It's official: I got desperate for this story. I actually went around school asking for help from the teachers. Wow, that's pathetic. Well, I asked my social studies teacher, then the 6th grade social studies teacher because he teaches mock trial! I didn't get any decent answers until my English class. We had to learn how to write a decent essay, so we did a m u r d e r trial example. M.C. was the m u r d e rer, K.C. was the defense attorney, A.B. was the prosecutor, and R.C. was the victim. I was part of the jury, and was the first one for prosecution. So after class, I went over to my teacher and asked for help. She knew a damn lot about m u r d e r trials, but told me to search over and over again on Ask Jeeves, and here I am, with chapter 5! Be happy!
Now, I'm really sorry I haven't updated, but it's hard! This is going to be one of the last few chapters that needs research. Okay? I can't wait to write the ending, though!
DISCLAIMER: what do you think? I don't own the sites used in the story for research, and I don't own DP. NO!
RATED: T for language and slightly mature themes.
Pretype Start: September 8, 2005, 9:00 pm
Chapter 5
"Witness"
Sam took a deep breath in and got dressed. Several minutes later, at seven, the doorbell rang. She knew it was her attorney; they had discussed this meeting already. She moved swiftly and silently because her parents were still asleep.
She was wearing more appropriate clothing. Perhaps it would convince the judge that she was a modest, normal girl. Her high belly button shirt gave most adults the impression she was a slut. She wore a plain, slightly form-fitting black T-shirt and armwarmers striped with deep purple. Her slightly longer skirt consisted of the usual black, but a plaid cross with purple and maroon. It had some netting, but no more than three centimeters. In total, it reached her knees. She wore vest-plaid stockings in deep purple, maroon, and a little bit of gray, most of it concealed by her dressier, neater boots. Her hair was let down and neatly brushed. She didn't put on makeup.
"Samantha," said the attorney in greeting. Sam, slightly scowling, muttered that her name was Sam. "Whatever."
"Listen," he said, pulling her on to the couch. "Do not speak. I know you're terrible at it, and you're at fault. Only speak if necessary." Sam nodded, and looked deeply into his eyes. He was right. This attorney was good. Although he seemed business-only, he really cared about the outcome of the trial for Sam's sake. No, not for the profit or publicity, but he was really scared for this g i r l.
"Fine. But if it really comes up, I'm speaking," said Sam. The lawyer nodded, and, hand in hand, they headed for the courtroom.
12345678987654321
Sam and Thom (the lawyer) headed up the steps to the courtroom. They fought their way through the media, but eventually were separated. Sam shut her eyes, trying to escape from all the flashing photo lights and reporters in her way.
"What is it like being blamed for manslaughter?"
"What degree are you accused for?"
"Did you really do it, or were you framed?"
"How does it feel to have stolen a life?"
Sam brushed off the last one, grumpily pushing aside the media as she entered the building. She caught up to Thom and they walked in, sitting behind the defendant desk. Sam took a look around the room ("Wow, it's larger than I thought!" she muttered in awe) and saw Danny in the crowd, but not Tucker. Then she remembered; he had the Battle of the Robots State Championships today and couldn't miss it, or he'd be expelled, which was a really stupid reason to be kicked out of school.
Danny waved, his small smile wishing her luck and Sam's stomach flipped with hope. She turned back, a silly grin on her lips; even if she didn't win this, she'd be happy if she got to see him one last time.
The judge, Judge McKay, got into his spot and checked that the jury, the prosecutors, the defendants, and anyone else were there.
"All right, then," he said. "This is a second degree m u r d e r trial. I take in all evidence and every word, as this is a life or death matter."
In that moment, Sam felt like total crap; she never did anything, and here she was defending herself for a crime she didn't do!
"I will speculate a lot, unless there is something I believe needless to go in to. I want this done with well, no controversies." With this, the procedure began.
Strangely enough, the first witness was in the crowd, and not involved at all. He could see this coming, but wasn't really expecting it to really happen. Danny Fenton was standing as a witness, and feeling extremely nervous, trying to tell Sam silently that no matter what happened, he didn't mean any harm.
