The final trial for the White Ranger case is about to begin, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
DM77's Ace Attorney Chapter 23
White Ranger's Final Battle Pt 1
October 20, 10:00 AM, District Court, Courtroom No. 4
This was it, the final day of the trail for the White Ranger case, here is J's last chance to prove Johnny's innocence and expose the true culprit. J was a bit nervous, but she was confidant she can expose Stella's lies and get to the truth.
She stood at the Defence table with Jaden by her side as Hunter stood across from her and the audience members take their seats.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said, "Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Johnny Bravo."
"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor." Hunter said nodding.
"The defence is ready, Your Honor." J said with a nod as well.
"Today will be the final day of this trial." Maccadam tells everyone. "I hope both the prosecution and the defence will be able to present decisive evidence. Very well, Mr. Deamonne. Your opening statement."
"In yesterday's session, the defence presented us with a new theory for this case." Hunter explained reading from a paper a summery of yesterday. "She claims that the scene of the crime was, in fact, Studio Two. Today, I will call on people present in the Studio Two trailer that day. From their testimonies, the truth will become clear."
"Hmm…very well!" Maccadam said nodding.
'Hunter seems a bit on edge today…' J notes looking at him.
The members of court murmur and quiet down when Maccadam bangs his gavel and said, "You may call your first witness, Mr. Deamonne."
"The prosecution call Miss. Stella to the stand." Hunter tells everyone "Miss. Stella is a producer who was present in the Studio Two trailer that day."
Stella soon arrives at the witness stand, she was their with her tea sipping from it looking her usual disinterested self.
"Will the witness state her name and occupation?" Hunter said to Stella.
Stella sips her tea before saying "Stella. I am a producer for Vox Studios."
"On the day of the murder, you were in the trailer in Studio two…" Hunter said beginning his questioning.
"As everyone here knows, yes?" Stella said nodding interrupting him and Hunter looks at her confused "I dislike needless banter. If you must pontificate, do it when I'm not here."
"Mrrph!" Hunter said in shock to that leaning down at the table.
"V-very well, Miss Stella." Maccadam said surprised at that. "Please give the court your testimony concerning the day of the murder."
"J! I know she did it! Make her pay!" Jaden said to J.
"R-right!" J said nodding and thinks 'If she's guilty, I'll catch her with her pants down…so to speak.'
Stella began her testimony on The Day of the Murder saying "I entered the trailer, oh, a little before noon. The meeting began at 12:00 sharp. It ended at 4:00. There was to be a rehearsal afterwards, so we went to Studio One…I was fatigued, so I had Roshi take me. At 2:30, we took a 15-minute break in the meeting. Roshi and I ate t-bone steaks on the table in front of the trailer."
"We found Malty's body later, when we went to Studio One. That's all." Stella said finishing.
"Hmmm…" Maccadam said thinking "I have a question about one part of your testimony. You were 'fatigued' so you had Roshi 'take' you…?"
"The van." Stella said simply.
"Hmm?" Maccadam lets out confused.
"There's a van at Studio Two." Stella told him "I had him take me in that. I thought it might be risky to walk, what with that woodpecker's head toppling over."
J thinks and nods adding the Van to the Court Record think this might be useful into later.
"I…I see!" Maccadam said to that "Very well. Miss. J, your cross-examination."
"This is the final battle, J! Let's do it!" Jaden told her.
J nods and presses the first statement about the time she arrived said "Hold it! By yourself?"
"Yes." Stella said nodding.
"And you didn't stop in at the Employee Area?" J asked her.
"No" Stella just said.
J looks at her and asked "Are you always this…terse?"
"Yes" Stella just said.
'Oh dear…' J thought sweat dropping. She then asks on the second statement about the time the meeting started and ended saying "Hold it! Did no one leave during the meeting?"
"No one." Stella just said sipping her tea.
J looks at her at the silence and said "C-come on…let's talk a bit more about that."
"Objection!" Hunter said at that slamming his hand on his desk "The witness did not come here to engage in idle conversation!" He slams his hand down again "Stop interrupting the testimony."
"The same could be said to you, Mr. Deamonne." Stella just said. "And please stop banging on your little desk. It hurts my ears."
"Mmph!" Hunter said to that.
"Hold it!" J said on the third statement about the rehearsal planned and asked, "And when exactly was that?"
"I've forgotten." Stella just said.
J looks at Stella as both were quiet and she said sweatdropping "Maybe you could try remembering?"
"No." Stella just said.
"The meeting ended at 4:00, and the rehearsal was scheduled for 5:00…" Hunter said looking at the notes. "I would think it weas between those times."
'You 'would thing'?! Come on, all you did was state the obvious, Hunter!' J thinks to that, she then goes to the statement about the 15-minute break and said slamming her hands on her desk "Hold it! And what were you doing during that time…?"
