Unison Of The Turnabout - Part 3
March 19, 9:48AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby
"Oh my... von Karma, you say...?" Iris said in complete awe.
"Yes... The god of prosecuting. The man hasn't lost a case in his 50 year career." Edgeworth stated in an anxious tone. Manfred von Karma... He won't be an easy opponent to face, he knows that much. The man is perfect in every way.
While Edgeworth had almost a decade's worth of experience himself, he and von Karma aren't even remotely on the same level. How was he supposed to beat someone who's been prosecuting for longer than he's been alive?
Iris, noticing the apprehensive look on Edgeworth's face, looked down in sadness. "Oh, it's all over isn't it...?"
Ema in a re-assuring tone said... "C'mon, Daddy! You've got to keep a brave face, for Ms. Iris's sake!" Edgeworth looked at his daughter and smiled.
"Yes... You're right. I apologize."
"Big sis!" A voice called. Edgeworth, Iris and Ema turned to look and the voice's owner, which was none other than Pearl Fey. Following behind her was Phoenix Wright.
"Oh, Pearly... You really came. And Phoenix too..." Iris said feeling slightly happier. Pearl flashed her a big smile.
"Of course I did, big sis! I was really worried about you, you know."
"You wouldn't believe how early she woke me up so we could come here..." Phoenix said, flashing a sheepish smile while scratching the back of his head.
"Where's Mother? And Mystic Maya?" Iris inquired, noticing that neither of the mentioned two were here.
"Ah... Maya had to stay behind to train the Acolytes. Morgan is staying behind to help, even though Maya insisted she goes." Phoenix stated. Iris looked slightly sad at that.
"Oh... I see." She said sadly. Edgeworth felt sympathy and annoyance at the same time. Her own daughter is on trial, and yet even given the option to come watch she chose to stay behind... He supposes it is duty to the Master Of Kurain or something like that but still, he can't help but disapprove of this.
"...It's almost time, isn't it?" Pearl said in a serious tone.
"...Yeah. It is." Ema said in equal seriousness. Iris looked down at the ground in fear.
"I... I'm scared..." Iris murmured. Phoenix placed a re-assuring hand on her shoulder.
"Not to worry. Miles will prove you innocent. I know he will." Phoenix stated. Edgeworth nodded in agreement.
"I will do my best to find the truth behind this case, you can count on that." Edgeworth declared. Iris only nodded meekly in response.
"Mr. Edgeworth!" The bailiff called from the door. "The trial is about to commence. Please make your way to the courtroom." Edgeworth nodded at the bailiff and prepared himself. Ema jumped to his side.
"Ready to go, Daddy?" She asked. Edgeworth nodded determinedly.
"Yes. Let's proceed."
March 19, 10:00AM
District Court
Courtroom No.2
The courtroom was filled with the sound of the gallery chattering before it was silenced by the banging of a gavel. "Order! Court is now in session for the trial of Iris Fey." The Judge declared.
"(Hm, this Judge... He's different from the one that usually presides over my trials...)" Edgeworth noted. This Judge was slightly different. He looked similar to the Judge he was used to, he wasn't bald and his beard was more of the color blonde.
"Now then, are the defense and prosecution prepared?" He inquired. Edgeworth nodded.
"The defense is prepared, Your Honor." Edgeworth declared.
"Ah... You're Mr. Edgeworth, are you not?" The Judge asked. "I've heard quite a bit about you from my brother."
"(Brother...? Does he mean the other Judge...? Well, it would certainly make sense.)"
"You've never defended in one of my trials before. But from what I've heard, you're quite the promising defense attorney." He stated. Edgeworth bowed at the remark.
"Thank you, Your Honor. I promise not to disappoint."
Ema giggled, "Wow, didn't know you were so prideful, Daddy."
"Oh? Mr. Edgeworth, who is that young girl by your side?"
"Ah, this is my daughter, Ema. She will be assisting me in this trial." Edgeworth replied.
"Will she, now...?" He said curiously. Edgeworth gave a serious look and said...
"I trust her presence won't be a hindrance to these proceedings?" The Judge flinched a little bit and then said...
"N-No! Of course not! No hindrance at all!" He responded. Edgeworth gave a confused look but Ema said...
"It's the power of your glare, Daddy. It's powerful enough to put someone in the hospital!" Ema chuckled. Edgeworth looked at her dumbfounded and said.
