Jeremy
I've been sitting in Jail for three months since the soonest possible Court date my Lawyer could get was three months after I was arrested.
I wasn't able to make bail because I work at a Fire station in Oregon.
She had argued that I'd stay in Seattle but the Judge denied Bail anyway.
I was led into the Courtroom.
The right side of the gallery was filled with SFD Firefighters.
I sat at the defense table with my Lawyer.
"Are both parties ready for Trial?"
"Prosecution is ready, Your Honor."
"Defense is ready, Your Honor."
"Opening arguments, counselors."
The DA stood up.
"Jeremy Benanti is a serial rapist. And this time he set his sights on Firefighter Lieutenant, Andrea Herrera. A Hero who risks her life everyday. And he decided to make Lieutenant Herrera a victim of rape. Do not let him get away with it. Not again."
She sat down.
My Lawyer, Vanessa stood up.
"Oh, I agree Lieutenant Herrera is a Hero. I have no doubt in my mind that she's not a Hero and does risk her life everyday. But it doesn't mean Lieutenant Herrera was sober that night."
She sat down.
"Does the Prosecution call any witnesses?"
"The Prosecution calls "Andrea Herrera" to the stand."
Andy stood up.
She got on the stand.
"You do need to be swore in. So, please raise your left hand."
Andy raised her left hand.
"Do you solemnly swear or affirm that all statements given here today will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So, help you God."
"I do." She swore the oath.
Andy sat down.
Vanessa stood up.
"We are so sorry to pull you out of your shift at 19. Along with the rest of your crew."
"Are you gonna ask a question or not?"
"How old are you?"
"32."
"You're the youngest Firefighter at 19, right?"
"Yes. Because my Birthday falls after Lieutenant Bishop's."
"So, you've been old enough to drink for..."
"11 years."
"And were you drunk that night?"
"I was a little bit tipsy. I was not drunk."
"Because her father starts throwing things at her if she gets drunk off her ass."
Ruiz laughed at Hughes' joke.
"So, you were a little bit drunk?"
"Not as drunk as him."
"So, would you categorize it as a drunken mistaken?"
"No."
"Did you ever say "No?"
"Do I look like an idiot to you?"
"Is that a "Yes?"
"Yes, it's a yes."
"You didn't fight back?"
"I did. But he managed to overpower me. And I'd appreciate it if you stopped making me relive the worst experience of my life. Actually, the second worst experience of my life."
"What's the first one?"
"I'm not answering that question."
"Your Honor."
"The witness will answer."
"The day I found out my Dad gave up his life for mine."
"He was a former Firefighter Captain, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you resent anybody for that day? Maybe your Sister who let him go up on the roof? Or your ex for not being outside?"
"No. I only hate myself for that day. I resent myself. I will never forgive myself. Because I know I'm the reason he was there. Why he did that."
"Mm."
"My Dad would've kicked his ass."
Bishop laughed.
"Now, do you have any proof that he did rape you?"
"I do."
"Mm."
Andy stood up.
She lifted her shirt up.
A bump was sticking out.
"According to your medical record, you got your tubes tied. To ensure your ex-husband didn't get you pregnant."
"Yes, I did. But after our divorce, I had the surgery reversed."
"Why?"
"I realized I did want to have a baby. But when I was ready. And definitely not like this."
"Did you have a pact with one of your brothers?"
"I did. It was to try celibacy. Because every time I slept with somebody, it ended up screwing up my life."
"No further questions, Your Honor."
The DA stood up.
"Can you just tell us what happened?"
"Um... I did have a couple of Beers and a couple shots of Tequila. So, I was tipsy. I was commiserating with the Station 23 Firefighters since we got shut down. They all left when they realized she shut the Station down after I talked to her. He didn't leave. We were just talking at the Bar. After the Bar closed, we were in the parking lot. We were both too drunk to drive. So, we were gonna get Ubers. We were flirting. Because I was ready to move on from my ex. I told him about the pact. Um... He got pissed when I said I was going home. He turned aggressive and started fighting with me. He managed to overpower me."
"Thank you. No further questions, Your Honor."
"You may step down, Lieutenant Herrera."
She got off the stand.
"Does the prosecution have anymore witnesses?"
"No, Your Honor."
"Does the defense have any witnesses to call?"
"No, Your Honor."
"Closing arguments, Counselors."
The DA was going.
"Lieutenant Herrera is one of his victims. Don't let there be another one. Not ever again."
She sat down.
Vanessa stood up.
"As I said, I have no idea Lieutenant Herrera is a Hero. She outranks my Client."
She looked back at her.
"I call Andrea Herrera back to the stand."
"Ask more questions about this God forsaken--"
"Andy."
She got back on the stand.
"This witness doesn't need to be swore in again."
"I agree."
"Who else knew when you found out?"
"My best friend and my ex."
"Your ex?"
"Yes. He was at Station 19 and in the room at the time. Sullivan and Bishop said they would support me with whatever I decided to do."
"And what did you decide to do?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Your Honor."
"Lieutenant Herrera."
"I've decided to wait until it is born. If I don't feel anything for it, I'll put it up for adoption. But I'd never abort a baby. Or just up and leave like my mother did to me."
"So, it's Mommy and Daddy issues?"
"What the fuck is wrong with you?! This has nothing to do with him!"
"No further questions, Your Honor."
"Your Honor, it's her hormones raging."
"Oh, yeah. It's my hormones raging. Or it's the fact that she's a bitch who's pressing the wrong buttons."
"You may step down, Lieutenant Herrera."
Andy got off the stand.
"Andy!" Bishop called when she walked out.
"Herrera!" Beckett called.
She got up.
Bishop walked out after Andy.
Andy
Maya joined me.
"El se fue, el se fue."
It translated to "He's gone, he's gone."
"Um... I'm not Robert. I don't understand a word you're saying."
"Lo que significa que nadie mas lo hace."
It translated to "Which means nobody else does."
Jeremy
"El se fue, el se fue."
Sullivan looked down.
"Um... I'm not Robert. I don't understand a word you're saying."
"Lo que significa que nadie mas lo hace."
He laughed.
"I thought English was her first language."
"Oh, it is. Captain Herrera taught her fluent Spanish. I understand every word she's saying. She's very angry."
Andy
"Estoy tan enojada."
It translated to "I'm so angry."
"I'm gonna get Robert out here."
Jeremy
"Estoy tan enojada."
"I'm gonna get Robert out here."
Bishop walked back in.
"Can you go talk to her?"
"Yeah."
"Cause she ain't speaking English. Can't understand a word she saying."
Robert
I joined Andy.
"El se fue, el se fue."
It translated to "He's gone, he's gone."
I wrapped her in my arms.
Andy broke down.
She hasn't cried over Pruitt in two years.
"Estara bien."
It translated to "It's gonna be okay."
Jeremy
"El se fue, el se fue."
Andy broke down.
I knew Sullivan wrapped her in his arms.
"Estara bien."
Robert
We headed back in after Andy had went into the Bathroom.
She had splashed water in her eyes to make it look like she wasn't crying.
Jeremy
Andy came back in with Sullivan.
"Has the Jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, Your Honor."
"Please publish the verdict for the record."
"On the charge of rape in the second degree, we find the defendant, Jeremy Benanti... Guilty."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, the City of Seattle thanks you for your service."
They walked out.
"I'd request the deputies to take Mr. Benanti into Custody and have him serve the next 10 years of his life in the Washington Department of Corrections."
The Deputies led me out.