Trial Part 4
Friday, November 12
"Ms. Cameron, can you please explain to the court what happened in the locker room on the night of the incident?" Casey asked as she stood in front of Michelle at the stand.
Michelle nodded and gave a weak smile. "I was at the recreation center on campus with a few friends. We went to play basketball. Around eight o'clock I decided to leave the group to go shower in the locker room. I got there and gathered everything I needed to shower. When I was done it was a little after eight thirty. I went back to my locker and started to sort through all my stuff. I heard the door open so I thought one of my friends came in looking for me. I asked who came in, but no one answered. I continued to get my stuff together and out of nowhere someone grabbed me. When I looked to see who it was, it was some guy and he smacked me. I was so scared. All I remember from that point was being pinned to the ground and my clothes basically torn off my body. He was hitting me and I was screaming and begging him to leave me alone. It didn't work though. He still tried to... to rape me."
"Is the man that attacked you present in this court room, Michelle?" Casey asked.
"Yes."
"Can you please identify the man that attacked you?"
Michelle raised her arm and pointed to the man sitting at the defendant table. "That's the guy that attacked me."
"Let the record show that the witness identified the defendant, Kevin Shard, as the attacker." Casey said as she turned to the jury. "How did you manage to get the defendant off of you, Michelle?"
"My friend Kathleen came in and pushed him off of me."
"Thank you." Casey turned around and went back to her seat. "Your witness."
Kevin's attorney, Donna Emmett, rose up from her chair and approached Michelle. "Ms. Cameron, why did you make the decision to take a shower at such a late hour in the locker room?"
"Well, the locker room closes at eight so it is usually empty the hour before. It was a good chance to take a long, relaxing shower without feeling rushed by someone else."
"Why couldn't you wait until you got back to your dorm room to shower?"
"I share the same bathroom with other girls on my floor. It is very hard to get a decent shower when so many girls want to shower at the same time."
"I see." Donna turned around and walked back to her table. "No further questions."
Casey stood up from her chair quickly. "Your honor, I would like to call a recess at this time."
"I agree. We will reconvene after lunch." The judge ordered. He got up from his post and left as the people in the courtroom began to clear out.
Olivia, Elliot, Nick and Amanda rose up from their seats and walked over to Casey's table.
"Well, so far so good." Casey sighed.
"So now what, Case?" Olivia asked.
"Kathleen takes the stand after lunch. Hopefully we can get through questioning her without any issues or surprises. Is she ready?" Casey asked Nick and Amanda.
"She's sitting out in the hallway now with Fin and Munch. I think she's good to go." Amanda replied.
"Great. I'll see you guys in a bit." Casey grabbed her briefcase and left the courtroom. The detectives and Elliot followed behind. Kathleen stood close by with Fin and Munch, feeling and looking very anxious.
"So, is it my turn now?" she asked.
"You'll be up in about an hour. We took a recess." Nick told her.
Kathleen sighed deeply as she sat back down on the bench. "I just want to get this done and over with."
"Don't worry, hunny. It will be over soon." Elliot assured her, taking a seat next to his daughter. "I trust these guys. Nothing bad will happen to you or your friend. She will get justice."
"Casey will do everything she can to make sure that happens." Olivia added.
"I know…" Kathleen responded quietly.
"Come on, let's go get something to eat. Munch's treat." Amanda said joyfully.
"I can definitely go for some wings!" Fin said.
"You, my friend, are limited to three chicken wings. You're too damn expensive." Munch said as he patted Fin's shoulder.
"Ms. Stabler, what was your initial reaction when you saw Michelle being attacked by the defendant in the locker room?" Casey asked.
"Well, I thought she was hurt. She was sobbing and screaming. He looked like he was going to rape her."
"So what did you do?"
"I yelled at him. Told him to leave her alone. He didn't listen. So I pushed him off and punched him. Pretty much went crazy on him."
"What happened next?"
"I remember waking up in the hospital. I felt different."
"How so?"
"I felt more calm, strangely relaxed. The doctors put me back on my medication."
"And what is the medication for?"
"Objection. What's the relevance of this questioning?" Donna asked as she stood up.
"Ms. Stabler has stated that she was put back on her medication again, meaning she's been taking it for a long period of time. The lack of medication in her system proves that she was not able to control her actions or emotions at the time of the attack."
"Over ruled. Answer the question, Ms. Stabler." The judge ordered.
"It's for bipolar disorder…that's what I'm sick with."
"And what kind of side effects does this sickness have if you are not taking the proper medication?"
"Emotional breakdowns, outbursts. Sometimes I have trouble remembering what I do during the day."
"Nothing further." Casey responded as she took her seat.
"Why haven't you been taking your medication, Ms. Stabler?" Donna Emmett asked as she took Casey's place in front of the stand.
"I thought I would be fine without it since I've been taking it for so long. I felt like I was in control of my life."
"Did you feel in control of the brutal attack that took place on my client? Lying on the ground unconscious as you continued to punch and kick him?"
"Objection!" Casey shouted.
"Sustained." The judge ordered.
"Are you blaming your sickness for this attack? Are you playing the victim to make my client look bad?"
"No." Kathleen replied. "I knew what trouble my sickness would cause if I wasn't properly taking my medication. No, I wasn't in control of what I did and I know it was wrong. But I don't feel bad about doing it. That bastard was going to rape my friend. I had to help save her before he did something serious."
