23rd November, 9:55 AM
District Court
Defendant lobby No. 2


Alex: Right…first trial by myself…I’ve been putting it off for too long anyway. I guess I just didn’t feel confident without my mentor helping. But I had to take this case. I can’t let him cause even more trouble.

???: I didn’t do it! I swear!

Alex: This is my client, Nick Raskoph. He was accused of murdering my old friend, Tristan Beake. However, I’m not letting Tristan create more trouble even from beyond the grave, so I took Nick’s case.
I’ve already told you that I believe you. You’ll be alright! I promise!

Nick: …help me…

Bailiff: Will the Defendant and the defence please enter the courtroom!

Alex: Argh, so much for a talk with my client

23rd November, 10:00 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. three


Judge: The court is now in session for the trial of Nick Raskoph

Alex: Ack! It’s him! That judge

Judge: Is there a problem, Mr. Order?

Alex: …Ah! No, it’s alright, your honour

Judge: …Is the prosecution ready?

Payne: Yes, your honour.

Judge: And I assume the defence is also ready?

Alex: Yes…

Judge: Yes, your honour

Alex: You’re the judge here, not me…

Judge: You’re treading on thin ice here, Mr. Order…
Anyway, will the prosecution enlighten us with its opening statement?

Payne: Of course; the victim in this case went by the name of Tristan Beake. His death was quite unusual…

Judge: …Well don’t just leave me hanging! Tell me!

Payne: Perhaps the defence could do the honours.

Judge: Yes! Mr. Order, please tell the court how the victim died

Alex: W-what!? Why me? It’s his job *point animation*

Judge: …

Alex: Alright alright. I’d better check the court record to find out the information I need.

Judge: Enough stalling Mr. Order, now, how did the victim die

OPTIONS:
Poison
Incineration
Electrocuted

Poison:
Alex: Um, was he poisoned?

Payne: …

Judge: …

Alex: …?

Payne: Oh please, I can’t believe this. That isn’t even an unusual death! It’s quite a common method of murder.

Alex: …Shut up

*gavel*

Judge: I will not have such ignorance in my court! Now, Mr. Order, please answer the question

Electrocuted:
Alex: Electrocution?

Payne: Have you been looking at my old case files or something?

Alex: No…why?

Payne: That was the answer to a similar question in one of my older cases.

*gavel*

Judge: I will not have such ignorance in my court! Now, Mr. Order, please answer the question

Incineration
Alex: According to the autopsy report, he was incinerated in a furnace.

Judge: I-incinerated!? What?

Payne: Both the defendant and the victim worked at a steelworks. It would be quite easy to commit murder in a place like that.

Judge: Well, then how was the victim found?

Payne: A witness who was visiting the boss of the factory saw the incident and alerted him. The furnace was switched off quickly but it was too late to save him.

Judge: That’s pretty straight-forward, although unusual.

Payne: The defendant was clearly seen by the witness knocking out the victim and throwing his unconscious body into the furnace…although as far as we can tell, there was no motive.

Judge: T-then why murder?

Payne: I said “as far as we can tell,” your honour. A lot could have happened on that day that we know nothing about.

Alex: …Wait, does this mean you have no evidence?

Payne: Heh, of course I do! If there was no evidence then why would the defendant be arrested?

Judge: So what is this evidence?

Payne: I think it’d be best if I let a professional do it. Will Detective Chad Box take the stand

Alex: …Box?


Payne: Detective, state your name and occupation

Chad: You see, there’s no need to say my occupation because you just said it but my name is Chad box.

Judge: *blinks* Can you talk a little slower?

Chad: Ah, sorry I can’t help it sometimes.
You see I tend to talk really fast and I can’t help it

Judge: You just did it again!

Chad: Whoops! Sorry

Judge: Please, give your testimony as to why the defendant was arrested. Slowly.

WITNESS TESTIMONY
Statement one: There are several reasons as to why we arrested Mr. Raskoph
Statement two: First of all, the only two people working in that area were the victim and the defendant
Statement three: Second, the victim was hit over the head with his own hammer.
Statement four: And we had a witness who saw the whole thing happen.

Judge: A witness? Well this seems quite simple then.
Mr. Order, you may begin your cross-examination

Alex: C-cross examination…argh, it’s been so long! How do I do these things?

OPTIONS
I don’t remember

I remember

I don’t remember:
Alex: Argh! If only my mentor was here…
…
Wait! I remember!
If my client is innocent, then this testimony can’t be true.
Which means I’ll have to present evidence to show the contradictions.
…
Ah…but I don’t have any evidence to show any.
I guess all I can do is press for more information

I remember
Alex: It takes more than a few months to make me forget something so important.
I’m ready for this!

CROSS EXAMINATION
Statement one: There are several reasons as to why we arrested Mr. Raskoph

HOLD IT!
Alex: Can you possibly tell me what these are?

OBJECTION!
Payne: That’s what he’s getting to.
If you had a little patience, you’d soon find out.

Chad: Yeah! Be patient! I’m getting to that

Alex: Oh the irony

Statement two: First of all, the only two people working in that area were the victim and the defendant

HOLD IT!
Alex: Just because he was the only one there doesn’t mean he did it

Chad: Then who did?

