TRAGEDY OF THE SPIRIT PART 28

THE TRIAL EPISODE 1

 © 2008 prairie_girl_64

The day arrived of which I dreaded the most. The announcement of the trial. I was nervous as well as relieved. All the parities gathered in a fairly large court room. This room was ornate in design. It took after the colonial architecture. The ornate columns and lights were majestic. The center of the room was where the judge would sit high. The jury box was to the left and the defence table was below that. The crowns table was to the right of the judge’s desk. They were old oak tables.

Tuesday was the start of the trial. This thing took almost 29 months to get to this point. I had already undergone my stint in hospital and most of my rehabilitation. I still had some time to undergo to be cleared. I had made a lot of progress on the physical side. Mentally that was a different issue altogether. I daydreamed that the asshole would die. I wished he would be put to death. He tortured me in life and now in my daydreams as well. I so wanted him dead. If we had the death penalty here I would have been so glad to have pulled the handle on the noose. I spent almost 15 months in ICU and a regular room and then a significant amount of time in rehab and well not completely done yet I wanted to get out of there and quick. All the time I was in the hospital and rehab the son of a bitch was trying to plea bargain down to aggravated assault. He actually was pleading not guilty for damn near killing me. I knew he had a laundry list of other charges against him. Some of these were; DUI, Assault on a police officer. Assault on a bar patron, reckless driving, undo care and attention. Along with this were the ones he had been charged with on me; Assault, attempted murder, causing bodily harm as well as rape. This asshole really fucked up me life and he was really going to fuck it up even more with his insane attempts to get off. Let me say I was absolutely pissed off.

At 9:30 am on that Tuesday it began. The courtroom was basically quiet there were the usual people there. The bailiff, the court stenographer, and the jury members (12…. 8 men and 4 women). I felt it was stacked against me. There were a few others in the court room as well. A few people I recognized from the rehab and hospital, Jenn and Melanie. That was a comfort too me that they were there. The Bailiff told us all to rise and we did. He announced the Judge, the Honourable Judge Williams. Judge Williams was a tall statuesque gentleman; He stood well over 6 feet and had greying black hair and brown eyes. He did not look fat at all. In fact I thought he looked very fit under his robe. He had bifocal glasses attached to a cord around his neck. Angela sat with me at the crowns desk and of course Mr McVeigh and Jason were across the aisle. I never looked at him and I did know that he was looking at me. His furtive glances were not unseen by those in the room.

I did make it to the trial and I was determined to stick it out. I was in a wheelchair and I was still heavily bandaged and bruised. The nurses were there for my benefit. The trial was to last 4 months, somewhat long by my tastes. However, Jason had a lot to answer for. They would deal with the most serious of the charges against him first. Those against me were the most serious. I absolutely felt ill sitting near that prick. If I had my way I would have loved to have castrated him. I kept thinking that he will get his and be a bitch in jail. And that placed a smile on my face and a slight giggle.

Judge Williams asked for opening statements upon which Mr. Mc Veigh stood and began his remarks.

McVeigh: ‘Thank you your honour. My client as you see him sitting to my left is an innocent individual. The charges before the court are absolutely fabricated. The real victim here is Jason. He was unwillingly duped by the alleged victim in this situation. Jason, whom is a upstanding member of his family and has not posed any issues in the past. He was knowingly blindsided and duped by Mellissa. Jason believes he was upset by the way he was duped and lied to by her and he had every right to respond to the lies and deception perpetrated by Mellissa. We shall show with reasonable doubt that Jason is innocent of all these charges against him. Jason has been wronged and the evidence shall support our claims as such.” “The evidence is clear your honour that with the testimony of the witnesses we have my client will be found not guilty and this whole matter will be closed”

I kept my cool while that idiot defence lawyer painted Jason as a model citizen. Inside I was fuming; I was ready to explode on the asshole. Inside I was crying for justice to be done. Was I going to be able to take this all over again? I really doubted my presence there in this court room now. Was this a huge mistake? Was this what I wanted? I knew damn well that it was right and I had made it so far without too much difficulty. I knew I had to have some justice. I wanted too make sure that Jason saw me, the injuries he had caused. Innocent my ass. There was no way he was innocent. There was way too much stacked against him. He was not going to get off that lightly. I thought so at that time anyhow.

