Chapter 9
Another catch pole entered the room and cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, but judge Bone asks if Miss Austen is ready to go on with the hearing."
"I'm alright." Kate told him. "I'll be ready in a minute."
"I'll be waiting outside until I can make my testimony and then I'll stay in the courtroom. I will always be with you. If you're not feeling well just say so. They will go and get me. Nobody can deny you to see a doctor," Jack reassured Kate.
"Thank you. For everything," Kate answered and gave Jack a gentle kiss before she let herself being taken back to the courtroom by two policemen.
McKenzie stood up and went to Kate who was sitting in the witness stand again.
"Miss Austen, you told us that Mr. Jansen nearly beat your mother to death and that he molested you. He made your life a living hell."
"I'm appealing!" Turner said. "Would Mr. McKenzie be so kind and ask my client a question?"
"Mr. Turner do you have a question for Ms. Austen?" the judge asked.
"Yes, I have. Miss Austen, did you hate Wayne Jansen? "
Kate took a deep breath. She hadn't expected this question.
"Yes, I hated Wayne."
"Did you hate him so much that you wanted to kill him?"
"I wished he were dead every day. But no, I didn't want to kill him. I didn't want to be a murderer."
"But you did kill him. Do you regret it?"
"Yes, I do." Kate said without hesitation. McKenzie looked at her unbelievingly.
"When Wayne was dead my mother lost all living will. She wasn't that old and cancer can be treated very well nowadays. But she just gave up, she wanted to die. And the reason was that I killed the person she loved most. Wayne didn't deserve it, but he was her world. So yes, I regret killing Wayne."
McKenzie was rattled for a second by Kate's unexpected answer, but he soon regained his composure.
"Alright. Let's talk about Mr. Brennan." Kate swallowed when the state attorney mentioned Tom's name. "You decided to break a police brigade although you knew that the police men would shoot at you and Mr. Brennan. You willingly risked Tom Brennan's life, is this correct?"
"I thought they would shoot at the tires," Kate answered her eyes filling with tears again. "I should have turned myself in. I would have done it if I had known what would happen." Most jury members looked with pity at Kate and some started to look at the state attorney disapprovingly.
"I'm confused Miss Austen. Didn't you tell the court you asked Mr. Brennan to leave the car? Why did you do that, if you didn't think he was in any danger?"
"I didn't want him to get in trouble because he was helping a fugitive," Kate answered.
"Was that really the only reason Miss Austen?" McKenzie asked.
"My client already answered your question Mr. McKenzie. Miss Austen didn't endanger Mr. Brennan on purpose or negligent. She attended her due diligence by asking Mr. Brennan to leave the car. Had the officers done the same instead of shooting at a person who – to their knowledge – could have been a hostage Mr. Brennan would not be dead today," Turner stated.
"I'm appealing." McKenzie protested. "The officer who shot Tom Brennan isn't accused today."
"Mr. Turner please stay with this case," Judge Bone warned.
"Yes, sir. I retract this statement."
"Mr. McKenzie, do you have more questions for Miss Austen?" Bone asked.
"Yes, I have. Miss Austen, you admitted to have robbed a bank. You told the court that you didn't want anybody to get hurt. How did you plan to make sure of that? Could you be sure, that your accomplices wouldn't hurt anybody? "
"I think I made that sure very effective Mr. McKenzie," Kate answered. Some people laughed or nodded accepting at Kate.
The state attorney frowned. "Do you want to say you planned to shoot your allies?"
"No, I didn't, because I thought they would stick to our deal. But when they didn't I made sure none of the hostages would get hurt," Kate answered.
"I don't have questions at Miss Austen at the moment," McKenzie said.
"Mr. Turner?" the judge asked.
"I don't have questions sir."
"Then I adjourn the hearing for two hours. We will meet again at 13.30."