co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo

John got dressed in the suit that Amanda had bought for him and sighed. Today was the day the trial would start. "It will be okay." He heard from the doorway. "The jury will see the truth."

He turned to Amanda. "Do you think so?"

"I know so." She said walking in. She moved in front of him and started tying his tie. "The evidence speaks for itself. They will see the truth and you will get justice for your brother. Now let's get going. I'm sure Adam and Leah are already there."

He nodded and leaned in and kissed her. "Thank you for everything. For being here for me."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else." She smiled as they headed to the car. They were soon on their way to the court house.''

"Don't you look handsome." Leah said when they walked up.

"Thanks. Amanda got me this suit." He smiled.

"Well she has great taste. But then she got you."

"And that's why you're my best friend." Leah smiled.

"We need to go in." Matt said walking up. They nodded and walked into the court room.

John took a seat behind the prosecutor's table and watched as the Lauranitits' were shown in. They glared over at him.

"Don't let them get to you." Amanda said quietly. "They are trying to unnerve you."

"They won't." He said to her. She nodded as the judge came.

"Everyone rise." The bailiff said. "This court is now in session. The honorable judge Lawler presiding."

"Be seated." He said as he took his seat. "Case no. 4587569C State of Texas Vs. John and Eve Lauranitis charged with child abuse, neglect and murder in the first degree. Having found there was enough evidence to take this trial, how does the defendants plead?"

"Not guilty your honor."

"So noted. Opening statements. Mr. Striker."

"Your honor, Joey Lauranatis was a little boy looking for a home. He was adopted by the defendants and they promised to love and care for him. Instead they tortured the poor child and abused him. Abuse that ultimately cost him his young life." He picked the photo of Joey. "This beautiful little boy was loving. And all he wanted was a loving home. You will heard the defendants and defense counsel tell you that Joey was a difficult, troublesome little boy. That he needed a firm hand. This was not the case with this beautiful, sweet little boy. On the day of his death, Joey was playing as always. But he fell down the stairs and according to the autopsy, rupture his bowel. This didn't have to be fatal. But the Lauranitits waited for hours before they took Joey to the hospital. Why? If his fall was an accident, as they claimed, did they wait? You will hear evidence that shows the Lauranitits abused this little boy and caused his death. Thank you." He said sitting down at the table.

"Thank you, Mr. Striker." Judge Lawler said. He looked at the defense table. "Mr. Otunga?"

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the prosecutor is trying to make it like my clients hated that little boy. But that was further from the truth. They loved him but he was a difficult child. He was willful and wouldn't listen. He required a strong hand. Some of you might not agree with the way the Lauranitits disciplined this little boy. But it was the way they choose to raise their children." He said walking to the jury box. "Joey's death was an unfortunate accident. An accident that they had to relive because Mr. Cena decided to come looking for something that was better left in the past. Nothing can bring Joey back. What will punishing the Lauranitits do? Nothing. It's time to leave everything in the past."

"Thank Mr. Otunga." The judge said. "Mr. Striker, call your first witness."

"I call Dr. Shawn Michaels to the stand." Shawn got up from his seat and took the stand. "Dr. Michaels, you were there when the Lauranitits' brought Joey in that day right?"

"Yes, I was." Shawn replied.

"Can you describe how he was that day?"

"He was unresponsive when he was brought in."

"Dr. Michaels, did he ever wake up and reach out to you?"

"Objection. Relevance."

"Your honor, I'm trying to show that Joey was still alive and that had the Laurantitis's brought him in sooner, he would have lived."

"Overruled but make your point Mr. Striker."

"He did wake up and tell me that he was hurting." Shawn replied.

"Anything else."

"He reached out to me and I knew he was begging for help. But it was too late. There was nothing to be done."

"Dr. Michaels, if Joey had been brought in right when the fall happened, would he have lived?"

"I believe he would have. If he had gotten the help he needed."

"Had you ever seen Joey in the ER before?"

"Yes a couple of times." He replied.

"And what were his injuries?"

"Usually bruises and some broken bones."

"And did anyone inquire as to the cause of so many visits?"

"Yes a social worker. She was called and she said she would do a home visit. But I never heard anything more until Joey was brought into the hospital that day."

"Thank you Dr. Michaels." Matt said. "Nothing further."

"Your witness Mr. Otunga."

"Dr. Michaels, you were concerned enough with Joey's well being to call in a social worker but you never followed up on that is that correct?"

"I didn't follow up." He replied.

"Why? If you were so worried, why didn't you follow up?"

"I assumed the social worker would go there and realize if he was being abused and take him out of that place."

"So you assumed someone else would take care of the problem."

"I hate to admit it but yes I did." Shawn replied.

"Thank you." He said as he sat down.

"Your next witness Mr. Striker."

"I call Natalya Neidhart." He walked in front of the table as Natalya took the stand. "Ms. Neidhart, you were the social worker assigned to Joey's case, is that right?"

"Yes sir."

"And what did you find when you went to the Lauranitis' to see Joey?"

"The home appeared to be safe."

"What did you see to make you think that?"

"I saw loving parents. They seemed to really care for the little boy and their other son."

"Did you visit the home after Joey's death?"

"I did."

"And what did you do when you did?"

"Based on the circumstances of Joey's death, we took their other son from the home while the police and us performed our investigation."

"And what were the findings of that investigation?"

"We found that all signs pointed to Joey's death being an accident possibly caused by abuse."

"If that was the case, then why weren't charges file against them?"

"We felt there wasn't enough evidence and eventually the police closed the case."

"So it stands to reason that if Joey had been removed from the home after multiple visits to the emergency room, he'd still be alive is that correct?"

"It's not certain but I guess so."

"Thank you." Matt said taking his seat.

"You may step down." The judge said to her. "We will take two hour recess for lunch. Court will resume at two pm." He banged the gavel and dismissed the court.

Matt sighed. He had more witnesses and he hoped they would be able to make the jury see how dangerous the Laurnaitits were. He still had their other son to put on the stand. He only hoped he would help the case not hurt it.

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