Earthcub12 Presents

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney ~ Courtroom Champions

-Turnabout for a Prayer / Trial 1-6-

-September 4, 1:18 PM-
-District Court-
-Courtroom No. 4-

WITNESS TESTIMONY

"I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I SAW DAVID VAUGHAN STUMBLE TOWARDS THE DOOR WHEN THE CUP HIT HIM."

"HE WAS WEARING A MASK AT THE TIME, SO IT PROTECTED HIM FROM THE ATTACK, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE HAS NO CUTS."

"OWEN TRIED DASHING TOWARDS ME AND THE DOOR, BUT DAVID GRABBED HIM JUST IN TIME."

"ONCE HE GRABBED AHOLD OF OWEN, HE BEGAN TO STRANGLE HIM ON THE DESK."

"FATHER OWEN GRABBED DAVID'S RIGHT HAND AND SLASHED IT WITH A KNIFE OF SORTS."

"THAT IS WHEN THE KILLER SHOVED OWEN TO THE WALL, GRABBED THE STATUE, THEN… WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST BY NOW."

"You are ABSOLUTELY certain of your testimony this time?" The Judge asked him. "No more holes this time, right?"

Jack nodded and grinned. "Please. I'm JACK ANCHOR! Of course I know what I'm doing!"

"Objection!" Phoenix interrupted. "This is the THIRD time you had to revise your testimony! Sure doesn't look like you know what you're doing."

"This is the truth this time, Wright." Jack stated. "Trust me."

"Uh-huh. I'll believe it when I see it."

Jack stared down at the lawyer with a frown. Then, the witness said, "Mr. Wright, have you ever even read my book up to this point?"

Phoenix grew quiet as he looked at Jack cynically. "Wh…wha…?"

"My book! My memoir! My opus! I haven't seen you read a SINGLE word in that work of mine. Care to give it a read? Try chapter 8, page 119. First three paragraphs. It's a doozy."

(What is he trying to pull…? Should I just play along?)

Phoenix sighed and reluctantly pulled out Jack's book and turned to the page Jack requested. Skimming through the book, Phoenix noticed the contents of the page read,

Chapter 8
A Holy War on Culture

"As an amazing person and anchor I am, my duty is to report the news as it is and take nothing for granted. It's not my duty to judge the character of just anyone. I just say as it is. Which transitions me to this putrid church taking up space in this once-gentrified part of my great city. This was supposed to be a city of progress and equality. Now we have religious insanities lurking through the streets, devouring the minds of our children and the working man.

Despite my clear spite and hostility towards this belief, I decided to give the church the benefit of a doubt. The service was kindly and accepting, but the atmosphere and the people was revolting, to say the least. Given my successful, prestigious background, I was given a strong tour of the church. I was restricted from the basement that day; needless to say, that was when I had a chill down my spine. Just what is this church trying to hide? It was my duty to decipher the mysteries and the secrets abounding this dark church.

At one point I was lead to Father Owen's office. Quite the mess it was, really. Books haphazardly stocked into the shelves, a queer odor in the air, even the Owen fellow's desk was an unorganized clutter, from folders, to paper, to a jar of ketchup or something. I was also greeted by a white David statue that sat on a counter besides the desk. I ask him why he has so much clutter. He said, "Because it is what He wishes of him. The more the merrier, I say." What a bunch of lunacy. Something must be done about this church. And it is up to me, JACK ANCHOR, to prove it!

"Hold it!" Phoenix yelled. "You said, 'something must be done about this church'. That confirms that you have a prejudice against my client!"

"Pssh." Jack replied bitterly. "Please. I have nothing against you or your client, bud. I just want this church to fall to its knees. And you, nor your red sidekick, is going to take that opportunity away from me. Because Jack… always gets what he wants. Also, notice how I talked about the statue? Get this: the exact same statue that wiped out Owen Miles. Crazy, huh? At least SOMEBODY took care of the problem, am I right?"

(I… I can't believe what he's saying! That self-entitled, selfish, little-!)

The Judge slammed his gavel and announced, "Mr. Wright, your cross-examination, please."

(Is His Honor not going to do anything about this!? No? Well, then. It's up to me, I guess. Get ready, Jack. I'm about to drop an anchor on your little scheme!)

CROSS-EXAMINATION

"I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I SAW DAVID VAUGHAN STUMBLE TOWARDS THE DOOR WHEN THE CUP HIT HIM."