"Don't hit your desk." Stella told him "It irritates me."
Hunter slams his hand on his desk and said "Yeah! Miss. J…! Oops." He winces realizing what he did.
Stella sips her tea and says "It was a 15 minute break…"
"Hold it!" J said on the last statement about the t-bone steaks and asked "Do you have someone who can verify this?"
"Roshi." Stella just said.
"N-no…I mean someone else?" J said sweat dropping.
"One person is enough." Stella just told her.
'If she committed murder during that break…She wouldn't have had time to eat a t-bone steak! If I had some evidence that proved she didn't eat that steak…' J thinks but then remembers something about the plates outside Studio Two and then goes to the Steak plates in the Court Record and said grinning "Objection! Hah! As I thought!"
Stella remains quiet and sips her tea waiting to hear what J had to says.
"You claim you ate a t-bone steak!" J said grinning and slams her hands on her desk "But I say you did not!"
"W-what's this, now, Miss. J?" Maccadam asked.
J brings up on the screen of the Steak Plate at the Employee Area and said, "Look at this."
"It's… a plate?" Maccadam said confused.
"This plate was on the table in the employee area." J explained "As you can see, a large bone has been left behind."
"Miss. J. Need I remind you it was a T-BONE steak?" Hunter said chuckling and shrugging.
"Exactly my point!" J said nodding. "Remember, if you will…Miss. Stella and Mr. Roshi ate at a table outside the trailer." He shows the image empty plate found at that area "Yet there were no bones left on the plates! The plates were bare!"
Stella grits her teeth and clutches the handle of her cup as her arm shakes as her lie was seen through.
"Miss. Stella?" J said looking at her slamming her hands on the desk. "Tell me, how can a persona eat a t-bone steak…and not leave the bone? I think I know how! You didn't eat any steak during that break! You took your steak and threw it somewhere…like that incinerator!"
Stella again grits her teeth and her arm shakes but she recomposes herself and sips her tea.
"I…I see!" Maccadam said nodding "Then what was Miss. Stella doing during her break?"
"Isn't it obvious, Your Honor?" J said and then adds slamming her hands down "She was meeting with the White Ranger!"
The makes the members of the court murmur and Maccadam said after slamming his gavel "Order! A-are you saying…?!"
"Yes, Your Honor!" J said nodding. We then see a flashback image of Malty wearing the full White Ranger costume confronting Stella at the trailer of Studio Two as J said "As Miss. Stella left the trailer to ear her steak…She rand into the White Ranger! And then you did it." J slams her hands down on the desk as we return to the present and said "You killed her with your own hands!"
Stella grits her teeth in anger and the members murmur as Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "M-Miss. J! I-isn't that a little presumptuous?!"
"Objection!" Hunter calls out and said "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull, J?!"
"Let her claim what she want to claim…" Stella just saying and looks at J grinning "You say I did it?"
"Yes." J said nodding.
"Fascinating!" Stella said chuckling "And here I was worrying that today would be as boring as all the rest." She sips her tea and says "Very well. Let us have a bettle of wits, you and I."
J nods to that and this 'Any day, Stella!'
"Good luck, J!" Jaden said to her.
Stella pours herself a fresh cup of tea and said "Let's see…What was that murder weapon again? Oh yes, the 'Saba Sword.'"
"Yes…?" J said wondering where she was going with this.
"I am, as you can see, not a very athletic woman nor do I dress for such things." Stella said grinning "How could I possibly use that heavy sword as a weapon?"
"I think you would have a great deal of difficulty using that as a weapon." J said thinking "Pretty much anyone would with a prop made of heavy material."
"Hah." Stella said to that. "You, see?"
"Yes..." J said nodding but grins. "However, that has no bearing on this case!"
Stella looks at her and asked "Meaning?"
"The Saba Sword was not the murder weapon!" J told her
"What?!" Stella said in shocked annoyance and the members of the court murmur in shock.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "What is the meaning of this?! The sword was found lying next to the victim's body!"
"I have proof, Your Honor." J told him. "I can prove that the Saba Sword was not used as the murder weapon!" She then selects her evidence and said bringing up the Saba Sword on the screen "Take that! I present my proof: the so-called 'murder weapon'!"
"B-but that IS the murder weapon!" Hunter said confused.
"Not so fast." J said and explained "Remember that this spear broke during the morning action scene run-through? But, someone fixed the sword. It was the security man! He fixed it with duct tape! Now tell me, how is it possible…for someone to stab a woman who is wearing a think costume with this?! Through the chest!"
The members of the court murmur surprised at that. Maccadam bangs his gavel "O-order! Order!"
