The day of the trial, the air in the courthouse was tense. Alex worked to ready himself and console his worried family. He seemed calm and ready but he couldn't keep his voice from shaking.
"Don't worry so much, mom," he consoled, "I'll be fine. They won't convict me!"
"If you want mom to stop worrying, maybe you should stop worrying so much yourself," Daniel sighed.
"Alex, don't doubt yourself, even for a moment. I know you're scared but we're all here for you! We're all scared, but it's times like these when we HAVE to be a family more than ever," his sister stated.
"For all the good I could do on my end. But at least I can be here for ya'," Nick stated, looking at the bannister separating them.
"You guys are right, I won't give up hope and I won't lose. I can't lose, not with my family supporting me. Not when justice is on my side! I will win, I'll prove my not guilty verdict!" Alex stated confidently.
"All rise. We'll now begin the trial of the People vs. Alexander Wilde, on the charge of first degree murder, Honorable Judge Wolffangs presiding," the bailiff announced, signaling the beginning of the trial.
A tired-looking old wolf in a black cloak came in and sat at the judge's desk.
"Thank you, bailiff. Everyone be seated and we can start this trial. As soon as the defendant's lawyer arrives," he replied, which turned into a growl towards the end.
"I apologize for the confusion, Your Honor, but I have chosen pro ce. To represent myself," Alex stated matter-of-factly.
"Mr. Wilde, do you understand the charges against you?" the judge asked scrutingly.
"I do indeed, Your Honor. However, so confidant in my knowledge of the facts that I believe this is the best option," he stated calmly.
"I wonder… Very well, Mr. Wilde, it is your right to represent yourself if you so choose," the judge sighed.
The judge banged his gavel to begin the trial.
"We'll begin with the prosecution's opening statements," the old wolf declared.
"Yes, Your Honor," the bobcat began, "Video evidence confirmed that on the morning of December 26th at 12:20 am, the defendant's car was caught by surveillance cameras pulling into the Zootopia College of Law. The part of the parking lot he pulled into was close to the victim's office, where he was murdered. We also found paw prints, belonging to the defendant across the office with signs of a struggle. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen. By our count 12, the bullets recovered were all .45 caliber. The defendant had a concealed weapon when he was arrested, that gun has been submitted to evidence. We believe the evidence for this case speaks for itself."
"Pardon me, Your Honor, but I believe it is on the prosecution to establish a motive for the accused. Something they failed to do with their opening statement," Alex stated with a smirk.
"Objection! Your Honor, defense is grasping at straws. This is a case where motive will have to be established as the case proceeds," the prosecutor exclaimed.
"Interesting, so in shorthand, you have no possible motive but you're willing to push this ahead," Alex chuckled, "Also, grasping at straws? I was trying to save everyone time by moving to the acquittal straight away but it seems prosecution wishes to drag this out."
"Mr. Wilde," the judge began, "Your opening statements?"
"Of course, Your Honor. Ladies and gentlemen, I intend to prove that the defendant did not commit any crime, let alone murder, on the morning of December 26th. Without the crucial piece of the puzzle that is motive, the prosecution's allegations already begin to fall apart. Allow me to deconstruct their evidence though. Firstly, that is not the defendant's car in the surveillance imagery submitted to evidence," Alex began.
"Extraordinary claims, defense, is that not the defendant's licence plate number?" the prosecutor asked.
"Indeed, but to prove my claims, the defense calls Ms. Audrey Ramirez to the stand!" Alex declared.
Within a short time, a rather petite but feisty-looking coyote came into the witness stand.
"Ms. Ramirez, state your name and occupation for the court's records, por favor," Alex asked.
"Si, my name is Audrey Ramirez and me and mi papi own and operate our own car garage, y'know for maintenance and stuff," she replied nonchalantly.
"Ms. Ramirez, how long has Mr. Wilde been coming into your shop?" Alex asked.
She gave him a quizzical look and sighed before silently deciding to just cooperate.
"Three years, two months, one week, and six days," she replied.
"That's awfully precise," Alex stated.
"Si, papi insists that we record dates and times for every single visit of each customer," she explained in a spunky voice.
"Could you or your papi tell the court what the vehicle in this image is?" Alex asked.
"Si, that's a 2006 Ford Focus," she declared nonchalantly.
"Is it the defendant's car?" he asked.
"De ninguna manera, not a chance… Alex Wilde drives a sweet 1985 Cadillac Eldorado, not some pedazo de mierda," she stated, "The only thing that matches his car on this image is the licence plate number. Ay pasuda, how can you think this is his car just on licence plate? You guys do know that there is such a thing as fake plates, correcto?"
"Thank you witness," Alex stated, suppressing a laugh.
"You're absolutely certain that this car is a Ford Focus?" the prosecution asked.
"Me and papi are automobile enthusiasts and experts. That is absolutely, 100%, unmistakably a Ford Focus," she stated with unwavering certainty.
"And how do you know he isn't the one driving it? He could've rented it or bought a third car on his salary," the prosecutor pointed out.
"Are you loco, amigo? Look at that thing, anyone who could afford something better would be embarrassed to be driving around in it. Not as embarrassed as drivin' a toaster or a skittle but it's still embarrassing. Besides, why do you think he is? 'Cause that's his licence plate number, right? If he bought it or rented it, it would have a different plate and what would be the point?" she explained.
"Prosecution relents on this cross-examination," the prosecutor sighed.
"Geniel! Can I go now? Mi hermana is goin' for the title today an' I don't wanna' miss her big match!" Audrey exclaimed.
"Witness is dismissed," the judge replied.
"Now to address the supposed murder weapon. The gun the defendant carries, can the prosecution tell the court the maximum capacity and caliber of that gun?" Alex asked.
At that the prosecutor fell silent.