"Hold it!" Blurted Phoenix. "You say David stumbled towards the door. How is that?"

"The surprise impact by the cup caught David off-guard, I guess." Jack explained. "He lost his balance and stumbled towards the door. The little amount of light at that moment helped me recognize him instantaneously."

"If that's the case, then shouldn't David have spotted you at that moment since he was so close to the door?" Questioned Mr. Wright.

"Oh, he could have. Absolutely. But it's not like he had the time to deal with ME too, you know. Anywho…"

"HE WAS WEARING A MASK AT THE TIME, SO IT PROTECTED HIM FROM THE ATTACK, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY HE HAS NO CUTS."

"Hold it!" Halted Phoenix Wright. "A mask? Are you sure about that?"

"Absolutely!" Jack lilted. "It was a black mask that shrouded his face."

"Objection!" Retorted Phoenix. "But if he was wearing a mask, then how can you possibly know it was David in particular!?" Phoenix pointed his finger at the witness. "That is a glaring contradiction, Your Honor!"

"Hmm, that's true." The Judge agreed. "Well, Mr. Anchor? Any remarks?"

"Oh, well, I forgot to mention that his mask kinda fell off when the cup hit him. Not fully mind you, but enough for me to see his face." Jack answered with a smile.

"Gah!" Groaned Phoenix. (What a bunch of bull!)

"I know it sounds ridiculous, Wright." Jack told him. "But you can't say it's IMPOSSIBLE."

"Um… well, I suppose it's NOT impossible, but-!"

"Well, there you have it." Jack smirked. "May I continue, old sir?"

The Judge nodded. "Yes. Continue, witness."

"OWEN TRIED DASHING TOWARDS ME AND THE DOOR, BUT DAVID GRABBED HIM JUST IN TIME."

"Hold it! If you look in the Church Diagram, you can see that there are two possible doors that anyone can go through. You say Owen tried sprinting toward the door you were at?" Phoenix interrogated.

"Yes, that's right. Problem?" Jack replied.

"Yes, I think there is. Owen's desk is located on the far-side of the room. If that were the case, it would have been just as effective and faster to run to the other door he was closest at!"

"Objection!" Hera intruded. "That's irrelevant! It doesn't matter where the victim ran."

"Objection!" Phoenix shouted back. "It DOES matter when we have a witness testifying to that fact!"

"Objection!" Hera cried, pounding her left hand on the desk. "Note that the victim was likely in a panic. He wasn't thinking straight. He just saw the door and acted in desperation. Nothing more!"

"Objection! The fact he WAS in a panic is exactly what would lead him to think on his toes and find the fastest escape route, Ms. Novak!"

"Objection! That's exactly what I'm trying to say! He saw a door slightly ajar and figured it would be faster than taking the time to open another one up! Besides, he never made it out in the first place. So this debate is irrelevant! If you have proof he went towards the other door, be my guest and show us!"

Phoenix began to sweat. (…..Okay. You got me there. Uncle…)

Jack, smiling, shook his head and said, "Oh, you two. I love watching two children bicker towards one another. Anyway, as I was saying…"

"ONCE HE GRABBED AHOLD OF OWEN, HE BEGAN TO STRANGLE HIM ON THE DESK."

"Hold it!" Pressed Phoenix. "Could you describe the fight you witnessed?"

"I already told you all I know earlier." Jack argued. "What more do you want?"

"Any new information now that you think about it? Please, witness. Anything at all!"

"Well… since you said PLEASE, I do remember Owen being tossed around like a ragdoll. Shoved, hit, pushed, choked. It was pretty violent."

"I still can't believe you didn't charge in to help!" Phoenix confronted. "That's kinda cowardly, isn't it!?"

"Mr. Wright, if you saw a child trapped in a burning building, what if you ran in to help but died in the process?" Jack retorted. "Why, both of you would be dead. I know when to run ahead and when to back away. I should know."

"Well, he's not wrong, boss." Apollo told Phoenix. "What if the witness was seriously hurt or killed in the process? Then he'd be of no help at all."

"I'm not arguing that, Apollo." Phoenix explained to him. "I'm trying to see if Jack witnessed the murder, AT ALL."

"Huh?"

(I just have this nagging feeling inside of me that Jack is making this all up on the spot. I want to bring down his testimony, but I'm not seeing anything yet. Time to just push forward and I hope I find something.)

