Key:
Bold: Setting change
Italic: Emphasis/ Important sentence/ Important part of a sentence
Underline: Witness Testimony/ Cross Examination
Bold, italic, & ALL CAPS: objection, take that, or hold it
[Brackets: text message]
(Parenthesis): inner monologue
(?), (!): Phoenix not paying attention/ being shocked
Phoenix Wright:
Turnabout Turncoat
District Courthouse 10:00am
Courtroom No. 1
The Judge slammed his gavel down, "Court is now in session for the trial of Detective Richard Gumshoe."
Phoenix slammed his hands on his desk, "The defense is ready, Your Honor." He announced determination in his voice.
Edgeworth straightened, "Setting my personal feelings aside… the prosecution is also ready, Your Honor." He announced with a bow.
"Mister Edgeworth, are you sure that you're up to this?" The Judge asked a hint of concern, "I know you work closely with the accused."
"Do I really have a choice? The trial has already begun." Edgeworth replied before slamming his hand on his desk, "Besides I'm a professional and I am insulted you would think I would let my personal life effect my work life." He snapped at The Judge.
"Fair enough, my apologies Mister Edgeworth." The Judge replied before pounding his gavel, "Prosecutor Edgeworth your opening statement." He ordered.
Edgeworth sighed, " Three days ago Detective Gumshoe was found holding the murder weapon standing across from the murdered Chief of Detectives who had lazily been play a game of Uno on his computer instead of working, the barrel of the gun was smoking and a bullet was found in the victim's forehead matching the caliber of handgun as a standard Detective's firearm, I present the crime photo and the murder weapon as evidence." Edgeworth stated as calm as he could be.
"The court accepts them into evidence." The Judge announced.
"OBJECTION!" Phoenix shouted pointing his finger at the Prosecution, "Edgeworth I'm disappointed in you." A smug smirk crossing his face.
"For what reason?" Edgeworth retorted tapping his right index finger on his left bicep.
"Look at this photo again." Phoenix stated as the crime photo was pulled up on a monitor to the left and right of The Judge, "Something is clearly missing from this photo." He announced.
The Judge slammed his gavel down again with authority, "Mister Wright!" The Judge snapped, "Stop keeping us in suspense. What is missing from the photograph?"
"There's no gunpowder burn around the bullet hole." Phoenix said smirking placing his fists on his hips, "Therefore" he announced extending his finger towards the prosecution once more, "we cannot determine the distance that he was shot from!" He announced.
"Ngoh!" Edgeworth grunted as his eyes bulged out and he hunched over a shocked expression on his face, "H-Ho-How did I miss that?"
The Judge shook his head, "I'm surprised Mister Edgeworth this kind of blunder is unlike you, I believe the last time something like this happened was… uh….um…" The Judge sighed," I don't remember."
"My…apologizes…Your Honor." Edgeworth strained to say still hunched over.
"But none the less I would like to hear testimony." The Judge announced.
"Of course, You Honor. The Prosecution calls… Forensic Scientist, Ema Skye to the stand." Edgeworth announced straightening. As the doors opened Ema walked to the stand slowly.
(She's nervous. I don't blame her, the last time she was here her sister was arrested for falsifying evidence)
Edgeworth cleared his throat, "Please state your name and occupation."
"My name is Ema Skye, I'm a Forensic Scientist for the Los Angeles Police Department." Ema stated quieter than normal.
"You were at the Police Department on the day in question correct?" Edgeworth asked trying to be gentle.
"Yes, I-I was." Ema answered.
"Can you please testify for the court? "Edgeworth asked, "Please Miss Skye, I know this is a sensitive subject for the members of the Police Department."
"Oh i-it's no problem I-I'll testify." Ema replied.
"Poor Ema." Maya mumbled.
"Huh?" Phoenix said confused.
"I read the Lana Skye case file; I feel sorry for Ema." Maya whispered.