"It's a .38 caliber derringer with a three-shot revolving clip. You see the inconsistency in the prosecution's claims, Your Honor?" Alex pointed out, "On top of that, shot 12 times, even assuming that there's some mistake about the caliber of the rounds, that's at least four reloads. Who would have time to reload even just four times during a struggle?"
The prosecution seemed to recover from that debilitating blow to their case and began again.
"We still have not addressed the major issue in this case, the reason that the defendant was arrested to begin with. The defendant's pawprints were found all over the office, and claw marks on the desk," the prosecutor exclaimed.
"Even if we don't consider that the defendant keeps his claws well-groomed, the clawmarks are inconsistent with that of a red fox. I received a report this morning that the investigation team found evidence of crime-scene tampering. Latex gloves with the defendant's pawprints on the outside were found in a trash can outside the building, this is an obvious set up," Alex responded.
"How can you prove that!?" the prosecution exclaimed.
"By simply proving the defendant wasn't even in the city at the time of death. The autopsy report said the time of death was 12:20 am correct? Submitted to evidence is a birth-certificate and addendum pages to it," Alex began.
"Objection, relevance!" the prosecutor replied.
"Your Honor, please permit me to continue, this evidence is extremely important. I promise you, hear me out, if you're still not convinced by what I have to say about this particular evidence then you may throw it out and hold me in contempt!" Alex responded.
"Objection is overruled, but I remind the defense to stay on subject while the court considers this case," the judge replied.
"Thank you, You Honor. As I stated, this is extremely important evidence. I ask the court to take notice of the child's time and place of birth, listed at 12:45 am on December 26th in Bunnyburrows. The addendum page lists Alexander Wilde, the defendant, as a chief witness in the birth of one Luke Wilde," Alex stated.
"There's a 25 minute discrepancy between the recorded time of birth and the autopsy report, how do you account for this?" the prosecutor pointed out.
"Are you suggesting the defendant murdered the victim and then somehow went from Zootopia to Bunnyburrows within a 25 minute timespan? That's so ridiculous it's nearly laughable… To prove how ridiculous that accusation is, the defense would like to call our next witness," Alex replied.
"Proceed defense," the judge stated.
"The defense calls Mr. Gideon Grey to the stand," Alex replied.
Again taking the time for the witness to be readied after taking the stand, once again Alex began his examination.
"Witness, please state your name and occupation for the court's records," he asked.
"Sure thing. Name's Gideon Grey an' I'mma baker in Bunnyburrows," the somewhat rotund tod replied cheerfully.
"Witness, you are sworn to tell the truth, so I ask you honestly. Do you make your deliveries yourself?" Alex asked.
"Objection, Your Honor this line of questioning has nothing to do with the case," the prosecutor stated harshly.
"I beg to differ, this question as well as the follow-ups are very important to establishing an alibi for the defendant," Alex replied calmly.
"Sustained, get to the point Mr. Wilde," the judge sighed.
"Mr. Grey, in your extensive experience what is the average drive time between Bunnyburrows and Zootopia?" Alex asked.
"Usually 'bout three hours. Might be able t' cut that time in half if th' roads're clear, ya' don' hit no reds, an' yer really haulin' a-... uh, tail…" Gideon replied.
"About three hours?" the prosecution asked.
"Roughly, all depends on traffic. If traffic's gonna' be a pain in the petitutie, it'll take ya' longer, if it ain', y'might shave a few minutes off," Gideon affirmed.
"I ask the witness how you know so much about the drive times between Zootopia and Bunnyburrows," the prosecutor asked.
"Well sir, I reckon tha's what Mr. Wilde 'as gettin' at earlier. So I'll tell ya' what I 'as gonna' tell th' court anyways. I run a bakery in Bunnyburrows an' occasionally I get orders from Zootopia. Since i's jus' me runnin' tha' bakery, I gots to run alla mah deliveries m'self. Y'see where this's goin'? I drive m' delivery van all th' way t' Zootopia, back an' forth," Gideon explained.
"One last question for the witness, Your Honor," Alex requested.
"Proceed," the judge replied.
"Mr. Grey, the court must acknowledge that your name is also on the witness addendum to the birth certificate of one Luke Wilde. Can you attest to the presence of the defendant for that event?" Alex asked.
"Without a doubt," Gideon replied.
"You're sure?" the judge asked.
"Absolutely, Yer Honor, Alexander Wilde 'as there at the birth of his nephew, Luke Wilde. I 'as fourth t' hol' th' li'l feller, not countin' 'is ma an' pa, Alex 'as third so when I gots t' hold 'im, th' kiddo got passed direct from Alex t' me," the tod recounted.
"Defense rests, Your Honor," Alex stated confidently.
"Prosecution rests, Your Honor," the prosecutor sighed.
The jury broke to decide their verdict. Once again, Alex seemed calm on the outside but a keen eye could tell he was a shivering mess of nerves. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, he felt a paw on his back and when he turned to see who it was, caught sight of his wife's sapphire blue eyes staring back at him, a nervous smile on her face. The jury came back in at a steady pace.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked.
"Indeed we have, Your Honor. We the jury find the defendant, Alexander Wilde not guilty," the jury liaison answered.
With a sharp clatter from the gavel the case was adjourned. Alex was allowed to walk out of the courthouse a free man. Upon leaving the courthouse, he let out a ragged breath of relief he didn't even realize he was holding. Lucielle clamped on snugly and lovingly to her husband's arm and refused to part.
"Let's go home, sweetheart. A romantic evening at home sounds like a wonderful idea right now," he stated.
As he said this he pulled his arm free and put it around her. But this wasn't enough for him, in one quick movement he hefted the mink off the ground and carried her as if they were newlyweds, much to her surprise and enjoyment.
