The four lawyers stepped out of the court room. With the aim of eating, they collided with the prosecutor.
"It is good to see you all here. We should grab a meal together."
"Lawyer Dora." Tanya called.
"Yes."
"What is our number one rule?"
"What is it? I wonder. Is it not…"
"Never grab a meal with a prosecutor." They said as they left to eat. Before long, the recess was over.
"Prosecution, you may question your witness." The judge said. The witness turned out to be… the Assembly Man.
"Witness, you said the victim came to you when he was assaulted, right?"
"Yes."
"How are you sure the victim was assaulted by the defendant?"
"He told me. I even recorded it,"
"Judge, I hereby submit this voice recording as evidence. Let us listen to it."
The voice recorder was played and it stated; "What do you mean she assaulted you? You are a man, how do you mean a lady beats you?" The Assembly man said.
"That is right. She is stronger than me, she assault me every day. Sometimes, I don't go home because I am scared. If I die, it means she killed me." A voice replied.
"That is all." The Prosecutor concluded.
"Defense counsel, you can cross-examine the witness." Said the Judge.
"Witness, how are we supposed to believe that was the victim?" Tanya asked.
"Ask her yourself, is that not his voice?" He replied pointing to the defendant.
"Do you have a footage proving he is the one? I mean, tampering with voice recordings has been the talk of the town." She said.
"I don't." He replied.
"You said the defendant assaulted the victim, right?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Do you know the victim had anger issues?" She asked.
"I…"
"Please reply with yes or no." She retorted.
"No."
"According to the victim's medical report, he had been diagnosed with brain tumor. Judging by that, do you really believe the victim would watch his suitor assault him when he had anger issues?" She asked adjusting her shirt.
"Well…"
"That is all." She turned to the judge and said.
"Defense Counsel, you may question your witness." The judge further said.
There came the witness, Ava Thea, known to be a NIS Agent, the victim's ex-girlfriend, sophisticated and malicious. John took the ground.
"Witness, you are believed to be the victim's ex-girlfriend, is that right?" John asked.
"Yes." She asserted boldly.
"During your relationship with the victim, had he ever assaulted you?" John asked.
"Yes. That was why we broke up." She replied.
"Most times, what led to the incident?" He asked.
"Simple things like me refusing to sleep with him or me being tired or eating while he is not hungry. Stuff like uhm… talking to my male best friend, sleeping while he is awake." She responded.
"Witness, why did you agree to testify?" He asked.
"I wanted justice. I could not inform anyone about it then. I wish I was the one who killed him, he would threaten me with his uncle. He would say if I ever tell anyone, he would kill me." She explained.
"Then, how did you manage to break up with him?"
"Luck. I ran away to somewhere far." She replied.
"During your relationship, has the victim ever complained of headaches?"
"Sometimes. He might as well visit the hospital." She said touching her neck.
"That is all." He turned to the jury and said.
"Prosecution, will you like to cross-examine the witness?" The judge asked.
"No."
"Defense counsel, do you have any other witness to summon?"
"No." Mike replied.
"Prosecution, do you have any other witness to summon?"
"Yes."
It was Doctor Eric Margate, the doctor who examined the victim.
"Witness, when you examined the victim, did anyone accompany him?"
"Yes, I presumed it was his suitor."
"Was there anything suspicious about them?"
"Yes. The victim was injured in some part of his body. When I asked what was wrong, he could not reply me."
"Did you hereby assume that his suitor might have done that to him?"
"Yes, judging by the victim's reaction. He was really careful while talking to her."
"That is all."
"Defense Counsel, would you like to cross-examine the witness?"
"Yes." Mike replied.
"Is there a possibility that the victim might have died due to other external factors apart from the hit?"
"I..."
"Please reply with yes or no."
"Yes."
"Then, why did you conclude that the victim died from the hit?"
"That is what you all are saying, and since the victim died from the hit, I presume that it was caused by it."
"As a doctor, should you not be based on facts than what people say?"
"That is for you to find out, I just reported based on what I heard."
"Are you aware that the victim suffered from brain tumor?"
"Yes."
"Judge, the victim suffered from brain tumor, according to the defendant and other witnesses, he often complained of headaches. The defendant hit a vase on the victim's head without the aim of killing him. As you can see in this video… the defendant hit the vase without effort which means she did not have any aim of murder. The victim might have died from brain tumor. It is void to rule that the defendant killed the victim as it was self-defense. That is all."
"Defendant, do you have any other thing to add?"
"I have survived all day praying to leave the abusive relationship. I was scared to death to report him. I wish I never fell in love with him, I don't understand why I had to stay here when I am clearly the victim. I am devastated, if he died, he deserved it. He killed me emotionally. And I don't regret the moment I hit him with the vase…"
"The Jury Trial's verdict would rule on Monday, 18th September, 2002…"
After several consideration, the jury decided that the court acquit the victim as it was an act of defense. Like that, Mira Clifford was vindicated.
END OF EPISODE