Witness Testimony: The Day of The Crime
Ema took a deep shaky breath and began, "It was 3 days ago as Mister Edgeworth stated and it was my first day as a forensic scientist, I was getting ready to analyze some fingerprints when the defendant asked me if I'd seen his gun I told him no and he left. A while later there was a loud BANG and Gumshoe shouted, "Hey get forensics in here there's been a murder!" She said attempting an impression of Detective Gumshoe, "We saw him holding the murder weapon when we arrived on the scene." She finished.
"HOLD IT!" Edgeworth shouted, "It took me until now to process it, but did you say the defendant… misplaced his firearm?"
"Yes, she did." Phoenix answered before Ema could.
The crowd started buzzing the Judge slammed his gavel, "ORDER! I WILL HAVE ORDER IN THIS COURT! "The Judge shouted, "MISS SKYE!" He snapped then saw Edgeworth's glare he cleared his throat, "I mean Miss Skye please amend your testimony to include this important information."
"Yes, Your Honor." Ema replied audibly.
Witness Testimony: The Day of The Crime Part 2
Ema took a deep breath again, "It was 3 days ago it was my first day as a forensic scientist, I was getting ready to analyze some fingerprints when the defendant asked me if I'd seen his gun, as it had been stolen out of his locker in the evidence room I told him no and he left. A while later there was a loud BANG and Gumshoe shouted, "Hey get forensics in here there's been a murder!" She said again attempting an impression of Detective Gumshoe, "We saw him holding the murder weapon when we arrived on the scene."
"Now hold on, I have a question." The Judge announced.
"Yes, Your Honor?" Ema asked.
"If the gun was stolen from his locker, how did he shoot the victim?" The Judge asked.
"OBJECTION!" Phoenix shouted, "Detective Gumshoe's pistol isn't the murder weapon."
"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth shouted before slamming his hand on his desk with a loud thud, "Do you have proof of this?" He asked.
"I have proof." Phoenix retorted a smirk plastered on his face Phoenix reached his arm back and as it flung out into the point to the proof shouted at the top of his lungs, "TAKE THAT!" And in his hand pointed at the alleged murder weapon, "The evidence that proves that the pistol isn't the murder weapon is… the pistol itself."
"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth shouted before shaking his head, "You fool Wright" he slammed his hand on his desk, "that is the murder weapon."
"OBJECTION! You haven't let me present my argument yet." Phoenix fired back angrily and cleared his throat, "As reported in the witness's testimony Detective Gumshoe had misplaced his firearm and we know very well Detective Gumshoe, though he doesn't use it often he always has a full clip in his firearm. I will now remove the clip from the pistol." Phoenix proceeded to do just that and on the tv monitors the clip was shown fully loaded, "As you can see it is fully loaded which means it wasn't fired on the day of the murder."
"HOLD IT!" Edgeworth snapped, "Each Detective's evidence locker is equipped with a fingerprint scanner explain to us how the culprit got around that." He demanded.
Phoenix smirked, "Gladly." Edgeworth looked surprised, "You see there is a glitch in the programming that allows you to bypass the fingerprint security."
"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth shouted, "Do you have proof?" He asked pointing at Phoenix.
"Yes." Phoenix replied smirking fists on his hips, as he pulled out the next piece of evidence he once again shouted, "TAKE THAT!" He held in his hand a video, 'We filmed a re-enactment yesterday. I would like to add this as evidence to the court and show the video." Phoenix announced.
The Judge pounded his gavel, "The court accepts this into evidence and grants the permission to view the video." The Judge announced, "Any objections Mister Edgeworth?"
Edgeworth sighed, "No objections Your Honor." He mumbled, angrily through gritted teeth.
The Judge pounded his gavel and shouted, "Bailiff! Play the video." He ordered.
Ema waved in the video, "Hello I'm Forensic Scientist Ema Skye and I'm going to demonstrate a very-" she was abruptly cut off.
"ACHOOO!" Maya sneezed, "Sorry it's dusty in here." Maya apologized.
"Anyway." Ema said a little hesitant, "There is a very major problem with the fingerprint sensors on the handles of the Detectives' lockers despite how secure we think they are they are easily tricked all you need-" she was once again cut off.