Phoenix nodded at the witness. "Very well, witness. Continue with your testimony, please. What happened next?"

"FATHER OWEN GRABBED DAVID'S RIGHT HAND AND SLASHED IT WITH A KNIFE OF SORTS."

"Hold it!" Interrupted Phoenix. "A knife?"

"Not sure if it was a knife per se, but it was definitely something sharp." Jack explained. "Sharp enough to cut somebody's hand."

"The investigators have yet to have found something that could have cut Mr. Vaughan's hand." Hera explained to the court. "It's likely David – or somebody – took the object with them. All is for certain it was in convenient reach for Mr. Owen Miles."

(Well, we're getting closer. That would explain his cut, as well as his blood in the crime scene. Doesn't mean it helps our case…)

"Oh, and here's the big finale you all have been waiting for!" Jack announced.

"THAT IS WHEN DAVID - THE KILLER - SHOVED OWEN TO THE WALL, GRABBED THE STATUE, THEN… WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST BY NOW."

"Hold it!" Phoenix yelled, pointing his finger at Jack. He was about to say something, but nothing could come out. He was as silent as a mouse.

"Mr. Wright?" The Judge called out. "Are you quite alright?"

Phoenix continued pointing. (I… I don't know what to say! I got nothing! Everything adds up perfectly! What do I do!?)

Jack blew a bubble from his gum. It popped, then Jack just smiled, his teeth glaring at Phoenix. "What's wrong, Wright-O? Cat got your tongue? Let's hear what you got."

"Well, Mr. Wright?" The Judge asked. "Do you find anything… off, about this witness' statement? Or do you concede?"

"I… I… I concede, Your Honor." Phoenix said, sweating.

Hera shook her head and smiled, moving her hair out of her face. "Well, well. What have we here? Is the great Phoenix Wright at a loss for words? I expected no less."

"Come on, boss!" Apollo pushed Phoenix. "Don't just stand there like a statue! Say something! Anything!"

"I-I can't! Everything adds up perfectly." Phoenix said. "I know for a fact Jack is lying about witnessing the murder. Or is at least mistaking some important details. I can just feel it. But nothing I have contradicts a statement he has!"

"Hmm… maybe… there's something wrong with one of the evidence?" Apollo suggested. "Nah, that's stupid. Maybe there's something else…?"

Phoenix paused and thought about what Apollo said. "Evidence…?"

"I don't know, maybe. If you can't contradict one of his statements… maybe you can just contradict his entire testimony in one swoop. There has to be something that'll shut that pretentious news anchor up for good."

"Hmm… news anchors do have a tendency to twist a story around to make themselves look good, or at least get what they want. Give me a minute."

(This is it. It's time for me to turn this whole case around! I'll need to approach this from a new angle.)

Phoenix turned to the Judge. "Your Honor! The defense has evidence that can destroy this witness' entire claim!"

"Is that so!?" The Judge exclaimed, surprised.

Jack brushed his hair aside and inserted a new piece of gum into his mouth. "Of course not, Your Honor. He's just bluffing again. Imagine that."

Phoenix stood up and put his hands to his sides, grinning. "Oh, I'm not so sure if you should be the one to talk, Mr. Anchor. There's something in here that contradicts one major thing in your ENTIRE claim."

"…Hmph." Jack bitterly said. "Can't wait to see it."

(Little does ol' Jackie know, he personally helped me find this evidence. Sloppy, if I say so myself. Time to destroy this man, AND his reputation!)

"If this trial has made one thing clear, it's that Father Owen was killed by a statue after stabbing the killer. However, one supposedly minor piece of evidence contradicts some major facts. And I have Mr. Jack Anchor to thank for that."

"Wh-what!?" Jack groaned. "Well, forget you too! I did nothing wrong!"

Hera pounded her desk again. "Well, Mr. Wright? You say you have new evidence to present? Let's see what you mean. What evidence contradicts this witness' entire claim?"

"Take that!" Phoenix slammed his desk. "Not too long ago, the witness before us gave us ALL a helpful piece of evidence. Do you know what I mean yet?"

Jack stared at Phoenix. "No…. no, you don't mean-."

"That's right." Phoenix presented Jack's memoir. "Mr. Jack Anchor, this book you gave us contradicts some major facts!"

