Chapter 67: The hearing

"A month after the closure of the kidnapping case, it finally seems that everything will be concluded at noon today. According to our sources, Mark W., the chairman of the whole operation will have a court case in which an official verdict will be given in the case. According to our experts, Fox faces between 10 and 30 years in prison for mass kidnapping and sowing terror in the city. This is the first major scandal in Zootopia since the raptor attack, so it will be hard to get a soft hand from the judges. In addition, it emerged during the investigation that his helping hand was the now-defunct Fox District Police Chief Caroline. The girl was caught after a failed attempt to poison Chief Bogo during a gathering at a natural history museum. The case is an emergency one, so the entire hearing will take place in a closed room surrounded by the military to ensure that there are no disturbances during the sentencing. More information will be given on 6 p.m. in a special edition of facts on our station."

2.00 p.m.

The hall was already closed and the court hearing had been going on for half an hour against Caroline and Mark, who until then had been in the custody of Zootopia Central Police Station. The room was practically empty - there were the judges, the prosecutor, and the convicts' lawyer, who was trying a cheap trick to defend his clients. On the bench sat Nick, Judy and Bogo, who were to be questioned from time to time if necessary. Initially, several representatives of the TV media were scheduled to be present, but everyone knew that if the truth came out the town would descend into even more negative emotions than before. This is partly why the courtroom (as well as both the court building) was surrounded by the military, by nature it was known and assumed that the media would try to get as much l of the case as possible, and no one could allow that to happen.

Specifically, the court case was a top-down prison sentence for the two suspects, they had no chance even to recuse themselves from their actions. More than a dozen stacks of documents were found in the complex about the research that had been carried out in the building, which included signatures from both Mark and Caroline. In addition, some of the co-workers had come forward confessing to the charges against them, making the chances of getting a small sentence really, as if not to say, small.

It pained Nick's heart to have to watch the scenes in which further evidence against his father was shown and he couldn't do anything about it - he couldn't object to the photos being taken at the complex, it was beyond the truth and to say they were fakes would only cause more trouble for him and Judy. Doe, on the other hand, understood perfectly the boy's pain as he listened to further arguments towards Mark with his head bent down. Towards Caroline he didn't feel much affection - she had already been quite treacherous during his high school days, that was one of the main reasons why he had broken up with her. What hurt him most was that, despite her reassurances that she had changed, she was still the same treacherous girl who reckoned Nick was still an immature man. He didn't wish badly for her - he just wanted her to finally learn that life requires change. Nick's mother didn't turn up for the trial - she didn't even know when exactly it would be! Nick knew that Mark hadn't 100% admitted what he was going to have to go to prison for, the news of the tests being carried out would have completely destroyed a relationship between them that might have seemed - blossoming again. Of course, this could do little if Mark went to jail for several long years.

"We now ask that Mr Nick Wilde approach us," said the judge calling the fox as a witness. Nick was prepared for such an eventuality, he had it all sorted out in his head, he knew what to say to each question. he stood up from his seat correcting his navy blue coat and then approached in front of the supreme court seat. As he walked he glanced at his father - he did not seem stressed, quite the opposite. He looked relaxed, full of relief that it would all be over at last. Caroline, on the other hand, sat full of nerves, her right leg rising and falling - it was her tic. She was probably nervous about the sentence she might get. When Nick stood before the court, he took an oath to tell the truth alone, and only the truth, after which he was immediately asked a question about what had gone on in the complex

"Mr Wilde, you were in the complex when the scenes just discussed took place. What can you say about that? Is there anything that we have not discussed?" The judge asked.

"Well...actually when I was abducted there , no examinations had been carried out, I was there when they had finished. However, I saw numerous traces of blood and use of claws, which could indeed be indicative of violence. There were a lot of hospital beds in the rooms, some had chains on them..." Replied Nick confidently. The basis for the credibility of the words was the attitude in which they were spoken. Fox knew that he could not interrupt a sentence in the middle of speaking if he wanted his statement to be read as actually credible.

"And what about the kidnappings? Where did you and Ms Hopps manage to find the abductees?" The judge asked.

"There was a room on the lowest floor of the complex...for them. It's a sort of waiting room, nothing threatening for them, it looked like they had to wait out the whole situation," replied Nick.

"And have you seen any poisoned people in these premises? If so, can you describe them as they looked? Several individuals were found alive in the investigation, but they were all neutralised or died before any tests could be carried out on them." The judge asked.

"Well...Ekh...no, actually I didn't see any of the infected. I moved around most of the time using the ventilation shafts so no one could see me. I only came out of the shaft when Judy and I managed to find a way down to the very floor below" replied Nick. A lie. He guessed that sooner or later he would have to lie, but he didn't think it would come to such a moment so soon! Fortunately he was prepared for it and although he knew he would have to lie he didn't want to do it too often.

"All right. That's all from me. Maybe something the prosecutor or the lawyer has questions about?" The judge asked.

"I don't have any," replied Mark and Caroline's solicitor. Nick breathed a sigh of relief in the certainty that it was over. He was lucky he didn't get any more questions where he would most likely have to lie. He thanked the court, then turned back to sit next to Hopps and Bogo again.

"All right. It seems that everything has already been presented by Commander Bogo and Judy Hopps and there is no further basis to discuss the case. Do the lawyer or the prosecutor have any questions?" Asked the judge one last time.

"I have no questions your honour".

"I have no questions either," added the prosecutor.

