| abstract
| - We see “Stefay” and Carolina walking up the courthouse steps… Carolina: I’m not going to treat Mr. Backburns any different than any of my other clients, Stefay. That’s how I go with things. Stephanie: Even if you know that he assaulted me? Carolina is silent. Carolina: Regardless it is my duty to make sure he gets a fair defense. Stephanie: You didn’t answer my question. Carolina: *Sigh* You know I’m not trying to work against you, Stefay. The state assigned me to it. I try to get the best defense I can. You know I side with you on the issue. Just trust me. I know you’ll win. Carolina and Stephanie part ways. While getting ready in the defense lounge, Carolina is approached by some men. She is too focused on the evidence and statements that she doesn’t look up but certainly notices them. Carolina: Hello. Man #1: You’d better not lighten up to your little friend of yours. Carolina: Excuse me? Man #2: Your client. Carolina: What about him? Man #1: Well, let’s just say we don’t want him losing this case. Carolina: What if he does? Man #2: He won’t. ~~ District Attorney (DA): So you’re telling me, Mr. Falkner, that you saw Ms. Barmms throw the man over her balcony after he held a knife to her throat. Falkner: Indeed. Saw it with both of my eyes. DA: Was the side the blunt side or the sharp? Falkner: Definitely sharp end. DA: Your witness. Carolina gets up from her seat. Carolina: Mr. Falkner, you said you saw my client, Mr. Backburns try to attack Ms. Barmms with his knife. Which angle on this map did you see it from? Falkner points on the road. Falkner: I got a pretty good view from there. I was walking in the street while the struggle caught my eye. Carolina smiles and then shrugs. Carolina: Do you not now see the problem with that? Falkner: What would that be? Carolina: According to our last witness, Officer Wilds, there was speedy traffic during 8:32 PM as you stated was the time you saw the assault. So then, Mr, Falkner, why were you walking into traffic? Also, isn’t that j-walking? DA: Objection your honor, that has nothing to do with- Carolina: It has everything to do with this case! This is the witness’s position we’re talking about! Judge: Objection overruled, Prosecutor Bailways. Carolina (leaning on the witness stand): So why were you in the street? Falkner: I-I was trying to get across to head on over to Barmms Jewelry, which by the way I know is directly under Ms. Barmms’s house. So don’t question if I’m insane or not! Carolina (with a smug grin): Wasn’t going to. However, you do know that Barmms Jewelry closes at around 8:00, right? Falkner: Yes I do, and I was late unfortunately. I saw it across the street and saw the closed sign. Carolina: Then why did you- DA: If you listened to his testimony, Ms. White you would know that he began to yell at the victim and the assaulter to stop. Carolina: Right, and our victim managed to hurl my client down a 22-feet drop. It’s amazing that he only broke his arms and didn’t suffer head trauma. DA: But it was self-defense! Carolina: Was it? DA: Of course it was! Our detectives determined that Ms. Barmms was clearly a victim of assault and the fact that she managed to escape narrowly with her own life is a miracle! Carolina: Then why does she not show any injuries? DA: What? Carolina: You saw the medical report. She has no injuries. The DA looks sternly at Carolina. Carolina: She has zero injuries. I wouldn’t call that assault. Would you? And yet my client managed to take quite a good beating from Ms. Barmms. (Snickering) Quite embarrassing for my client to be beat up by such a meek and “defenseless” woman. Stephanie (In the audience): What are you trying to do, Carolina? I was clearly attacked! DA: This witness shows that Ms. Barmms got into a struggle with Mr. Backburns and that he held a knife to her. Carolina: Yes, after he took a beating to her. I would call that self defense. DA: But he shot through her window! That’s a clear sign that he wanted to murder her! Carolina: Maybe he didn’t know she was home! DA: You have no proof of what the defendant intended! Carolina: Then why don’t I just bring him up? That sounds like an amazing idea. Maybe we can offer our Jury to see both sides of the story! I am done cross-examining this witness. Bring up my client. Judge: I approve of Ms. Carolina’s request. Bailiff, bring up Mr. Carl Backburns. Backburn’s arms