"Objection!" Hera roared. "What nonsense! You expect us all to scroll through this entire wretched book just to find the supposed contradiction? Show us where the contradiction is!"

"Hmph." Said Phoenix, smiling. "Easy. Everyone, turn to page 119. Jack Anchor helped me with that."

Jack began to violently sweat, his right eye twitching. "You better pray you know what you're doing, you ROACH. Do you know who I am…? I can END you with one story! You won't have a single job once I'm done with you!"

"Please. You don't intimidate me, Mr. Anchor. After this, I'd consider a new line of work. Now then, everybody, please focus on this paragraph. Because this is where the contradiction is!"

FIRST PARAGRAPH

SECOND PARAGRAPH

THIRD PARAGRAPH

Phoenix pointed out the third paragraph to the court. "Your Honor, may you read the contents of the third paragraph down, please?"

"Ooh! I get to check it out, do I!?" The Judge cleared his throat, opened the book, and read,

"At one point I was lead to Father Owen's office. Quite the mess it was, really. Books haphazardly stocked into the shelves, a queer odor in the air, even the Owen fellow's desk was an unorganized clutter, from folders, to paper, to a jar of ketchup or something. I was also greeted by a white David statue that sat on a counter besides the desk."

"Hold it!" Phoenix interrupted. "You can stop right there, Your Honor. Thank you for your powerful, rich voice. Now then, anyone find anything… OFF, about that paragraph?"

Hera eyed at Phoenix in confused, but then hunched over and began to sweat profusely. "Gah! You don't mean-!"

Phoenix nodded. "Here is the evidence that contradicts what the witness wrote in this paragraph. Take that!" Phoenix presented the bronze David Statue to Jack Anchor. "This, Jack Anchor… is the statue that killed Father Owen Miles."

Jack stared at the statue. "Okay? Any schoolboy would know that. So what?"

Phoenix looked down and shook his head. "Oh, Jack. So oblivious. Let's read that part of the paragraph one more time." Phoenix pulled out the book and read, "I was greeted by a WHITE David statue that sat on a counter besides the desk." Phoenix set the book down. "Earlier, you said something kinda interesting. Such as,

"…notice how I talked about the statue? Get this: the exact same statue that wiped out Owen Miles."

Phoenix slammed his desk. "Notice anything wrong, yet?"

Jack was silent. Sweat rolled down his face. All of a sudden, he lunged back, screaming and swallowing his gum again.

The gallery began to chatter until the Judge slammed his gavel. "Order! Order! Mr. Wright, explain what you mean! I'm afraid I'm lost."

"Have you noticed that we haven't physically described the statue in detail for quite some time, Your Honor? Well, Jack Anchor here described the statue as being a blank surface of white." Phoenix explained. "He also seems fairly confident that it was the white statue that killed Owen. The statue that really killed Owen is, as you can see, a shiny bronze.

"I… think I understand." The Judge commented. "But how does this tie-in to this case again?"

At this point, Jack began to grow pale. However, nothing could come out of his mouth. Phoenix continued, saying, "The defense is saying that this witness has no inkling of a clue as to the facts at hand! The statue, the cup… the culprit!? Well, Mr. Anchor? Anything you wish to retort?"

"But… the statue! How do you explain the statue!?" Jack yelled, his lips shaking. "I know for a fact that it was white!"

"Well, Mr. Wright?" The Judge called. "We're waiting. How do you explain the white and bronze statues?"

THEY ARE THE SAME STATUE

THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT STATUES

THERE WAS NO "WHITE" STATUE

"Please, that's simple. Clearly they were two different statues." Phoenix said. "You can't just simply take a plain, white statue and transform it into bronze. If Jack Anchor did see a white statue when he explored the church in the first place, and the only time he's been back there was the other night, then it's likely the church could have just gotten a new and improved David statue. And so, at this point, the witness just took a shot in the dark and figured it was the white statue that killed Owen Miles without doing his homework!"

"And I think you all know what that means!" Announced Apollo. "It means this witness has no clue about the details at-hand! After all, he can't get a statue's color right; so how can we expect him to be a reliable witness!?"

"SHUT UP!" Jack shouted, gripping the witness stand. His face was as red as his suit and snot rolled down his nose. "SHUTUPSHUTUP! WHATISYOURPROBLEM!? DOYOUKNOWWHOIAM, YOUJABRONI!? JACK… ANCHOR… SON!"