"All right then. I ask everyone to leave the room so that the highest can order what punishment will fall on the defendants. I order a 20-minute recess," the judge announced. The doors of the hall were opened and everyone was escorted out of the hall with the assistance of security guards.

As the judges deliberated on what punishment to impose on Caroline and Mark, they were all in the corridor, which was filled with military personnel who stood near the door with rifles in their hands, ready to fire at any moment.

"It looks medium friendly," said Judy looking around her. Everywhere she saw visitors dressed in morose colours, where everyone had a suit on.

"No one can get the gist of it. After all, you know that Hopps," replied Bogo. She was aware of this, but felt that the scale of seriousness with which this situation was taken was a little over dimensional. The defendants were not even in a position to do anything, the biggest threat in this situation was potential journalists wanting to go to court!

At the time, Nick was talking to his solicitor about Caroline and Mark's sentence. It might have seemed that he was experiencing it more than them! He was stressed about the sentence his father might get, and hoped that the judge would be quite lenient in imposing the punishment, but seeing the evidence presented during the trial, he himself averred that his father would not get a large punishment.

"The situation for my clients...is quite severe. The evidence speaks for itself and they have virtually nothing to defend themselves. They were driven by hypocrisy... the desire for power and profit. They didn't think of anyone else, the affected people! I'm sorry Mr Wilde, but I'm afraid they will spend the next few decades in prison," the lawyer communicated. It was not good news, but frankly it was the most realistic.

"There's probably nothing that can be done to commute the sentence right?" Asked Nick hopefully, but the barrister quickly destroyed his illusions by waving his head negatively.

"Unfortunately Mr Wilde. Some things can't be fixed just like that," said the barrister.

"Yes...that's obvious...thank you" replied a disappointed Nick. Soon everyone was called back into the room - the moment of truth had arrived.

As everyone took their seats and waited for the verdict Judy turned her attention to Nick, who had his fingers crossed on both his hands. She could see that he was terribly anxious for his father to get the least possible sentence. She was beginning to see that Nick had become convinced of his father and was beginning to sympathise with him. At first he had not haunted him, he had wanted the worst for him, but now he had matured, he knew that revenge was not a good option. She too hoped that both of them would not be in jail for too long, but no one could have predicted the verdict.

Soon the supreme prepared to pronounce sentence. Mark and Caroline rose from their seats ready to hear the sentence.

"Caroline and Mark Wilde, you are sentenced to respectively: Caroline 8 years' imprisonment and a lifetime ban on being able to practise as an officer of the law for cooperation, concealment of facts and attempted poisoning, and Mark Wilde 20 years' imprisonment for conducting illegal experiments, sowing terror, numerous kidnappings and several murders. ' The judge announced. Nick growled quietly in disappointment as he swung his head from side to side, he was disappointed with the sentence for his father, even though he had expected the sentence to settle in the region of 20 years. Mark and Caroline looked resigned to the fact that they would be sitting in prison for the next few years and did not look terrified. There was a look of relief on Mark's face, while Caroline was sad rather than terrified.

"Mr Mark. I really don't know what you were trying to achieve with this research, or why or what you were doing it for, and I honestly don't want to know. But I want to tell you that if there was any video evidence, you would certainly have a life sentence. To Ms Caroline: working with such a person while in such a serious position? You have disappointed me and I think not only me. Unfortunately, but we are forced to take away your ability to practice your profession for life. We cannot tolerate such behaviour.

I consider the hearing closed, you may disperse," the judge communicated by striking the gavel, marking the end of the hearing. The hearing was over, everyone started to leave the room to have one last talk in the corridor before the prisoners were taken off to prison. An escort was already waiting for them outside the hall, they immediately placed handcuffs on the hands of Caroline and Mark, who, reconciled to their sentence, headed towards the police van that was waiting for them. They were followed by Judy and Nick, who, after a brief conversation with their solicitor (who they had hired and covered all costs), thanked them for their help with the case.

Outside, the area was swarming with journalists waiting under the stairs of the building to ask questions about the case. Everyone wanted to know as much as possible, they wanted to know as many facts as quickly as possible, the military bravely secured the area from intrusive journalists, for some managed to get through the wall erected by the military, but such were quickly overpowered.

Caroline had already got into the car waiting to be driven away, Mark asked for a moment more so he could talk to Nick, who was moved by it all. Only now did it occur to him what a good choice it had been to destroy the memory stick. He felt remorseful that his father was going to prison for 20 years, he didn't want to imagine how he would feel if he was sitting for life, because of him!

"Nick, I'm not asking for anything big, I know you still don't like me, but I will ask one thing. Is there at least a chance for our relationship to be at least a little better?" Mark asked. Nick said nothing for a moment, which let Mark know that it was unlikely to amount to anything. He nodded with a shake of his head, just as he was about to get into the police car Nick gave him a hug! Mark was surprised by this, but happy and reassured at the same time. He was being hugged by his son for the first time in a long time!

"Yes...there's a chance," Nick said quietly. He let go of his dad and when he did a smile was painted on his face and there were tears in his eyes. Mark also smiled while holding his son's shoulder.

"Visit me in prison, please. You and ... I need you both" asked Mark.

"We will," replied Nick.

After that Mark already had to get in the car - he had run out of time. He got into the police car and moments later they drove off towards the prison.

Standing on the steps Judy and Nick were approached by Commander Bogo. He didn't speak for a moment, focused on what the two officers were focused on.

"It's over now. Mark's case is officially over. You can be proud of yourselves" Bogo communicated.