(A/N: First off, I wanted to mention that in this chapter and possibly future chapters concerning parts of the trial, I'm going to change things up so they seem to go more along the lines of the game and if I'm satisfied, I'll stick with that set up. For this part, the song I'm using is "Courtroom Lobby ~ Prelude to the Future" from Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies.)

Trial Former

May 14, 9:41 am
Downtown Courthouse
Defendant Lobby No. 3

*"Well…this is the first time I've stepped into a Chicago courthouse…" Phoenix thought to himself as he an Trucy waited outside in the lobby. The courthouse itself was much larger than the one he was used to entering.

"It really feels like stepping into unknown territory," Trucy said, hopping slightly on one foot.

"That's for sure…" Phoenix replied. "Different judge, different prosecutor... we'll have to stay on our toes for this one."

"You might need it." The door behind them had just opened and Jake Bryan came into the room.

"Oh, Mr. Bryan," Trucy said. "I'm surprised they got you here this early."

Bryan chuckled. "Do they call it early at your courthouse? They run things a bit more strictly around here."

"Anything we should know before the trial starts?" Phoenix asked.

"Well…" Bryan looked around for a moment. "You didn't hear this from me… but the prosecutor in today's trial from what I've heard can be a bit of a hard-ass. He takes his job seriously and well… you wouldn't want to get on his bad side."

"Great…this is starting to become all too familiar…" Phoenix thought with a sigh.

"Anyway, I hope you two are prepared," Bryan said.

"To be honest… there really isn't much for us to go on," Phoenix said with a shrug. "I'm not entirely sure what the police found, but what we do know is that if the cause of death was Mr. Sweeney being pushed down the stairs, then the culprit wasn't you Mr. Bryan."

"Uh… not that I'm denying it, but you found proof?" Bryan asked.

"We did find shoe prints at the top of the stairs, and they were a size nine from what Trucy and I guessed," Phoenix replied.

"S-Size nine?" Bryan asked, suddenly looking startled.

"Are you alright Mr. Bryan?" Trucy asked, looking concerned.

"…No it's nothing, I'm fine," Bryan said.

"…Somehow I get the feeling he isn't telling us something…but now's not the time." "Mr. Bryan, I just need to know: was there anyone who had a grudge against Mr. Sweeney, anyone you can think of?"

"Not to my knowledge," Bryan said. "Dan was a pretty well-liked guy for the most part. And people always did like going to the juice bar he owned, mostly cause he charged decent prices."

Suddenly, the door to the courtroom opened and the bailiff poked his head around. "Mr. Wright, the trial is about to begin."

"I guess it's time then, huh?" Trucy asked.
"Right," Phoenix said. "All we have to do is prove that Mr. Bryan wasn't involved in Mr. Sweeney's death." But there were still questions needed to be answered, and so far there wasn't a lot to go on.

(A/N: For this next part, the song I'm using is "Court Begins" from Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies.)

May 14, 10:00 am
Downtown Courthouse
Courtroom No. 3

*"Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Jake Bryan," the judge proclaimed. Compared to the judge Phoenix was used to seeing, this judge looked about the same age minus the beard. "Are the prosecution and defense both prepared?"

"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Phoenix said. "At least, I sure hope we are…"

Opposite of him was a man wearing a navy blue vest with a white tie over a white collared shirt. Judging by the slight grey in his dark hair, Phoenix could guess he was somewhere in his forties.
"The prosecution is also ready, Your Honor."

"Prosecutor Thompson…so this is my opponent today," Phoenix thought, looking at the man.

Thompson then looked in Phoenix's direction. "I would also like to welcome Mr. Wright as this is his first time in Chicago no doubt. However, that being said, it should be known that I have heard a lot of things about you and therefore won't tolerate any of your foolish habits in this courtroom."

"…Mr. Bryan certainly wasn't exaggerating."

"Wow daddy, he sounds pretty serious," Trucy said.

"I assure you Mr. Thompson that my methods aren't foolish, but rather used to find the truth," Phoenix said.

"With that all being said, let us begin," the judge said. "Prosecutor Thompson, your opening statement please."

"Of course," Thompson said. "Two nights ago, around ten o'clock at night, the victim and the defendant, Jake Bryan and Dan Sweeney, respectively, were at Mr. Sweeney's home drinking a few cans of beer. At some point, there was an altercation which soon led to the top of the stairs in the house. Mr. Bryan was at the top and Mr. Sweeney was on the foot of the steps. Both of them had to be slightly intoxicated, which probably caused the fight to begin with. Finally, the fight reached a peak as Mr. Bryan pushed Mr. Sweeney and the victim lost his balance and fell down the steps, breaking his neck upon hitting the bottom, and died instantly."

"Hmm… I see," the judge said. "Very well Mr. Thompson, you may call your first witness."

"The first person I call to the stand is Detective James Marshall," Thompson said.

(A/N: For this next part, the song I'm using is "Cross-Examination ~ Moderato" from Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies.)