"(Is it really that bad...? But this is just how I look...)" The Judge cleared his throat, and look at the prosecution's side.
"Now, is the prosecution prepared?"
Standing across the courtroom from Edgeworth was a much older man, wearing a blue suit and a cravat similar to his own. He had a stern look, and he had his arms crossed in focus.
The Judge did not receive any response from him at first, causing the Judge to get annoyed. "Mr. von Karma! I can't say I care for being ignored. I asked if the prosecution is ready."
Suddenly, von Karma snapped his fingers in such a way that it silenced the entire courtroom. He then shot the Judge a glare. "What rubbish. Do you think I would be standing here were I not absolutely prepared? What a foolish question."
"Y-Yes! Indeed! My deepest apologies, sir!" The Judge said nervously. Edgeworth crinkled his brow in distaste.
"(He's already got the Judge in fear...)"
"Very well, Mr. von Karma. Please give us your opening statement."
"This is hardly a case even worth considering, Your Honor." von Karma stated simply. "The accused and the victim were locked in a room together. Nobody else but the accused and the victim were inside the room at the moment of death." von Karma snaps his fingers. "The conclusion is nothing short of obvious. The defendant has one word written all over her: Guilty!"
"Hmm... Yes..." The Judge stated. "What is the defense's position?" The Judge asked.
"The defense stands by a plea of 'Not Guilty' Your Honor." Edgeworth declared. The Judge nodded in response, and then at that moment a tutting can be heard.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." von Karma tutted while waving his index finger. "You chose poorly, Miles Edgeworth... 10 minutes. That is how much time I will give for the defense to change it's plea. Make no mistake, you will inevitably shift to a plea of 'Justified Self-Defense'!" He declared.
"(Well, someone certainly has a flare for the dramatic...)" Edgeworth thought sarcastically.
"'Justified Self-Defense'?" Ema mused curiously.
"A plea reserved for when one unintentionally kills another in defense of themself." Edgeworth explained. "We could very easily make a solid case if we were to plead as such."
"But... That's basically saying that you DID kill someone." Ema replied.
"Exactly. Hence, we shall be standing by a plea of 'Not Guilty'." von Karma, overhearing Edgeworth's stance, simply chuckles and says...
"Hehehe... Such a shame, Miles Edgeworth. To think you'd lose your perfect record to a case like this..." von Karma said smugly. "But then again... You are the son of Robert Wright... and Gregory Edgeworth at that."
Edgeworth narrowed his eyes at him and said... "Unlike you von Karma, both my fathers and myself have no interest in something as meaningless as 'victory'. All I care about... is the truth."
Ema patted him on the back. "Well said, Daddy."
von Karma simply tutted at him whilst waving his right index finger at him again. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... I will show you why such idealistic nonsense has no place in this court." von Karma proceeds to snap his fingers. "I will now call my first witness. Detective Gumshoe, take the stand."
"(So Gumshoe is the first witness... Very well. I best brace myself.)"
As ordered, Gumshoe approaches the stand, with a very nervous look on his face. "Witness, tell this court your name and profession." von Karma asked. Although, with his tone of voice it was much more akin to a 'demand'.
"Names Dick Gumshoe. I'm a Detective down at the local precinct." He stated.
"Detective. Provide the court with the details of the murder. Now!" He ordered.
"Y-Yes sir! Um, if everyone would please take a look at this diagram..." Gumshoe lays down a detailed diagram of the channeling chamber. "The Channeling Chamber has no windows and the door was locked shut. At the time of the crime, only the defendant and victim were present at the scene."
"What were they doing in there?" The Judge inquired. Gumshoe started to look a bit uncomfortable. Understandable, given that the answer is something that most people would find absurd.
"They were, um... channeling a spirit, sir."
The Judge looked absolutely bemused. "Ch-Channeling a spirit? I-I'm not sure what to say aboot that..."
"(Worry not, Your Honor. As a child, I was absolutely dumbfounded at the concept.)" Edgeworth thought.
Gumshoe cleared his throat and continued, "Anyway, a few minutes after the channeling began, gunshots were heard coming from inside the room, sir. A few of the witnesses broke down the door, and rushed into the room."
"Ah, and that's when they found that the victim was already dead, eh?" The Judge commented. "I must say, this is probably one of the most open and shut cases I've ever seen. I could hand down a verdict right now."