Angela then stood and addressed the court.

Angela: “Thanks your Honour, What the evidence will show is a definitive proof that the defendant (Jason) knew unequivocally whom my client is and the heinous act placed upon her. The evidence will also show this act was barbaric in nature, the scars will linger and remain for many years. We will also show the photo’s of the victim here and how this has had a detrimental impact on her care and possible future. We will also prove with a certainty that Jason knew whom he was with. This was mentioned by statements made after her beatings and also included statements from Jason himself. This is a crime of unspeakable brutality and hatred for another human being. We have witnesses your honour that will showcase Jason’s involvement with Mellissa dating back a few years. We will also show that the real victim here is Mellissa and that she should feel free from the problems of which Jason has caused her. We will introduce evidence that will shed light on a extraordinary woman whom beat all odds and managed to set herself on the right path. The evidence will also prove that Jason maliciously set about to hurt Mellissa that night in October 1992. “

I felt somewhat relieved that Angela was on my side here. Inside I was sick that Jason had a chance of getting away with what he did too me. Was there justice? I was sure about to find out. I began to feel really tired and after sitting listening through the opening statements I was lead out of the courtroom and back to my room at the rehab center. I was not present during the rest of the opening evidence for the rest of the week as I had ongoing treatments.

Angela stopped by on the Friday after 5 pm when I had returned to my room after a go in the parallel bars. (They were trying to get me back walking). She greeted me with a slight hug. She told me what evidence McVeigh brought in to discredit me and made Jason the innocent one in all this. I asked her if that meant I had to appear and give my side of the story. Angela said “not necessarily, that will come later” McVeigh has to defend his client and will introduce all his evidence. We will have that opportunity later.” I was so naíve as to the court system here, sheesh. I was so dumb. Street Smart justice I could understand all to well. Someone wronged you on the street, simple justice, beat the hell out of them and move on. There were no judges or juries nor lawyers involved. You saw something wrong; you took action, end of discussion. I had to put my faith in Angela’s ability to defend me and make that asshole pay. I can look back at his experience and honestly say that justice was never dealt the way it should have been dealt.

I never made it for the next few weeks of the trial as I was literally laid up with pneumonia. I kept in contact with Angela with phone calls. The defence was sure laying all the blame on me and my actions. I was degraded and humiliated as well as belittled in court and I was not even there to defend myself. I sank into a minor depression yet again and Sheila was called to guide me through that mess again. Jenn and Melanie stopped by every other night after court and filled me in on the day’s happenings. I told them I wish I was there. They told me not too worry, things were going to work out. I had serious doubts. Being a street wise kid gives you an edge and a feeling. I felt that justice would never be served. I was pissed off, yes, you better believe it. As I look back even now, it still angers me and pisses me off. The edge I guess would be when I was called to the stand in three weeks. McVeigh still had to present a few more witnesses and those included Jenn and Melanie. I vowed to be at the trial again comes hell or high water. I was sickened by McVeigh’s attitude and complete ignorance towards me. I guess now I understand it. I knew he had to do his job, I felt he went way overboard with his depiction of me.

I sure can say that things were quite interesting during these four months of the trial. Justice or No Justice. I really felt that there was going to be a split here and I was going to have to play it out and see what transpired. I was angry and wished I had died that night then I would not of had to deal with this long hard road of rehabilitation and recovery and then again, I am glad I was.

TO BE CONTINUED…….

COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED AND WELCOMED. POINT TO IMPROVE ON IS ALSO WELCOMED. THANKS.

***** NOTE: I have edited a lot of the opening statements due to some emotional trauma it will create with me. I apologize in advance. However I felt as did several others that it would be too much.