"Judge, I would like permission to treat Mr. Fenton as a hostile witness," said the opposing lawyer. Thom dropped his head on the desk and immediately, Sam could see she was in deep crap. The judge sighed, but gave permission.
"Thank you, Your Honor." The man walked up to Danny.
"Danny Fenton, where were you the eve of April 18th, between two and three in the morning?"
Oh, crap. He had sworn to tell the truth, but what the hell was he supposed to say? I was flying past the park after beating the crap out of a ghost?
"I was walking around the park to get some things off of my mind." Yeah, that's it.
"Why?"
Danny shrugged. "I was a little stressed. I had a big unit test that would either fail me or ace me, and I was studying all night." The other lawyer was still a little skeptical but continued.
"Did you hear anything in the park?"
"Besides the wind and the leaves, not really."
"A scream?"
"No."
"Any shadows?"
"Yes. One jumped the other, but they were just bushes."
"How are you so sure?"
"I was there at the moment, and the park was still."
"The whole park?"
"Yes."
The lawyer walked around a bit, musing over these answers. He finally came up with a new and different branch.
"How long have you known Samantha Manson?"
"I've known Sam since we were both three; our parents were friends until mine took up ghost-hunting."
"How did she come across to you?"
"Well, she was always nice to people. Sometimes beat up herself for completely stupid reasons like getting an 85 on her finals. She always did dislike conformity, and made it her life goal to avoid it like the plague."
"And how was Paulina?" The lawyer liked this information. It gave him good leads.
"Paulina was everything Sam was against. Shallow, a slut, popular…and the love of every boy in sight."
"You included?" Danny frowned.
"For a while, yes. Not anymore; I have the same opinion Sam does."
"How deep did Sam's dislike for conformity run?"
"Oh, extremely. She literally held petitions against it in middle school. She was actually suspended for causing raucous uproar, but continued petitioning even suspended."
"I see. So she's determined?"
"One would say yes after hearing that little anecdote." Sam smiled; she loved how he had a way with words.
"Hmm…and how deep did Sam's dislike for Paulina run?" Danny didn't want to answer this truthfully, but he had to.
"Considerably deeper. About two fathoms deeper if talking sea depth."
"So would it bring her around to m u r d e r?" asked the lawyer, extremely close to Danny's face, who kept it blank. Sam gasped silently as the comment seared her.
"Objection!" yelled Tom. Judge McKay dismissed it and the lawyer continued with his questioning.
"No. Sam would never wish that on anyone. She believed that everyone, even Paulina, needed a chance to be a decent person."
The lawyer brought out a few papers in a file and dropped it next to Danny. Danny picked it up and saw several papers, a typed account of the interrogation and saw on the third page that they found a knife tucked away in Sam's boot.
"Then why would she keep a knife in her boot?" Danny stayed silent, tears forming in his eyes. He had a bad feeling that Sam would lose. A really bad feeling.
"It says that she's suicidal—she even admitted it, according to these." Sam bit her lip, unsure of the outcome now. Danny gulped and finally was able to speak, forcing himself to be strong.
"She always had an issue with herself. Her parents were too happy for her and despised her way of life. They also pushed a lot of work on her. I guess she was breaking under the pressure."
Sam wrote on the legal pad that was on the desk before her. Will I have to go to the stand? she wrote. She passed it to Thom, who read it and replied with Probably not although that was utter and total bullcrap.
"Well, why don't we ask her?"
Damn, she thought. She got up to the stand unwillingly as Danny slowly dragged his body to his seat. His eyes said it all, wishing Sam luck.
Chapter 5
Chapter 6: will be done, guaranteed.
FINALLY! As I would say in Russian, nah konets! HALLELUJAH! Now, my other updates will include Tarred and Feathered, The Seams, and some other crap. Be happy; I should be studying for my damn midterms.
Everyone, wish me luck in my swim meet tomorrow (1/15)! I'm swimming IM, which I only did once as a replacement in the 2nd heat at the States and came in last. I'm also swimming fly, which I kick major ass in…
My profile will be updated in the near future, if my friend feels up to it…
Hereon in, all stories will be typed up before updates. Sorry, but all of M u r d e r er will be typed up and revised and made pretty before a new update. So that means more quality for you, and quicker updates later.