"And you would be right to do so. I hardly see any room for deliberation." von Karma agreed.
OBJECTION!
"I abhor such haste and rash judgement." Edgeworth interjected. "We should hear all the facts and testimony before we pass judgement."
The Judge gave Edgeworth an annoyed look. "Hmm... Mr. Edgeworth, I'm not sure I like your tone, or your choice of words..."
"(And I'm not sure I like your rash desire to render a verdict so early.)" He thought sarcastically.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... If you wish to dig your own hole, then I welcome you to do so." von Karma snaps his fingers. "With that, I motion to establish the victim's cause of death." He turns to Gumshoe. "Gumshoe!"
Gumshoe jumps back a bit in surprise, "Y-Yes sir?!"
"Testimony. Cause of death. Now!" He demanded.
"Y-Yes sir!"
-WITNESS TESTIMONY-
-Cause Of Death-
"The direct cause of death was a pistol shot to the forehead, sir."
"The shot was fired from point-blank range."
"But before the victim was shot, sir, he was stabbed in the chest."
"The wound was very severe, but not enough to cause instantaneous death."
"The murderer used the pistol to finish off the victim after the stabbing."
-END OF TESTIMONY-
"Hmm... So the victim was stabbed after being shot, eh? I'm not sure how I feel about that..." The Judge mused. He turns to Edgeworth. "Mr. Edgeworth, you may begin your questioning of the witness."
"Yes, Your Honor." Edgeworth said whilst bowing.
"So, what's the plan of attack?" Ema inquired.
"There don't seem to be any direct contradictions, so I think I should press the detective for more information for now."
-CROSS-EXAMINATION-
-Cause Of Death-
"The direct cause of death was a pistol shot to the forehead, sir."
HOLD IT!
"About the murder weapon, Detective... Do you know to whom this pistol belonged?"
"Ah well, it was the victim's." Gumshoe answered. Edgeworth raised an eyebrow.
"The victim's...? Why on earth would he have-"
OBJECTION!
A deep, menacing voice called out across the courtroom. The voice belonged to Manfred von Karma, who had his arms crossed in irritation. "'Why did the victim have a gun with him...' Irrelevant." von Karma said dismissively. "The point you are missing here, dear Edgeworth, are whose fingerprints are on this weapon." Manfred snaps his fingers. "Gumshoe! Enlighten the court as to the fingerprints on the weapon!"
"Yes Detective, I would like an explanation aboot that, eh?"
Gumshoe look disappointed, probably because he didn't want to do this to Edgeworth but he didn't really have a choice. "Along with the victim's prints, Your Honor, the defendant, Iris Fey's prints, were found on the grip."
The detective's words stirred the gallery which required the Judge to silence them with his pounding gavel. "Hmm. So the defendant's prints were on the weapon... I'm not sure how I feel about that."
"Is this Judge sure about how he feels about anything, I wonder?" Ema commented whilst tapping her chin.
"(Probably not... Not to mention I walked into von Karma's trap right there...)"
Gumshoe continued, "The shot was fired from point-blank range."
HOLD IT!
"Point blank, you say? Would you mind elaborating on the distance of that?"
"It's anywhere between 12 to 20 inches away, sir." Gumshoe responded
"So, since you were able to conclude that the victim was shot at point blank range, I assume you found gunpowder burns around the wounds?"
"Yeah, that's right pal."
"Ah, gunpowder burn..." Ema mused while writing in her notes. "Anything that is shot at point blank range leaves a burn around the bullet hole. Gunpowder exploding is what makes a bullet fire, and that can get really hot. That's how you know if a shot was fired at point blank range!"
The Judge looked at Ema, impressed. "That's... some very impressive knowledge, young lady! And at your young age, no less..."
Ema giggled and slid down her glasses. "Ema Edgeworth, future forensic investigator!"
Miles couldn't help but crack a smile at that. "(They grow up so fast...)"
Gumshoe continued, "But before the victim was shot, sir, he was stabbed in the chest."
HOLD IT!
"Remind me what he was stabbed with again, Detective."
"A fruit knife, sir." Gumshoe said whilst presenting the fruit knife.
"And who did the knife belong to, detective?" The Judge asked.
"It seems to belong to the Feys, sir." Gumshoe frowned again. "And of course, Iris Fey's fingerprints are all over it..."
"Hm... All over it, eh...?"