Donna glanced over at the judge and nodded. "Nothing further for this witness." Casey watched Donna take her place next the Kevin and glanced over at Kathleen.
"We will take a ten-minute recess." The judge ordered. "Ms. Stabler, you can step down."
Kathleen stepped down from the stand and made her way over to Casey's table, heading straight for her dad. He hugged her tightly.
"So now what?" Kathleen asked.
"We'll hear the verdict after this short break." Casey assured her.
"C'mon Kathleen, let's go get something to snack on." Amanda smiled as she led her out the courtroom.
"How do you think this will play out?" Nick asked the ADA.
"Well, with Kathleen's case, it could go either way. She can be found not guilty due to her sickness, or she will be found guilty. She obviously knows what she did was wrong."
"But she had no control over that though, Case. You've seen her at her worse when her sickness takes over." Olivia stated.
"I have, but the jury hasn't. You have a girl that went bat crazy on a guy that was trying to rape her friend. He walks out the hospital with serious injuries. Her friend is suffering from trauma. Kathleen has agreed to take a plea if found guilty, so she knows that getting help is good for her."
"And what about Michelle? Where's the justice for her?" Nick asked.
"We'll just have to wait and see…"
"Has the jury reach a verdict?" the judge asked the woman standing in the jury section.
"Yes, your honor."
"Will the defendant please stand?" Donna and Kevin Shard stood from their chairs. The detectives, Elliot, Kathleen and Michelle sat on the edge of their chairs, waiting to hear the final verdict. "On the one count of rape in the second degree, how do you find the defendant, Kevin Shard?"
"We find the defendant not guilty." At that moment, the detectives and Casey's heart dropped at those two words. Kathleen and Michelle held on tightly to each other and sighed.
"On the one count of sexual assault in the first degree, how do you find the defendant?"
"We find the defendant guilty." Casey closed her eyes and sighed in relief. She looked over to Donna talking to her client, calming him down.
"In the case of Kathleen Stabler and assault in the first degree, how do you find the defendant?"
"We find the defendant not guilty." Elliot grabbed Olivia's hand instantly and gave it a tight squeeze.
"I thank the jury for its time. You are free to go. Court is adjourned." The judge ordered. Casey stood up from her chair to turn to everyone behind her.
"Good job, counselor. I think it all worked out for the best." Nick said.
"How are you feeling, girls?" Casey asked Kathleen and Michelle.
"I just want to get past this. Couldn't have done it without you, Ms. Novak. Thank you." Michelle said as she hugged Casey.
"You're welcome." Casey said with a smile.
"Detective Rollins, can you take me back to my dorm?" Michelle asked.
"Sure. See you guys back at the house." Amanda said before leaving with Michelle.
"I'll catch up with you all later. Gotta run home to check up on Zara." Nick patted Elliot's shoulder and headed out the courtroom.
Casey gathered her belongings and followed Elliot, Olivia and Kathleen out the courtroom. "So how about we all go out for something to eat? I could definitely use a bite after this long day." Elliot suggested.
"Sounds good to me. I just have to stop by my office." Casey replied. She sensed something was off and turned around to find Kathleen stopped in her tracks a few feet behind them. Elliot and Olivia stopped and stared at Kathleen.
"What's wrong, Katie?" Elliot asked as he approached her.
"I feel terrible, dad." She exclaimed.
"How come, sweetie? I thought you would be happy with the verdict?" Olivia responded.
"I am, for Michelle. I'm glad she got the justice she deserved."
"So what's wrong?" Elliot asked once more.
"I…I don't think it's fair that I'm standing here while I should be put away for what I did."
"Kathleen, you—" Casey started.
"No. Stop!" Kathleen shouted. The three adults stood in silence as they stared at Kathleen. "Look, I took it upon myself to stop taking my medication, knowing the consequences I would face. Even though I helped save my friend from getting raped, it doesn't excuse me from hurting that jerk the way I did, especially giving the state I was in. I obviously still need help in controlling my sickness."
"What are you saying, Kathleen?" Elliot asked as he studied his daughter.
"I still want to check into a rehab for help. I need help controlling this better, especially since I took myself off the medication." She replied, staring at Casey.
She took a step closer and raised her eyebrow. "Are you sure, Kathleen? You don't have to, you know. The judge didn't order you to—"
"I know. I want to. I want to do it for me." Kathleen said quietly.
Casey glanced back at Elliot and Olivia, who stood speechless. Elliot gave a stern nod and stood next to his daughter. "And we'll stick by your side throughout it all, sweetheart."
"I think I can arrange something. I'll meet you guys at the station." And with that, Casey made her way out the courthouse.
"Come on, let's get you home." Olivia said giving Kathleen a hug. She smiled softly and followed the same path out the courthouse.
"Don't worry, El. She's a strong girl." Olivia assured him.
"I know." He took Olivia's hand into his and followed right behind his daughter.
Hello everyone! I am back in action! I know a lot of you have been waiting for this update for the longest time. Not gonna lie, I had the hardest time trying to get back into this story. I completely forgot where I wanted to go with the trial, so this was the best I could do. But hey, at least I have an update for you all. And I'm so amazed to see how many people are still reading this story, favoring it, everything. You're truly amazing!
So next up, things get worked out with Kathleen and her rehab, plus some EO lovin'.