Ten

 

      Christian sat in court next day listening to the prosecution banging on about how evil he was and of how if this were any other state he’d be pushing for the death penalty.  Christian felt himself wince at the thought “Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury I know Larry Anderson was preserved to be a vicious man who beat the accused constantly but please don’t be fooled…Mr Anderson was never charged with any crime he was an upstanding pillar of this community who after a number of years in the police force had to retire when he sustained a number of injuries when he fell from a rooftop while chasing a robber…I said in my opening argument that I would prove to you that the accused murdered Mr Anderson in cold blood he acted as both judge and jury in carrying out his heinous crime and I have done just that…it is up to each and every one of you to look at all the evidence shown and come up with the only verdict possible that of guilty” Christian drew in a deep breath as the jury turned to face him.

 

      Eric Lennon got to his feet and stared at each and every jury member. “So the prosecution have proved their case have they?” he shook his head then walked away. “Oh puleese the prosecution have proved nothing!  So what if it were my clients gun found at the scene…doesn’t mean he pulled the Goddamn trigger…And the clothes…how do we know they were the actual clothes my client was wearing!  And the car…All these things may have belonged to my client but that doesn’t mean he were there in the flesh and his journal if police had come to my door and told me that the man I’d feared all my life…the man whom I’d watched beat my mother kill my dog and break my arm was missing why I’d have written in bold red ink good riddance cause that would mean I’m free. Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury all I want you to do is go away and consider this, can you be absolutely sure this young father actually pulled the trigger he’s been honest throughout the trial he can’t remember but he was drunk he got drunk and went to bed that’s all he’s guilty of doing. please ladies and gentlemen before you deprive Jessica of her father think hard and find him not guilty”

 

      The judge turned to the jury then smiled “Ladies and Gentlemen you have heard all the evidence both for and against finding the defendant guilty, it is your job to go away and consider this evidence, if you find that the prosecution have indeed done their job then you must return a guilty plea if not and you feel the defence have done their job then you must find the defendant not guilty…now please would you go away and consider your verdict?”

 

      They all stood.  Christian felt sick inside as he eyed his mother who was standing beside Kate. “Come on let’s go” Eric Lennon whispered as he tugged at his arm ushering him to a quiet room next to the court.

 

      Christian sat down at the wooden table and watched his hands shake violently. “So how long do you think it’ll take them to find me guilty?”

“Chris please” said his mother.

“I’m not sure but let’s not give up hope just yet huh?”

“Oh come on”

“Chris please I’m having a hard enough time”

“Sorry”

They remained quiet for some time.

“Juries coming back in”

“What?  Already?” said Lennon

“Yup”

“Is that good or bad?” his mother asked looking wearily in Christian’s direction.

“I’m not sure…I haven’t experienced a jury coming back after two hours”

“Great!” he thought as he made his way back into court.

 

      Slowly one by one the jurors filed back inside all staring Christian in the eye, he pursed his lips and awaited his fate. “You okay?” whispered Lennon, he gave a short nod as he watched the judge address the jury.

“Have you reached a verdict upon which you are all agreed?”

The foreman now standing nodded “Yes we have your honour”

“Will the accused please stand?”

He looked at the judge then slowly rose from the chair and looked straight ahead while a clerk read the verdict.

“We the jury find the defendant” he began

Christian could feel his whole body begin to shake.

“Guilty of murder in the first degree”

“Nooooooooooo!” he heard his mother sob.

“You’ve made a mistake please you’ve made a terrible mistake” she added as Kate hugged her both in tears.

      Christian stood rigid, not quite taking in the enormity of what had just happened, he was going to jail after all.  He had been right all along but somehow he had hoped that by some miracle this had all just been a bad dream.

 

      The judge cleared her throat then gave a little speech before passing sentence. “You young man!  Are the scum of the earth, I agree with the prosecution you acted as both judge and jury but what the prosecution failed to say was that you also acted as executioner!” Christian blinked away tears “If I had my way I would be sending your straight to death row right now but alas this state does not support the death penalty and so I am left with no other option than to send you away for a very long time I here by sentence you to life imprisonment without possibility of parole!”

 

      The cops moved swiftly across the room. “Chris Christian I’ll get you out of there, I swear I will.” his mother vowed as she kissed his face. “Mom” he said quietly as the cold steel of the cuffs cut into his wrists. “Mom” he said again as he was dragged away. “Look after Jessie mom…take care of my girl!” he yelled as he was hauled away from both Kate and his mother.