtroom, which is packed with reporters and other observors.
The court bailiff, a Navy petty officer, approaches the NCIS agent with a copy of the Holy Bible. Tony places his right hand on the Bible.
"State your name for the records," commands the judge.
"Anthony Dinnozzo," replies the witness. "You can call me Tony."
"So noted. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God?"
"I do."
Turner approaches the first witness.
"Tell the court a brief summary of your career in law enforcement," says the Navy commander. "I joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1992 after graduating college," says Tony. "I made detective in 1995, and worked homicide for a couple of years. In 2001 I left the Baltimore PD and joined NCIS."
"That would be the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, right?"
"Right."
AJ Chegwidden takes notes as Sturgis interviews Tony.
"How many homicide cases have you worked on?" asks Sturgis.
"About a dozen, I think," replies the NCIS agent. "One of the agents I was working with was murdered about two months ago by this terrorist and..."
"Were you working for ther Baltimore PD as of October 31, 1997?"
"Yes. I was a homicide detective then."
"Were you assigned to investigate the murders at the Double Diamond Club that night?"
"Yeah, just like I said in the first trial."
"What did you find there, Mr. Dinozzo?"
"Six bodies were found. Witnesses said that a man shot at them with an automatic weapon of some sort."
"And these are the names of the victims, right?" Sturgis shows Tony a report.
"Yes."
"People's exhibit one, a police report on the deceased."
"So noted," says Captain Krennick.
"What did you find out about the victims?"
"Three of them had prior convictions for drug posession, and one of them, Dan Milk, was currently under investigation when he was killed. We recovered an H&K MP5 from the scene and sent it to forensics. We also interviewed some witnesses, asking them about what happened."
"And how did you find the actual shooter?"
"We got a tip that some sailor from the Navy had carried out the hit for them," says Dinozzo. "They claimed to receive their goods from some persons in the Navy, and we notified the NCIS. That was when I first met Jethro Gibbs. We interviewed some sailors working at the nearby Navy base in Annapolis, including Mr. Parker over there. Afrter showing photographs to our informant, we went ahead and arrested David Parker."
"Was there anything else that led you to believe that Mr. Parker was involved?" asks the commander.
"We know that Parker handled munitions-his service recoerd stated he was a munitions handler. His assignment at the time was loading munitions on board ships. He clearly had the means to smuggle in drugs. And most importantly, he lied about where he was. He stated he was on base Halloween night, but a gate guard told me he had left that afternoon."
"Thank you, Mr. Dinozzo," says Sturgis. "No further questions at this time."
"You may cross-examine," says Captain Krennick.
"Mr. Dinozzo," says AJ Chegwidden, standing up and approaching the witness, "You had other leads beside Mr. Parker, correct?"
"We know more than one person's involved," says Dinozzo. "A man named Briggs is serving a life sentence for conspiracy, if I recall."
"Biggs," says the retired JAG. "His name was Biggs. What about other leads?"
"Our informant told us a sailor was involkved. He later identified the sailor and we then arrested him."
"And your informant-did he have a criminal record?"
"Well, yeah. He was convicted of drug charges, I think."
"And what about the fingerprint evidence?"
"We just submitted it to the fingerprint analyst," says Dinozzo. "We wanted an honest analysis."
"As it turned out, his analysis wasn't honest at all."
"Objection, your Honor," says Commander Meg Austin, standing up. "Defense counsel is testifying."
"I am simply stating what has already been established as fact," says AJ. "Stewart Connor did in fact plead guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice. The transcripts from the first trial showed that Mr. Connor testiLIED in the trial. It is because of that that we are here today, arguing over my client's fate."
"Objection overruled," says Krennick.
"Mr. Dinozzo, did the fingerprint analysis come in after the arrest?" asks AJ.
"Yes," admits the NCIS agent.
"Isn't it possible that there was pressure from the Baltimore PD for Stewart Connor to report a definite match despite what the actual results were?"
"Objection," says Meg. "Mr. Dinozzo is in no position to testify as to what Mr. Connor was thinking."
"I was asking if the police had anything to do with the framing of my client," says AJ.
"Sustained," says Krennick.
"Tell us why you left the Baltimore PD."
"i was looking for better opportunities, I guess."
"You joined NCIS six months after leaving the Baltimore PD. Are you familair with the Don Burkett case?"
"Objection," says Sturgis.
"This has to do with the credibility of the witness," says AJ.
"Better get to the point," says Captain Krennick.
"Donald Peter Burkett won a settlement from the city of Baltimore for a lawsuit related to assault. He had sued the city for assault due to a beating while in police custody. You were the arresting officer, right?"
