9 Chapter 9 - So the Trial

The Trial

The next day, I got to the courthouse early and reviewed what I had learned so far which is not too much.Then I heard foot steps coming toward me.It sounded quite loud and it was the sound of heels.Someone is angry I think.

"What the hell.Endy!!" as she said that out loud she slapped on my shoulder.

It was Daisy.

"Ouch…"I groaned.

So I take that someone is Daisy and apparently she is mad at ME!

"How could you? How could you do this to me? How could you do this to Devvy? Endy?"

I realized what she meant right away. She was talking about me defending Josh.

"Relax...Daisy.It is not what you think."

"Really? Because I think you are helping the murderer who killed your best friend GET AWAY."

She kept hitting on me angrily as she said that out loud.

"I am not helping him!!!" I screamed.

That kind of calmed her down a little bit.

"You are......not?"

"I am not.Listen.I am not doing this for him. I am doing this for Devvy. If she was still alive, this is the way she would have wanted."

A valid point that is.

"I suppose..." she murmured.

"And besides..." I paused and lowered my voice.

"I think this case is fishy...."

That seemed to have hit her.

"Really? You think? Do you really think that?"

"Yes.But don't worry.I won't protect Josh. I just want to get to the bottom. If it's Josh down there then I will make sure he gets what he deserves.And maybe, just maybe, the culprit is someone else then we will see what it leads us to.OK?"

Now she's completely calmed down, confused and bewildered.

"Okay.If that's you want.Just FYI, I am testifying today."

And she walked into the courtroom.That didn't come to me as a surprise. After all, she is the one who found the body first. Not me.

It's about time. I fixed my coat. Get my suit case and opened the door to the courtroom whispering to myself.

"Here goes nothing."

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TRIAL - DAY 1

Even though courtroom is literally my stamping ground.I still feel intimated whenever I step foot into it.As soon as we took our places. The judge declared.

"The court is now in session for murder of Miss Devvy Love.....?

Wait a minute...isn't she the cute girl from the other day's night.I am such a fan...."

Yep.That's the judge I know.

Here, let me tell you a little bit about Judge Colonel.I don't know what his first name is.No one knows. He's been assigned for homicide cases mostly. So he and I across path every now and then.He is like a cartoon character. He is chubby, bald and wide-eyed and has long, white beard which he likes to touch when he is thinking.

Those are his appearances.In terms of personality; he is funny, a little bit naive, sometimes clueless, casually-speaking but righteous. He is highly-valued by the state for not taking any kind of bribe. No case has gone unrecognized or unjustified with him.

"My grand-daughter and I binge-watched her previous shows that night.I was really looking forward to her next album.I swore this time I would get a signed-album bu-but now…."

"Ahhh ahemm...Your Honor?"

Oh great. I was preoccupied by the judge that I didn't see who I was up against.

It is Mr.Nolan Payaya.He is an aggressive one. Only thinks about winning .I-will-destroy-anything-or-anyone-that-gets-in-my-way kind of guy.He's been in law industry for longer than I have been.You can call him my senior. But he is nothing of the sort. His methods are desperate, disrespectable and worst of all hardly justified.

We met each other in a couple of cases before. But every time we met up against, he lost. Which is why he is looking at me like he is about to eat me alive right now.

"Oh.Yeah...shall we begin?"

"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor."Mr.Payaya said

"The defense is also ready, Your Honor." I followed.

"Mr.Payaya your opening statement...."

"It's simple.Your honor. The defendant, Mr.Josh Anthony, here is put on a trial for murder of her own sister, Miss Devvy Love. He had no alibi on the night of murder.His fingerprints were found all over the murder weapon. Plus he had a firm motive..."

"What was it Mr.Payaya?"

"It was money. Your honor. The murder weapon was a statue-shape award crafted with bronze except for the star part which is made up of pure gold.And we found that gold-star in defendant's pocket. So I say this trial shouldn't proceed further and end with a guilty verdict for this inhuman person for gruesomely killing his OWN SISTER Your Honor...."

Wow...He is really going right at it.Huh...

"Well.That does make sense. Everything is solid enough to make that verdict withoug further ado but we must not neglect rules and regulations Mr.Payaya.So why don't you bring your first witness to the stand and we will see what that takes us to…"

"As you wish Your Honor."

I swear I could see a smirk on his face.

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"BANG BANG BANG"

The judge pounded his gavel.

"Witness, state your name and profession."

"I am a detective.Name is Fillip DUNBASS Your Honor. B is silent. People usually get confused and get it wrong.It is pronounced DU-NASS Your Honor. I am half Polish.My father came from..."

"Witness!!"

"Ye-yes? Your Honor?"

"The court has no interest in knowing your name's origin although it suits you.Now you may begin your testimony."

"Ye-yes .Your Honor....."

Detective's voice softened. I wanted to chuckle but I didn't.