Hunter bangs his hand on his desk and said "Miss. J! What are you driving at?! Think about what you're…"
"Silence!" Stella lets out loudly "I'm the one testifying here and I will be heard!"
"Mmmph…!" Hunter lets out at that.
"Are you quite sane?" Stella said to J "Are you even aware of what you're saying? If the Saba Sword was not the murder weapon, then pray tell what was?!" She looks at J grinning "How was Malty killed?"
"Well, Miss. J? Can you tell us what weapon was used to kill Miss. Melromarc?" Maccadam asked J.
"Would I make a claim like that if I couldn't tell you what the weapon was?" J said grinning.
"I'm afraid your confidence can sometimes be unfounded, Miss. J…" Maccadam admits "Very well, let's see this murder weapon, then."
"Take that!" J said as she selects the one piece needed and shows it on the screen and holding it up the Five-Year Photo "Look at this photo."
Maccadam receives the photo from the Purge Trooper bailiff and asked shocked "W-what is this? Why, that's Malty Melromarc standing at the top of the stairs!" The members murmur and he bang his gavel "O-order! Order! If I cannot have order this trail will be suspended!" He then looks at J "Miss. J! What is this all about?!"
"This photograph is from five years ago." J explains "There was an unfortunate accident at Vox Studios. This is a photo of that very accident. Not a word of this was leaked to the outside. It was a close-kept secret at the studios."
"What does this have to do with the current case?!" Hunter asked annoyed.
"Mr. Deamonne…" J said looking at him. "You still can't see it? See the fallen man in this photo? See how the fencepost pierced him though the chest?"
"Wh…what?!" Hunter said shocked seeing it. "Are you saying…?!"
"Yes." J said nodding. "What happened five years ago…" We then see a flashback of the photo changing to show Stella looking shocked at the top of the stairs as the White Ranger layed hunched over the fence like the man in the photo before. As J finishes when we return to the present saying "has happened again!"
Stella looks at J stunned and shocked as the members of the court murmur in shock at this development.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Miss. J! Continue!"
"It's 2:30PM on the day of the murder!" J said as she explained "Miss. Stella meets Malty Melromarc outside the Studio Two trailer! Then she did it! She pushed Miss. Melromarc off the stairs onto the fence! Just like Miss. Melromarc had herself done five years ago! Through whether she did it on purpose or by accident, I cannot say." Stella looks smirking at J as she clutches her teacup.
"I-in other words….th-th victim, Miss. Melromarc…" Hunter said trembling in annoyance "She died in the same way that she caused another person to die…five years ago!"
"Precisely." J said with a nod. "Ironic, isn't it?"
Stella grins as she sips her tea, but the grin seemed to mask her anger as she said "Hahaha. Very creative, Miss. J. I could use a female drone like you on my script writing staff."
"You deny that what I say is true?" J asked her.
Stella sips her tea before saying back in her usual composed self and grins at her "Miss. J. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Malty died at the trailer as you say. Yet, the body was found at Studio One, was it not? And in Evox's costume, no less. Are you then claiming that I carried the body to Studio One…And returned to the trailer, all in the space of a 15-minute break? How could I have disposed of the body?!" J thinks on it.
"The break in the meeting at the trailer lasted 15 minutes, from 2:30 to 2:45." Hunter said reading the notes. "Could Malty Melromarc have been pushed off the stairs to her death…then carried to Studio One and place inside her costume? There wasn't enough time!"
"Hmmm…indeed." Maccadam said nodding. "Well, Miss. J? How could she have dealt with the body?"
"What if she had another way to carry the body, other than her own hands?" J said thinking.
"For instance?" Stella asked smirking.
"Actually, for that matter, there was no need for her to do the deed in 15 minutes!" J points out and slams her hands down on the desk and said "And there was a way for you to carry that body."
Stella winces at that and said a bit rattled "I-interesting! Let's hear it then."
"Miss. J?" Maccadam said looking at her. Please show us how she carried the body."
"Take that!" J lets out as she selects her evidence and looks at Stella "Miss. Stella. You carried the body to Studio One." She brings up the van on the monitor "And you used the studio van to do it!"
Stella looks shocked at that as the members of the court murmur only to be quietened down by Maccadam banging his gavel.
"Recall your testimony…" J said bringing it up
"There was to be a rehearsal afterwards, so we went to Studio One." Past Stella said. "I was fatigued, so I had Roshi take me. There was a van there, right? I had Roshi drive me."
"You used the van to carry the body to Studio One!" J told her and points at her "Then, before everyone else got there, you put the body into the Evox costume!" Stella looks stunned at that.
"Objection!" Hunter said to that "Hold on, J! Don't forget, it was Roshi that drove the van!" He slams his hand down on the desk "Are you suggesting that Mr. Roshi was a conspirator?"