Phoenix stood straight up and smiled. "Please. That's enough. You expect us to take you for your word now? I think that's enough out of you, witness. Your Honor!" Phoenix pointed his finger at the witness. "I move to disqualify Mr. Jack Anchor as an 'expert' witness!"

Jack looked straight up and screamed,

"GGAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

"Objection!" Hera cried. The court eyed her as she stood there in silence. She smiled, shook her head, and rested her left arm on the desk. "Not quite yet, Your Honor."

"Huh? Ms. Novak? What's wrong?" The Judge asked.

"This witness isn't finished yet. Do you remember? He has that 'special something' he'd wish to show us."

Phoenix lit up. (Gah! I completely forgot!)

After a short while, Jack stood straight up, smiling; a full recovery. "Yeah, yeah! I almost forgot! I have a gift for you all. Something that'll make your jaws drop."

Jack pulled out the envelope and waved it around. "Do I have permission to unveil it now?"

The Judge nodded. "Yes. Please do!"

(Okay, Phoenix. Get ready for anything…!)

Jack Anchor opened up the envelope. Inside was a photograph. "You remember how I said I failed to take a picture of the incident? Well… that was just a little white lie."

"Wait!" Phoenix yelled. "You took a picture!? Why didn't you say so beforehand!?"

Jack shrugged, and blew a bubble. "Anticipation. It's what we news anchors do, apparently. Keep the best story for last. Now then… here is the picture. Drum-roll, please."

Jack presented the photograph to the entire court. The picture's contents was enough to make Phoenix's heart stop.

The picture was a black & white photo of a man inside the crime scene putting a ski mask on. Owen's deceased body laid on the wall in the back. The killer wore a clear, common black priest's coat. The man's right hand was cut and was dripping blood.

"No… NO WAY!" Apollo jumped up, his heart pounding.

The court began to discuss this evidence as well, up until the Judge silenced the court with the single, loud bang of his gavel. "Order, everyone! ORDER! Well! How incriminating!" The Judge commented. "Needless to say, the court accepts this photo as evidence."

'JACK ANCHOR'S CRIME SCENE PHOTO' ADDED TO COURT RECORD:

ITEM DESCRIPTION: A photo taken by Jack Anchor; contains a man that fits David's description in the crime scene just after Owen Mile's murder.

Hera eyed the witness, smiling. "I gotta say. Not a bad find… for a man."

Jack, blushing, shrugged. "Hey, you know me. Not a moment wasted, as they say."

Back over at the defense's bench, Apollo was in a stir. "This is bad, bad, BAD, Mr. Wright!" Apollo stammered. "What do we do now!? Boss!? Boss…?"

Apollo turned and saw Phoenix leaning in, gazing at the witness. Jack smiled. "Well, there you have it, old-timer. What do you think? Ready to call it quits?"

Phoenix was quiet. Then, he stood back up and slowly shook his head. "Mr. Jack Anchor… once again you are misleading the information as it truly is. I'm afraid this photo is just wrong."

Jack raised an eyebrow, his teeth gritting. "What…!? Outrageous! What's so 'wrong' about it!?"

"Yes, Mr. Wright. What is wrong with this photograph handed to us?" Prosecutor Hera ordered. "Looks clear as a crystal to me. Show us evidence that proves what is wrong with this photograph!"

"Take that!"

Phoenix presented David's bloody coat. "As you can see, there is something oddly peculiar about this coat here. Any… stains, you can see?"

Jack yelled, lunging back and swallowing his gum, "Nngh! N-no WAY!"

"This coat belongs to David Vaughan. As you can clearly see just by looking at it, there is blood visible on this coat. Now, let's look at Mr. Anchor's photo again."

Jack's crime photo was projected to the court. Phoenix pointed out the man's clear, black coat. "Right here, just moments after the murder, you can see that this coat is completely clear and has no holes, as well. Doesn't anyone find that a bit… odd? Almost looks like it was somebody else that killed Mr. Miles."

"Objection!" Hera shouted. Sweat poured down her face; her teeth gritting and her left arm to her chest. "I… I object to this evidence!"

"And where are you basing this objection, Prosecutor Novak?" The Judge asked.

"Because… because it's RIDICULOUS! I mean… just… think about it!"