are in casts and are severely broken while his face shows a black eye. The jury is shocked by seeing such harm he has taken in. Carolina smiles. However, as she looks back onto Stephanie, that smile goes away. Stephanie shows a face of disappointment. Carolina: (I completely forgot about Steph… But those men! They said I would win the trial! I hope they don’t mean they’re going to harm anyone or hold a hostage!) Secretary (Holding out Bible): State your name and occupation. Backburns: Carl Backburns. Unemployed. Stephanie (to herself): Maybe you should get a job instead of attacking women. Secretary: Do you promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God? Backburns: Yeah whatever, Lassie. Backburns goes to the witness stand. DA: Mr. Backburns, where exactly where you on January 27th at 8:30 PM? Backburns: Heh. I was hoping on getting some money from a friend since I was accused of breaking into a jewelry store. That would pay the fine and I wouldn’t go into prison. DA: Then how come so many of my witnesses state they saw you attacking Ms. Stephanie Barmms? Carolina: Objection! We are still undecided on whether he attacked Ms. Barmms or if he was defending himself after he broke in. DA: Either way, Ms. White he was committing a crime. Ms. Barmms was defending her homestead. Carolina: I er… ugh. DA: You’re clearly lying, Mr. Backburns. You were apprehended by the police shortly after the incident and many witnesses know that you attacked Ms. Barmms. It’s a fact now. All you need to do is admit your crime. No damage will be done to you. All you’ll need to do is stay in a nice, cold prison cell for several years. Carolina: Objection, your honor! Mr. Bailways is badgering the witness! DA (laughing): I’m only stating the truth Ms. White! Judge: Objection sustained. Mr. Bailways, please have an unbiased point of view toward our witness. DA: Whatever. Backburns: Look here, Prosecutor. These witnesses only saw me with a knife to her neck. Nothing more. They didn’t see the struggle, nobody did. It seems you don’t have a case. There aren’t even fingerprints on the gun. You have no proof that I did it. DA: You really think so? The DA turns around to get a folder on his desk and comes back to slam it on the witness stand. DA (with a smile): The evidence would disagree, Mr. Backburns. Backburns: What the hell is this supposed to be? DA: My evidence. Witness testimonies, DNA analysis of the blood splattered on the floor. We also found a receipt for the purchase of the gun and bullets that you carried on you. It seems this case is stacking so much upon you, isn’t it? Backburns: You must’ve forged this evidence, Prosecutor. I’d nev’r attack a pretty lady like Ms. Barmms over there. Especially a beautiful red head like herself. Such a curvaceous figure she has, too. DA (Smiling with his eyes closed): Please, Mr. Backburns. Could you refrain from stating your attraction to Ms. Barmms if you could? Backburns (smiling): You’re just jealous. DA: Regardless the facts, Mr. Backburns, your smooth talking won’t get you very far. The evidence stacks up highly against you. There is no way out of this. (Turns around) Wouldn’t you agree, Ms. White. Carolina is silent. DA: Ah, see? Even your own attorney agrees. You committed a crime. You can’t deny it. All you need to do is admit the truth! Backburns: If you insist: I didn’t attack Ms. Barmms. The Jury begins to talk wildly. Carolina looks at Stephanie behind her. Stephanie shows no emotion but looks concentrated. Stephanie: That idiot knows the longer he stalls the longer it will take for a verdict to happen. Carolina: I know that! You know what I’m going to do… I’m gonna have to side on Mr. Bailways. I can’t keep defending this man. I know he’s guilty. The evidence shows he is. (Voice from the distance): You’re not going to side with anyone, Ms. White. Carolina turns around to see one of the people in the house holding a revolver, a hat and sunglasses. Gunman: You heard me. Mr. Backburns is going to get a not guilty verdict! The bailiff points his gun at the gunman. Bailiff: Drop your weapon! Now! Two other men stand up in the audience. They pull out their automatics. Gunman: How about we make sure our buddy gets a fair trial! Now put down the gun. You’re outmatched. The Bailiff keeps his gun up. Judge: Bailiff! Put your gun down!
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