"AHCHOOCHOO!" Maya sneezed again, "Sorry." She mumbled.
"Mister Wright can you film while Miss Fey blows her nose?" Ema asked.
"Sure." Phoenix replied being careful not to cover the lenses with his thumb.
"Where was I… oh right what you'll need is a pair of gloves preferably latex, a fingerprinting set a piece of Saran Wrap." She said and pulled out all 3, "First apply the powder, MISTER WRIGHT!" She snapped.
"Gah! W-What?" He asked.
"Come closer so they can actually see." She ordered. Silently Maya took over and walked closer and to the side to get a better angle.
" As I was saying apply the powder and blow it away until a full set of prints are discovered, then put on the gloves, after that place the Saran Wrap around the handle, and lastly grab the handle and apply a little bit of pressure." The unlocking mechanism activated, and she opened the locker, "This is a major oversight that the department needs to fix." After that the video ends.
Edgeworth and the Judge were silent while the onlookers were worked into a frenzy throwing shade on to the police department for being so blind to the oversight and called into question the loyalty of the officers the Jude called for a 20 minute recess, and the pounding of the gavel almost fell on deaf ears.
District Courthouse 11:15am
Defendant Lobby No. 1
"Jeeze that was crazy." Maya stated, "I'm not sure how we can pin this on any particular officer."
"We hopefully proved one thing." Phoenix muttered.
"What would that be Nick?" Maya asked hands pressed together like she's praying a warm smile on her face.
"That Gumshoe didn't do it." He answered.
"There's just one problem with the theory." Edgeworth announced calmly approaching the two, "Gumshoe's prints would've been wiped away when the "real culprit" cleaned off the powder."
"There's an easy way to explain that." Phoenix retorted, "Gumshoe had to open his locker to see it was missing and that would leave behind his fingerprints and I will explain that to The Judge when court reconvene. Before the cross-examination starts."
"That is ill advised." Edgeworth replied.
"Really? Why?" Maya asked.
"If you do that you may not have anything to press in your cross examination." Edgeworth explained.
"Damnit you're right." Phoenix mumbled.
"What are we going to do Nick?" Maya asked worried.
District Courthouse 11:35am
Courtroom No. 1
The Judge slammed his gavel hard.
"Now that we've calmed down for a little bit where were we?" He asked.
"I believe we were at the defense's cross-examination." Edgeworth announced.
"Thank you for the reminder Mister Edgeworth" The Judge replied as Edgeworth bowed.
He then turned to Phoenix, "Mister Wright your cross-examination if you please."
"Yes, Your Honor." Phoenix replied.
Cross-ExaminationThe Day Of the Crime
Phoenix approached the witness stand, "Ema I just want to get this out of the way, when the culprit had wiped away the powder so no one knew that it had been tampered with that would've wiped away any trace of Gumshoe's fingerprints?" Phoenix asked.
The Forensic Scientist silently nodded, "Is that the best you got for a contradiction?" She let out a sarcastic laugh, "Really? I'm disappointed." Ema retorted crossing her arms before sighing, "His fingerprints are in the system and assigned to that locker, when he grabbed the handle to open it revealing that his pistol had been stolen a new set of prints were left." Ema explained, "Better?" She asked sarcastically.
Phoenix shook his head, "It was a rhetorical question… but if you want a contradiction how about this, in your testimony you stated the following, "A while later there was a loud BANG and Gumshoe shouted, "Hey get forensics in here there's been a murder" Phoenix said doing a better impersonation of Gumshoe, "We saw him holding the murder weapon when we arrived on the scene." Is that correct? Phoenix asked.
"Is that rhetorical?" Ema asked arching an eyebrow, "Yeah that's what happened."
Phoenix slammed both hands on the stand and got in Ema's face, "Are you 1,000% positive?" He asked intensely, like this was an interrogation.
"AbSOlutely." She retorted.