The Judge shook his head. "Objection overruled." His Honor then turned to the whimpering witness on the stand. "Well, Mr. Anchor? Anything you wish to add? How do you explain this inconsistency?"

Jack breathed heavily under his breath. "I… I don't know what to say! It honestly quite surprises me, as well…"

"Objection!" Phoenix shouted. "That's because nothing you said held and water, Mr. Anchor! You will no longer feed this court any more lies! Is that understood? Now, Mr. Anchor…"

Simultaneously, Phoenix and Apollo pointed their arms at the witness. Phoenix continued, "Why don't you go ahead and tell us the truth!?"

The court grew quiet as it waited in anticipation for Jack Anchor's response. Jack just stood there on the spot, his eyes looking around.

"Well… well… perhaps… I was mistaken a little…"

Phoenix continued pointing his arm at the witness. After a short while, Phoenix drooped down and gave a tired expression. (Huh…? Th-that's it…? That's all you got…?)

Jack eventually stood up and inserted a fresh piece of gum into his mouth and began chewing. "Not bad, Wright. But I'm not finished quite yet! I have more evidence to throw out there! I always come prepared."

"…WHAT!?" Phoenix jumped. (M-more evidence!?)

"Th-this cannot be!" The Judge exclaimed. He angrily glared at the witness. "Witness! Do you really have more evidence!?"

Jack nodded, proudly smiling. "But of course! And wait 'till the court gets a load of this!"

Hera just stared at Jack. "Witness… if this is one of your jokes…"

"No jokes! Pure, unadulterated evidence! You'll see!"

"Very well, Mr. Anchor. Show us this evidence you have for us. You had better pray it's of quality this time around." The Judge told the witness.

"Ha, ha! Of course! Now, then… here goes nothing." Jack smirked.

(Here we go, Phoenix. One more evidence should do him in! Get ready… I have a feeling this next evidence will be tough to crack.)

For a short while, the court stared at Jack, standing idly on the stand. Standing still, Jack continued smiling. After a while, Phoenix said, "Um… witness? Any, er, evidence you'd like to show us?"

"Yes, yes, of course." Jack stated. "The most powerful piece of evidence of all: my word."

All eyes were on the delusional witness as he continued saying, "Please, I'm THE Jack Anchor, after all! So what if I made a few minor stumbles here and there? I'm only human. Come on, Judgie. Throw me a bone here, send that guy to the electric chair, and let's all go home, eh? I have a book signing here in a few hours, so let's call it a day."

The Judge looked at Jack Anchor as if he had some kind of mental issue. "Um… witness? I-I'm afraid that won't do, I'm afraid."

Jack just stared at the court. A tiny bubble was hanging outside his mouth. "I... I see. Well, wait until my studio hears about all this! This court is going to be hearing from all of us!" All of a sudden, his phone began to vibrate. Jack quickly pulled it out and read,

"'Dear, Mr. Anchor, it's the Public Library… I am afraid we will be pulling your memoir… from our shelves…?'"

Jack's mouth began to shake. "But… but…"

The phone vibrated again, and again read aloud,

"'Hey, Jack Anchor, it's Quinn, your PR Agent. Sorry, bud, but sponsors are starting to pull out; you know how it is. Call me back when you get the chance so we can get a drink and think of other plans. See ya...'"

"I… I don't understand!" Jack mumbled.

Once more, the phone vibrated. Jack began to panic and he read,

"'Jack Anchor, it's Buster. You know... your boss. Things got kind of out-of-hand in there. I think you and I will have to discuss your next salary when you get back here. Don't expect any favors. Adios.'"

Jack dropped phone in disbelief. "H-how can this be!?"

Phoenix shook his head. "Ironic, isn't it, Mr. Anchor? That through this whole process of trying to get my client guilty," Phoenix slammed his desk, "you just managed to help my case!"

Jack glared at the attorney. The once-proud news anchor was speechless. All of a sudden, his entire expression changed. His mouth opened wide to let out a scream. Instead, a bubble from his gum began to inflate and grow… and grow, until it covered his entire face. Then, the bubble popped, and an ear-piercing scream escaped the bubble, echoing through the courtroom and causing the people around him to cover their ears. The scream continued to echo as Jack dropped his jaw, his tie loose, the buttons on his suit snapping off, and his hair drooped down. His face white and riddled with exhaustion, Jack could only say,

"JaCK… AnChoR, eVerYONe… rEPortING to YOu liVE… back… to YOU... GeORGIe… and… good Nigghhht,"

And with that, Jack Anchor, the distinguished news anchor, fainted from exhaustion.