Alex: …

OBJECTION!
Payne: Please. A defence attorney should know better than to make such a statement without evidence.

Judge: Objection sustained.

Statement three: Second, the victim was hit over the head with his own hammer

HOLD IT!
Alex: H-his own hammer? What makes you think that?

Chad: The defendant’s fingerprints were on it.

Alex: …oh. This looks bad. So, what does the hammer matter? I though the victim was killed by incineration

Chad: Yes, but I think if I was to throw you into a furnace then you’d struggle, right?

Alex: Who wouldn’t?

Chad: Obviously, the hammer was used to knock the victim out to make the murder easier

*Hammer added to the court record*

Alex: …wait! Can that be added to the testimony?

Judge: Yes, I agree. That wasn’t made clear enough.

Statement four: The hammer must have been used to knock the victim out

HOLD IT!
Alex: Do you have any proof?

Chad: No but we came to the conclusions that that’s what happened, plus, the witness told us that they saw it happen.

Alex: Ah, yes, this mysterious witness

Statement five: And we had a witness who saw the whole thing happen.

HOLD IT!
Alex: But what if the witness was lying?

OBJECTION!
Payne: Hah, you defence attorneys never learn. To make a statement like that, you must have evidence to back it up.

Alex: …oh…

End
Alex: If this is accepted as it is, then there’s too much incriminatory evidence.
I need to find something to work on.
And fast.

Statement four: The hammer must have been used to knock the victim out
OBJECTION!
Alex: Sorry, but that can’t be true. The only fingerprints found on the hammer were on the head.

Payne: W-what?

Alex: Detective!

Chad: Erm, what?

Alex: Obviously, your conclusion was swayed by the witness’s account. You assumed that the fingerprints were found on the handle after hearing from the witness that the victim had been hit by it.

Chad: Argh!

Judge: Mr. Box…Please take greater care during your investigations.

Chad: S-sorry. I feel like an idiot.

Alex: I think I’ve proven that we need to hear from this witness of yours.

Judge: Yes I agree. His account as we heard it doesn’t seem to match the evidence.
Does the prosecution have any objections?

Payne: No, I’d like to hear from him too.


Terry Fay
Judge: Will the witness please state their-

???: Why the hell am I here!? I told you what I saw! WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?
Judge: Argh!

Alex: I have to cross-examine him? Ugh…

Payne: Witness, calm down! Please

???: CALM DOWN!?

Payne: We believe what you said. You’re here to prove that what you saw was the truth.

???: You sure ‘bout that? Well then, in that case…
I’m Terry Fay, I work part time in a supermarket

Judge: Do you have any relation to the defendant?

Terry: …No

Alex: I’m a little curious about something though.

Terry: ?

Alex: Why were you there in the first place?

Judge: I agree.
Witness, please testify as to why you were at the steelworks.

WITNESS TESTIMONY
Statement one: I know the owner well. He was one of my best friends
Statement two: I came in to ask him a few things
Statement three: I didn’t know either the victim or Raskoph

Judge: I see. You were just unfortunate enough to stumble upon the crime scene.
Mr. Order, you may begin your cross-examination

CROSS EXAMINATION

End: Alex: Well it seems pretty straightforward, but there’s something that doesn’t seem right.

Statement one: I know the owner well. He was one of my best friends
HOLD IT!
Alex: How did you become friends?

Terry: We’ve known each since school.

Alex: And you’ve remained friends all this time?

Terry: Well why not?

Alex: Well, I’m only in contact with a few of my school friends…

Statement two: I came in to ask him a few things
HOLD IT!
Alex: What were these things?

Terry: Private things. They’re not related at all.

Alex: But maybe-

OBJECTION!
Payne: Your honour, the defence is badgering the witness.

Judge: I agree. I see no way in which their conversation would relate to the case at hand.

Statement three: I didn’t know the victim or Raskoph.
HOLD IT!
Alex: Mr. Fay, I believe you just gave yourself away.

Terry: W-what?

Payne: What are you up to Mr. Order?

Alex: You testified that you didn’t have any relations to the defendant.
Yet *desk slam* you clearly know his name.

OBJECTION!
Payne: That has got to be the lamest defence attempt ever. This case has been on the news.
Obviously, Mr. Fay learnt the names through a news story.

OBJECTION
Alex: Then how do you explain the fact that he didn’t know the victim’s name?

Payne: Ahh!

Alex: Obviously, this proves-

Terry: I forgot…

Alex: …
What?

Terry: I forgot the victim’s name.

Judge: Yes, that’s understandable. Just the other day, I forgot where I put my glasses were.
Strangely enough, I found them on my head that night when I was brushing my teeth.

Alex: R-regardless, I think it’d be difficult to forget the name of the person you saw being killed!

OBJECTION!
Payne: This is going no-where. Obviously the witness has forgotten, as you just proved.
His explanation is perfectly natural.

Judge: Yes, I believe that this is the case. There is no problem with the testimony.

Alex: N-NO WAAAAY!

*Crowd chatter*

Payne: Now that that’s out of the way; witness, please testify about what you saw.