Phoenix shook his head as he did turned around and took a few steps forward, "We both know Dick isn't the sharpest tool in the shed… but even he knows to flee a murder scene! And tell me why he'd shout for you to get in here if he was the murderer!? He turned around and pointed at Ema who was stunned.
"Uh…I… uh… um" she started scratching her head, "uh… um…well…"
Phoenix slammed his hand on the stand, "Your stammering speaks volumes." Phoenix announced.
"DEFENSE!" Edgeworth snapped sternly as he was slamming his hand on his desk, "As you know I hate repeating myself-"
"OBJECTION!" Phoenix shouted pointing at Edgeworth, "I'm going to stop you there Edgeworth, I know what you're going to say, you're going to claim that you asked to be gentle, but you did not. All you said was that this is a sensitive subject for the LAPD you never said I had to be gentle."
"Hmm." The Judge said trying to remember the early moments of the trial," Mister Wright is correct." The Judge announced.
"Yeah he is." Ema said.
"Ngoh!" Edgeworth shouted before hunching over again. He mumbled something inaudible under his breath.
"Continue defense." The Judge ordered.
"Phoenix shook his head, "It's not I that needs to continue Your Honor" he pointed at Ema, "It's the witness that needs to give us an explanation."
"I-I-I… have no clue Your Honor." Ema mumbled shame coating her voice, "It logically doesn't make any sort of sense."
"Excuse me Your Honor!" Edgeworth shouted raising a finger.
"Yes Prosecutor Edgeworth?" The Judge asked.
"I see this case isn't cut and dry, plus there is an entire police station of witnesses that need to be questioned and more investigation is needed, I request that court be adjourned for the day."
"No objections Your Honor." Phoenix announced.
"Very well. Court is adjourned." The Judge announced slamming his gavel down dismissing everyone.
District Courthouse 12:57pm
Defendant Lobby No. 1
"You. Guys. Did. PHENOMENAL!" Maggey beamed before engulfing Phoenix in a bear hug so tight Phoenix couldn't breathe.
"A… thank… you… would've… sufficed." Phoenix struggled to say as she did the same to Maya.
"Not… a… problem… can't… breathe." Maggey let go and as Maya was taking big breaths a young white man who looked to be in his late 20s or early 30s with shoulder length black hair in a messy ponytail approached.
"Ready to go pretty Byrde?" This charismatic mystery man said.
"Oh Mister Wright, Maya allow me to introduce a good friend of mine and Dick's this is Officer Justin Tyme." She announced.
He approached Phoenix and smirked, "So, you Nicky boyo huh? Nice to meet you." He then approached Maya, "Aren't you a pretty little thing what's your name?" He asked.
Maya's face was as red as a tomato, "M-M-Maya Fey she said tying not to faint from his million dollar smile.
Phoenix cleared his throat, "So Officer Tyme how do you know Detective Gumshoe?" Phoenix asked skeptical, "Aside from being his coworker I mean."
Justin took his hat off and brushed some stray strands of hair away before putting his hat back on and answering, "Gumshoe's a good Dick but when it comes to the ladies he needs all the help he can get, I was his wingman as well as Pretty Byrde's ex but that was all part of the plan Dick and I conceited to get the two of them together. He's had a crush on her for god knows how long."
"Probably before the case where I had amnesia." Phoenix stated.
"I was at a different precinct then, I didn't work with my cousin Officer Prince often, only saw him during the holidays."
"Officer Prince was your cousin?" Phoenix asked.
Justin took his cap off tossed it in the air and it landed backwards, "Bingo Nicky Dicky." He said giving Phoenix finger guns.
(What is with this guy?)
"I'm not a Detective." He said in a cold sweat.
"You sure? Because you're asking a lot of questions." Thyme said coldly before his attitude did a complete 180 turn, "I'd love to stay and chat but I promised I'd get Maggey home before 3pm hasta la vista mis concidos." He said putting his hand on the small of Maggey's back and leading her away.
"Nick we should get going we gotta start investigating." Maya said energetically.
Phoenix smiled and nodded, "Your right. Let's start by talking with Detective Gumshoe."
To be continued…