Edgeworth crinkled his brow in frustration. "(Nrgh... This is getting worse by the second...)"
von Karma tutted and waved his right index finger at Edgeworth. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... So, what will you do now, Miles Edgeworth?"
"(Grrr...)" Edgeworth growled. This was definitely NOT looking good...
Gumshoe continued, "The wound was very severe, but not enough to cause instantaneous death."
HOLD IT!
"How severe was the wound, detective?"
"Had it been half an inch more to the right, it would've hit the victim's heart. After an attack like that, it's impossible to fight back, let alone stand." Gumshoe stated.
"Hmm... I see... Continue your testimony, detective."
"The murderer used the pistol to finish off the victim after the stabbing."
HOLD IT!
"Are you sure he was stabbed first, then shot?"
Gumshoe nodded in response. "Yep. As sure as can be. One look at the wounds and you'd come to the same conclusion."
"Hm, I see." Edgeworth mused. "(That question didn't really get me anywhere...)"
The Judge suddenly pounded his gavel. "Enough. We have clearly established the circumstances of the victim's death."
Gumshoe brought out the murder weapons. "Here are the two murder weapons, Your Honor."
The Judge nodded. "Very well. The court accepts them."
von Karma then spoke up, "The date and time of death was March 16, at 3:15PM. Eyewitnesses have claimed to have heard a gunshot at this time."
The Judge stroked his beard. "And the two murder weapons, both bearing the fingerprints of the defendant... Honestly speaking, this is quite an open and shut case. I could declare a verdict right now."
von Karma snapped his fingers triumphantly. "Hmph. Naturally."
"Oh no, this has just gone from bad to worse Daddy..." Ema commented anxiously. She was right. All of the evidence presented so far is decisive and they've only heard one testimony so far.
"Well, Mr. Edgeworth?" The Judge said, addressing Edgeworth.
Miles turned to him nervously. "Y-Yes, Your Honor?"
"Even in the face of all of this, do you still intend to plead 'Not Guilty'?" He inquired. "At this point, it is safe to say that if you do not adjust your plea, you stand to lose."
Edgeworth clenched his teeth, his fingers gripping into the wood of the defense's bench. SHOULD he change his plea...? It may be the only way to save Iris now... But...
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." von Karma tutted, smirking. "I told you, did I not, Miles Edgeworth? Your idealistic babble has no place in this courtroom."
The Judge asked again, "Well, Mr. Edgeworth? Will you change your plea to 'Justified Self-defense'? Because now would be the time to do so."
"(I have to think this through... This is a big decision...!)"
Ema tugged at her father's sleeve. "Don't do it, Daddy! If we plead Justified-Self Defense, then... then..." She pleaded. But to her surprise, Edgeworth patted her on the head.
"It'd be confessing to murder, I know. After the trial, Iris's life would be ruined and she'd be branded a murderer." Edgeworth adjusted his cravat. "I am afraid I cannot allow that." Ema smiled happily at that.
"Thank you, Daddy. You're the best!"
Edgeworth slammed his desk. "Your Honor!"
"Have you reached a conclusion, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"The defense will not change its stance." Edgeworth pointed vigorously. "We will accept nothing short of a full acquittal!"
Suddenly, a finger snap. And then silence in the courtroom. Edgeworth looked towards von Karma, who had overly obnoxious smug look on his face. "...So. You have sealed your fate, Miles Edgeworth. So be it." von Karma turned and pointed at the detective. "Gumshoe!"
"Y-Yes sir?!" Gumshoe said whilst jumping in surprise.
"Present the final portion of your testimony. Now!"
"N-Now see here, Mr. von Karma! Proceedings are run by-"
Another finger snap is heard. "Wrong. You have only one task. To bang that gavel and say the word 'GUILTY'!"
The Judge flinched. "Y-Yes sir!"
"Gumshoe. Testify about the incriminating evidence. Now!" He demanded.
Well, this is it. His last chance to change to Justified Self-Defense. And he turned it down. There's no going back now.
It's time for the true battle to begin.
To the people who are following this story, have no fear, I am not dead. I've just been busy with other things lately, but hey, I got around to this eventually.
This chapter is considerably shorter than previous ones (the previous ones clocked up to almost 8,000 words or more) but that's because I haven't posted on this story for a while so I decided to make this chapter shorter. Let me know if you prefer this length of chapter or the other one.
And uh, leave a review, I guess.