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June 19 11:30 AM

District Court Courtroom No. 1

The Judge banged his gavel. "The court will now reconvene for the trial of Lex Stisken. Is the Prosecution ready?"

The Prosecution is ready, your Honor." Gaspen answered.

"The Defense is also ready." Julias answered, much calmer than last time.

"Ah, Mr. Freedom!" The Judge addressed. "You're nerves look much more steeled this time."

"Thank you, your Honor." (Though my heart's still racing.)

"Prosecutor Payne, has the bailiff brought forth any new evidence?"

"Yes. We now have an affidavit, confirming that the trailer was there at the scene of the crime. And we also have this." Gaspen held up a gold chain.

"What's that?" Julias asked.

"That's my chain!" Witry interrupted.

"Yours?" Julias repeated. "But wasn't the bailiff only investigating the trailer?"

"Yeah, but I asked the bailiff to keep an eye out for the chain. He told me he found it on a bench back at the beach."

(A bailiff willing to take detours for witnesses? Now I KNOW that's illegal!)

Trailer Affidavit added to Court Record

Witry's Chain added to Court Record

The Judge glared at Witry. "Witness, do you realize how this new evidence impacts your previous testimony?"

"Yeah, I know." Witry responded. "The trailer would've been in the way, which means I lied somewhere, so I'll get charged for perjury, blah blah blah..."

(If we get one more moron in this room, I swear I'm gonna snap!)

"But that's fine, I think I know what happened."

"You do?" The Judge said.

"Merely got confused about the order of events."

"How did that happen?"

"Well hey! Sprite was my friend, you know?"

(You can only use that excuse so many times.)

"Then would you mind giving us new testimony?" The Judge asked.

WITNESS TESTIMONY

-Business with Biffekell-

"Sorry I got everything mixed up."

"Y'see, I had some business to take care of with Biffekell."

"We don't have each other's phone number, so he couldn't have told me he was closed."

"So I got back in my car to drive home. That's when I saw the killer in the boat."

"I didn't realize what I saw 'till I was on my porch."

Julias scratched his neck, thinking. "Wait, you're saying that you were already on your porch when you realized you witnessed a murder?" He found it hard to believe.

"It was dark. All I saw was Sprite get whacked with the engine."

"You didn't call the police or anything?"

"My eyes could've been playing tricks on me. I was tired from all the guardin' I did that day."

"Very well, then." The Judge nodded. "Mr. Freedom, your cross-examination."

CROSS EXAMINATION

-Business with Biffekell-

"Sorry I got everything mixed up."

"Y'see, I had some business to take care of with Biffekell."

OBJECTION!

"Are you positive you had unfinished business with Dr. Biffekell?"

"Yeah..."

"Then perhaps you should give this a good read." Julias held up the appointment memo.

Witry looked at the note. "'Mr. Stisken, I'm sorry but I've had to cancel your appointment.'... Yeah, what about it?"

Julias shook his head. "That's not the point. Ness Witry, who does this note mention?"

"It mentions... Only that one guy..."

"That's right. It at no point mentions your own business. Perhaps you have yet again forgotten your account because of the victim?" Julias taunted Witry.

"Shut up!" Witry snapped. "This isn't funny!"

"... You're right," Julias confessed, striking the bench, "it's not funny, in fact, it's illegal! You have already lied to this court two times already!"

The gallery made a good round of argument before Witry found his voice, "SHUT UP!" He screamed, "ALL OF YOU!" This time he yanked his whistle at an upward angle, over the back of his neck.

"Why?" Julias demanded, "Is it perhaps you're afraid we'll figure out your motive?"

"Oh, how sneaky, Christmas Tree!" Witry spat, referring to Julias' hair and scarf, "Calling me the killer without even saying the word!" He looked at Adrian, "HEY! BLUE-BOY! YOU SURE YOUR ATTACK DOG'S HAD HIS SHOTS?!"

Adrian kept quiet for a second before answering, "Julias Freedom is entirely sane, in fact I second his suspicion."

"Oh!" The Judge chirped, "You mean MURDER motive?" He closed his eyes, "Yes... I wouldn't be surprised. After, all I've seen this moment endless times. But..." He looked at the Defense, "We don't have any choice but to ask for yet another testimony, as we don't have any decisive evidence."

"ANOTHER ONE?!" Witry burst, "FINE!"

"This it, Julias," Adrian noted, "The home stretch. Do it for Lex!"

(Right... For Lex... This is for Lex!)

Court Record:

Evidence:

- Attorney's Badge: This badge is a must for all attorneys. Taking the defense desk without one is a federal offense.

- Motor Photo: a photo of the speedboat's ruptured engine. This is apparently the cause for the burns on the Defendant's face.

- Admittance File: The file that was made for the Defendant's hospitalization for burns to the face.

- Appointment Memo: A memo from the dentist at Biffekell dental, apologizing for the cancelation of an appointment with the Defendant.

- Autopsy Report: Aside from drowning, the report also tells of two, nasty bruises on the victim's forehead.

- Crime Scene Diagram: A diagram showing the locations of witnesses, the killer, the victim, and other things.

- Biffekell's Testimony: Written copy of Dr. Biffekell's testimony. If nothing else, it's more of a good luck charm.

- Trailer Affidavit: The affidavit confirming my suspicions about the trailer's location during the crime.

- Witry's Chain: A gold chain of Witry's that was left at the beach.

Profiles:

- Adrian Hawkfenn: My mentor. He's about to guide me through my first case. Hopefully he knows when to stop me before I embarrass myself.

- Lex Stisken: The defendant. I've known him since high school, and is Irritatingly insistent that we be "friends".

- Gaspen Payne: The prosecutor for this case. Younger brother of Winston "rookie-killer" Payne, and ten times more tenacious.

- Blake Biffekell: An eccentric dentist who also works as an optician. He witnessed the murder from his office.

- Ness Witry: Former co-worker of the victim. Claims he saw the crime from his porch.

Can you guess what I have for our breakdown...?

TAKE THAT!

THX & God bless

~RLS legacy