Once the detective was seated, Thompson continued. "Witness, please state your name and occupation."

"Detective James Marshall, Homicide Division of the Chicago Police Department," Marshall said.

"Detective, I want you to testify about the investigation conducted yesterday to the court," Thompson.

"Yes sir." Marshall then began his testimony.

*"Upon checking out the crime scene, we discovered beer cans in the living room, which explained the victim's BAC levels.

"According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was a broken neck, and bruises on his arms and legs were caused by the victim falling down the stairs. His BAC levels were about .08.

"There were also shards of glass found by the stairs as well, meaning the altercation got violent rather quickly.

"If I had to guess… the defendant probably felt threatened and therefore pushed the victim down the stairs."

"So… you believe that the victim fell due to being intoxicated?" the judge asked.

"Mr. Sweeney was a large man, size-wise, so in normal cases it would've been hard for Mr. Bryan to push him over," Marshall said. "However, at the level Mr. Sweeney was at, all he had to do was lose his balance and that was, unfortunately, his downfall."

"Your Honor, the autopsy report was just finished this morning and I would like to submit it to the court," Thompson said.

"The court accepts this report," the judge replied. "Now then Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."

"What do you think, daddy?" Trucy asked.

"His testimony seemed truthful and professional," Phoenix said. "I'll just have to poke my way in and see if I find any holes."

*"According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was a broken neck, and bruises on his arms and legs were caused by the victim falling down the stairs. His BAC levels were about .08."

"Hold it! Detective, if the victim was highly intoxicated, wouldn't it be possible that he may have lost his balance and fell down the stairs himself?"

"…Well, when you put it that way, it's poss-"

"Objection!" Thompson stated. "If that were true Mr. Wright, wouldn't have Mr. Bryan called the police right away?"

"I believe he would have, which makes me believe that my client was not there at the time of death."

"However, you have no proof that he wasn't there at the time… besides do you really think he broke something just out of sheer rage?"

"Well…good point…"

"Please continue with your cross-examination Mr. Wright," the judge said patiently.

"There were also shards of glass found by the stairs as well, meaning the altercation got violent rather quickly."

"Hold it! This is the first time I've heard about this. Can you explain what it was that broke?"

"From what we've guessed, it had to be a vase," Marshall said. "One of those clear ones where you put flowers and water in. Anyway, we tried to look for fingerprints but there were so many pieces it was hard to tell. They're still being analyzed as we speak. I also forgot to mention that we did find some blood on one of the pieces, as well as some on the carpet near the stairs. That's still being analyzed as well."

"Blood on the glass…I'll have to keep that in mind for later," Phoenix thought.

"Anyway…" the detective said. "If I had to guess… the defendant probably felt threatened and therefore pushed the victim down the stairs."

(A/N: For this last part, the song I'm using is "Phoenix Wright ~ Objection! 2013" from Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies.)

"Objection! I'm sorry Detective, but I'm afraid that may just not be possible."

"W-What?" Marshall said.

"Mr. Wright, I warned you about this…" Thompson started.

"I would like to present this evidence to the court," Phoenix said. "What do you see Your Honor?"

"It… looks like shoe imprints?" the judge asked. "On the top of the stairs?"

"Yes, but what size would you guess they are?" Phoenix asked.

"Hmm… I would say somewhere around a size nine."

"Exactly," Phoenix said with a slight smirk. *"These are a size nine… but Mr. Bryan wears size eleven shoes!"

The audience in the court started murmuring in the crowd and the judge quickly banged on his gavel. "Order! Order!"

"Way to go daddy!" Trucy said happily.

"Objection! Detective, I would like an explanation!" Thompson said, suddenly looking furious.

"I-I… I'm sorry sir; I thought the forensics team did a thorough search…" Marshall said.

"We'll discuss this… and your future salary, at a later time."

"Ugh…" Marshall looked miserable all of a sudden.

"Poor detective…" Trucy said. "I feel bad for him now…"

"Uh… Mr. Thompson, what is your take on this development?" the judge asked.

Thompson was silent for a moment. From what Phoenix saw, he could tell Thompson was not prepared for this. "I admit this is something that was overlooked," he said. He then banged his fist on the table. "However…! This does not necessarily prove Mr. Bryan's innocence!"

"Objection! It couldn't be any clearer!" Phoenix said. "The prints are exactly where the murder took place, and as I already said, Mr. Bryan only wears size eleven shoes!"

"Perhaps, but I still have a witness who proclaims to have seen the defendant leave the house shortly after the murder."

"Damn! We were so close…! Was that all for nothing!?" Phoenix thought in anguish.

"But who could've been out at that time of night?" Trucy asked.

"My next witness will answer to that," Thompson said. "Your Honor, I wish to request a fifteen minute recess so I can prepare my witness."

The judge nodded. "Very well, the court will recess for fifteen minutes." He then banged his gavel one last time.

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