"Of couse, Roshi has to have been a conspirator!" J said smiling "The body had to be place in the van and put into the costume. There's no way Miss. Stella could have done that alone! Also, don't forget that they had to dispose of the White Ranger costume. They had to…because it was covered in Miss. Melromarc's blood! They probably burned what could be burned in that small incinerator and hid the rest somewhere it could be found." She slams her hands on the desk and looks to Stella "Well, Miss. Stella! Shall I continue?"
Stella looks at J smirking sipping her tea to calm her anger and then said after composing "No need. You're smarter than you look, Miss. J. Hmph. I lose." She grins at J "You win. It…was fun."
'I…win?!' J thinks surprised she looks around and it wasn't just her who was stunned silent Hunter, Maccadam and the members of the court were silent as well "Umm…" She said rubbing her head awkwardly "So…what happens next?" Stella looks at them confused "Don't 'confuse look' me! Don't you have anything to say?!"
"What would you like me to say?" Stella asked grinning.
"Huh?" J said confused "'I lost'? Something like that!"
"I just said that." Stella said sipping her tea.
J slams her hands on the desk and said "W-wait, so you mean…Stella! So it was you? You killed Malty Melromarc!"
Everyone remained silent and Stella sips a fresh cup of tea and said smirking "Who can say?"
"Huh?" J said confused.
"Are you sure I did?" Stella said "Miss. J…We just engaged in a battle of wits. And the result of that battle? You proved the possibility that I murdered Malty.
"R-right!" J said concerned on this.
"But…that is only a possibility." Stella told her. "Proof is another thing altogether. You lack decisive proof, Miss. J."
"Wha….wha…wha…wha…WHAAAAAT?!" J said in shock.
This made the members of the court mutter, Maccadam banged his gavel and said "Order! Mr. Deamonne, your thoughts?"
"Ummm…uhh…mmmph." Hunter said unnerved thinking "O-of course, it's as the witness says!" He thinks more as he recomposes "Certainly, it does seem very likely she did it… but, uh, there's no proof!"
J took note at that and thinks 'Hunter isn't sure!'
Stella sips her tea and said "Well? I came here as a witness today. If you've no more questions, I'll be leaving."
'Urk! What do I do now?!' J said thinking then said slamming her hands down on the table "I…I'd like you to testify again!"
"Testify…again?" Maccadam said confused.
"Know when to give up, Miss. J." Stella said sighing "Think about it. Even if I were to testify again, what's the point? I can only say what I said before. The truth, Miss. J. I've already said all there is to say." She looks at her smirking "What would happen if I said it again?"
"Uh…" J said not sure what to say.
"You'd ask the same questions, get the same answers. A waste of time." Stella said shaking her head.
J slams her hands on the table and thinks 'Damn…damn! To come so far, only to fail…'
The members of the court murmur and silence when Maccadam bangs his gavel and he said "As it seems there are no further questions...I would like to end the cross-examination of the witness, Miss. Stella."
"Objection!" Hunter said all of a sudden surprising everyone.
"Yes, Mr. Deamonne?" Maccadam said surprised.
"I was hoping to come up with a question while I was objecting, Your Honor…" Hunter admits and looks down "I didn't."
"I see…Very well." Maccadam said nodding and was about to continue.
"Objection!" Hunter said again looking confidant again slamming his hand on his desk and said "Your Honor! I request that the witness testify again!"
"You are the prosecutor, are you not?" Stella asked him. "Why are you badgering me? I'm your witness!"
"I…I just want to hear your testimony again." Hunter said shrugging.
"Does this make any sense to you, Your Honor?" Stella asked looking at Maccadam. "I don't see that we have anything to gain by repeating the last several minutes."
"Mr. Deamonne…" Maccadam said looking at Hunter "I, too, see little point in making Miss. Stella repeat herself. What exactly did you want her to testify about?"
"Mmmph! Well, yes, um…" Hunter said thinking "Indeed! Verily, I say…Ergo!" He gets an idea and slams his hand on the desk and said "I want to hear about what happened…after they found the body!"
"After they found the body…?" Maccadam asked and nods "Very well. The witness will testify to the court concerning this matter."
"Hmph." Stella said sipping her tea.
"J" Jaden said smiling "Why did Hunter…?"
"Who knows?" J said shrugging "He probably realized she did it, too."
"But…but! Wasn't he the one that said he always gets a guilty verdict…?" Jaden said confused. "After all that…"
'Hunter…' J thinks looking at him. This will have to work.
Well things are heating up, but Hunter seems to be helping them, J has one final chance to win this case and prove Stella did it, but what results will happen in this final testimony.
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