"Yeah," says Dinozzo. "I remember being questioned by internal affairs and by an attorney. I certainly did not beat him while in custody, if that was what you were insinuating."
"You stated to internal affairs that you reported seeing bruises. But you never came forward for two days, until Mr. Burkett made the complaint."
"I never witnessed any assault. It was not as if he had to be hospitalized."
"The officer weho was fired over that incident had similar accusations against him."
"That was what they were," says Tony. "Accusations."
"The fact is, you never bothered to check out other leads, either the first time or the second time around."
"Objection," says Meg.
"Sustained," says Krennick.
"No further questions," says AJ.
"Witness may step down," says the judge.
Sturgis and Meg watch as Tony steps down from the witness seat and heads out of the JAG courtroom.
oooooooooo
1614 ZULU
"At the time I was stationed at the Naval Base in Annapolis as a guard," says Dylan Crane. "I was stationed there during the first trial, and in 2000 I was discharged and I accepted a position in the Annapolis police."
"Were you familar with Petty Officer Parker?" asks Meg.
"Sure. I would see him whenever he would leave on weekends or evenings. He was on shore leave quite a bit. He often left in civilian clothes."
"Were you on gate duty on October 31, 1997?"
"Yeah, I was there all night. I did see Petty Officer Parker leave sometime around sunset. Later that evening, he came back."
"No further questions."
AJ Chegwidden rises up and appraoches Crane.
"You stated you were at the gate at the Annpolis Naval Station all night, right?" asks the defense attorney.
"Yeah."
"According to the transcripts of the first trial, you stated that you got off at 1900 hours."
"I did?" asks the witness.
"It says right here," says AJ, showing him the transcripts of Petty Officer Parker's first court-martial. "Your name is Dylan Crane, right?"
"Yeah," says Crane. "I guess I did get off at 1900 that evening."
"Did you see Petty Officer Parker's picture in the news after he was arrested?"
"Of course I did. It was big news at the time."
"Then is it possible you thought you saw Petty Officer Parker leave that night when in fact you did not?"
"I ...I don't know."
"You stated just a minute ago you were posted at the gate all night, when in fact you testified otherwise at the first trial. Which one was it?"
"I don't know," says Dylan Crane.
"You got it mixed up, didn't you?"
"I guess so."
"No further questions."
"Witness may step down," says Captain Krennick.
ooooooooooooo
DAY 34
1350 ZULU
"Mr. Scottson, where were you on October 31, 1997?" asks Sturgis.
"Out on the street, near the Double Diamond club," says James Scottson.
"What did you know about the Double Diamond Club?"
"it was a nightclub. It was known as a hangout for drug dealers. The guy who owned it was the leader of a drug gang."
"How do you know?"
"I heard things on the street."
"What did you see and hear that night of October 31st?"
"I was sitting on the sidewalk at the corner away from the club. I heard gunshots and screams. I looked and then saw this man coming from the direction of the club. He had a gun in his hand. He then got inside a blue Cadillac. I told this to the police when they came."
"No further questions."
"Mr. Scottson," says AJ, "you were homeless at the time, right?"
"I was going through some hard times, I guess."
"Like drug addiction?"
"Yeah, I was shooting heroin. I got clean since then and startedf to rebuild. It's been a long struggle."
"Were you high on heroin at the time?"
"I don't know."
"But you were shooting up regularly, right?"
"Yeah."
"According to this police report submitted by the prosecution, the gun used in the murders was recovered inside the club. Take a look."
"Maybe he was holding another gun when he ran right by me."
"Or maybe you were too drugged out."
"Objection," says Sturgis.
"Overruled," replies Krennick.
ooooooooooo
1930 ZULU
AJ CHEGWIDDEN'S OFFICE
AJ Chegwidden is back in his office after Capotain Krennick has ordered a recess for the court. He looks at the mail he received. A lot of letters to him were from people who support David Parker.
He reads one particular letter.
oooooooooo
2015 ZULU
Special Agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Timothy McGee are inside Chegwidden's office. Meg had joined them, when Gibbs informed her of the nature of this investigation.
"Thanks for reporting this," says Gibbs. "We'll find out whio did this."
"This has no place in our justice system," says AJ.
McGee takes another look at the letter. It reads
Dear Mr. Chegwiden
I am a concerned citizen outraged at the frameup of Davey Parker.
Ill kill those who are trying to raleroad him to prison again. Meet me at the Lincoln Memorial tonite at 11:00. Ill do it for $5000