-September 4, 2:02 PM-
-District Court-
-Courtroom No. 4-

The Judge slammed his gavel to gain the court's attention. "I am afraid that is all the time we will have for today's trial. Also… can I ask a question?"

"Huh?" Phoenix said. "Oh, uh, sure. Go ahead, Your Honor."

"We discussed the murder, the crime scene, the cup, and all sorts of mishaps," the Judge went on, "but what about the motive? What do we have in terms of that?"

Phoenix thought hard about this question. (Hmmm… that's… actually a really good point.) "I honestly don't know, Your Honor. But I am certain if given enough time, the defense and/or the prosecution can answer that for us."

"I understand. Good work, everybody. With that said, I will now end today's trial. We will pick up at 10 o'clock sharp first thing tomorrow morning. Any objections?"

Phoenix shook his head. "Not from us, Your Honor."

Hera had her eyes closed. She, then, looked back up and said, "No objections. However, I do pray that the defense begin to take their search a big more seriously. I doubt they'll like whatever they discover through their investigation."

(…Hmph. I think I'll manage, Ms. Novak. Can you?)

"Now then, with all that said and done, I hereby dismiss today's proceedings. Court is hereby adjourned!" With a pound of the gavel, everybody got up to leave the ominous courthouse.

COURT RECORD

-Attorney Badge: My personal badge proving my profession. I never leave home without it.

-Owen's Autopsy Report: Cause of death was an instant kill by a David statue to the victim's head. Time of Death: About 8:00-8:30 PM. Victim is covered in bruises.

-Body Outline: The aftermath of the crime. Blood is splattered around the head and facial area. The statue sits to its left.

-David Statue: Depiction of Michelangelo's David statue. The murder weapon.

-Shattered Coffee Mug: A cup that was likely to have been shattered during the fight between Owen and the killer. Owen probably used this cup against said killer in defense. Was made by Maria Cupp for an ill Owen.

-Jar of Blood: A jar of blood found in Owen's office. Why he would have a jar of blood is the question.

-Child's Drawing: A drawing showing Owen, David, and an unknown woman. A bloody smear is on the side because of me.

-Bloody Print: Some kind of bloody print from a shoe on top of the dumpster. Could it be involved with the murder?

-Glass: Shards of glass littering the floor. Must have come from the broken window next to it. A shard has blood on it.

-Black Cloth: A black strip of cloth. Likely belonged on David's old priest coat.

-Crime Scene Photo: A photo taken of the crime scene. Drops of David's blood left a trail between Owen's desk in the background to the shattered window.

-Church Diagram: A detailed diagram of St. Owen's Baptist Church. The crime scene on the left side is highlighted.

-Bloody Priest Coat: David Vaughan's official priest coat. It is completely coated in Owen Mile's blood. There is also a small tear in fabric over the blood.

-Raya's Statement: "David Vaughan was covered in the victim's blood and his right hand was bleeding profusely. We had doctors patch his right hand up on the way to the Detention Center."

-What it's Like To Be an Average Jack; By Jack Anchor: "Memoir written by Jack Anchor. Includes original, award-winning chapters like, "How to Be Me" and "How to Tackle the Game of Life, Today".

-Jack Anchor's Crime Scene Photo: A photo taken by Jack Anchor; contains a man that fits David's description in the crime scene just after Owen Mile's murder.

PROFILES

-Apollo Justice: A strong, but loud and persistent, attorney who works with me at the agency. Is friends with the defendant.

-Athena Cykes: A gifted attorney that can read people's emotions though their hearts.

-David Vaughan: The suspect of the crime. A priest at the church where the murder took place.

-Jack Anchor: A prestigious news anchor who prides himself a bit too much. Witnessed the murderer.

-Raya Novak: A no-nonsense detective in charge of the investigation. Only been working for a few short months.

-Phineas Filch: A tricky thief that was a witness to a crime a long time ago and is now a janitor at the church.

-Damien Hope: A happy-go-lucky priest that was Owen's apprentice. An overall loving, trusting guy.

-Maria Cupp: The kind, eccentric coffee-lady that works at the church. Called the police.

-Hera Novak: The prosecutor of the case and sister to the detective. This is her very first trial, but showcases great skill.