Chapter 99 Sentencing
~After A Week~
“My Lord, the only evidence against my client is one provided by one man, who I am sure is not a friend of hers and is just looking for a way to complicate her. This may all just be a coincidence.”
“Objection, My Lord!”
“Objection overruled.”
“Thank you, my Lord. Apart from this man that claims to be my client’s friend, there are no other witnesses to prove that my client is guilty. These were just words heard, and I must say that there are so many people that sound the same. It must have been someone else on the phone.”
“Objection, My Lord!”
“Objection sustained.”
“Thank you, My Lord!”
Arthur’s lawyer, Mr. Smith stood up to defend Arthur too. “My Lord, I bet my colleague here must have forgotten we also have a video of her on the phone with someone, saying this person should make it seem like an accident. I’ll play this tape now.” He said, giving a USB stick to one of the officers.
Aurora looked at Alec, who sat beside her, with fear in her heart. She feared that Arthur may not get the justice he deserved, and Anita would walk through this problem again like she has always done.
“Don’t worry, Aurora. She is not going to escape this.” Alec reassured her, and she swallowed, nodding slowly.
Carter and Derick sat behind them, equally watching the drag between the lawyers. “But why is it taking so long to prove she’s guilty? I mean, isn’t it so obvious? What the hell does coincidence mean?” Derick asked angrily, making Carter heave a sigh.
“Don’t worry, Derick. Alec already told us not to bother. He is her lawyer, of course he’d defend her.”
“I’d love to ask Miss Anita a question at this point. Miss Anita, is this you in your house?” He pointed to the projector in the court house, and Anita’s jaw was dropped in shock.
“That is impossible! That very day Alec wasn’t with me in the house! He recorded that without my consent! Isn’t that illegal?!” She yelled in anger.
“Miss Anita.” Her lawyer called, trying to caution her.
“That wasn’t the question I asked you, Miss Anita. Is that you in the video?” Mr. Smith asked again, and she nodded slowly, looking at her lawyer.
“Yes or No, Miss Anita?”
“Yes! I am the one in the video.” She answered with her jaws clenched.
“And can you please tell us who you were talking to on the phone? And why did you use the landline instead of your cell phone?” Mr. Smith further asked.
“Objection, My Lord!”
“Objection overruled, answer the question, Miss Anita.”
“I was talking to a friend. And I used the landline because I wanted to. My phone wasn’t anywhere in the room, and I was too lazy to go out of the room to answer it, so I just used the landline.” Anita answered.
“And how close is this your friend?”
“Very close.”
“Good. Can you please tell us what your responses and discussion was all about? Everyone in this courthouse would love to know.”
Anita remained silent as she didn’t know what to say anymore.
“No response, Miss Anita?”
She clenched her jaws tightly and shook her head, causing Mr. Smith to smirk.
“My Lord, before we proceed, I’d love to call up a testifier. Mr Don, can you please step forward?” Mr. Smith called, pointing to the witness box.
“Objection, My Lord! We were not informed that there would be a witness!” Her lawyer yelled.
“I wasn’t aware until now either, My Lord.” Mr Smith answered.
“Objection overruled. I’d love to hear what he has to say.”
Don climbed into the witness box and looked at Smith.
“What is your name?” Mr. Smith asked after Don had taken the oath.
“My name is Don Fisher.”
“Don, what is your relationship with this young lady?” Smith further asked, and Don turned to look at Anita, who was now shivering in fear.
“She is a business partner.” Don answered, shifting his gaze from
Anita, back to Smith.
“A business partner? And what kind of business is this?” He asked, and Don went completely silent. He asked again, and Don still remained quiet.
“Okay. Mr. Don, where were you around 7:30 am on Wednesday, the 15th of March, 2045?” Smith further asked.
“I…” He looked at Anita, who was not shaking her head, but then he ignored her. “I was on Runtle Street.”
“Runtle Street? And what were you driving?”
“A Van.”
“Objection, my lord! My client doesn’t even know him!”
“Objection overruled, Mr. Wright, let’s hear him.” The judge answered, and he slowly sat. He looked at Anita and saw her almost losing it.
“A van? What type of Van? Can you tell us the color and model?” Smith asked, and Don nodded slowly.
“It was a Silver Toyota Hiace.” He answered, and Smith grinned and turned to look at the judge.
“The same van found at the incident, My Lord.” He uttered, and turned to Don again.
“Did you know Mr. Arthur Howard?” He further asked, and Don shook his head.
“Not really. I just knew he was my target for that day, and I had to get my job done.” Don answered.
“Before we waste more time, here is a moment caught by the CCTV cameras on the Runtle street. In this video, we see Mr. Don hastily got out of the van, about a minute before Mr. Arthur ran into it.” Smith further explained.
“He was the driver?” Aurora asked Alec, and Alec nodded.
“Yes. We saw him in the footage, reached out to him and made sure he was going to be a testifier today.” Alec answered.
“He’ll be thrown in Jail, right?”
“Of course, he will. But his years may be reduced because he came out to confess. But he’s sure going to spend some time in jail.”
“Good. He better does.”
After the judge summarized the clear points of the case, he further said;
“Miss Anita Scurfield is found guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Arthur Howard, and I sentence her to twenty-five years imprisonment according to section 320 of the criminal code.”
“Noooo! No, you all are wrong!” Anita yelled in tears, shaking her head. The officers around her got a hold of her, trying to calm her down.
“And for you, Mr Don Fisher. You’re sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment as you’re found guilty in association with the attempted murder of Mr. Arthur Howard .” He said and hit the gavel.
“Go to hell!” Aurora yelled from behind Anita, and she turned to look at her.
“This isn’t over! Alec! Fk you!” She yelled in tears as the officers pulled her away.
After they all got out of the court house, they turned to look at Alec.
“Thank you so much for your help, Alec. We’ll always be grateful to you.” Carter uttered, and Alec smiled and nodded.
“It’s my pleasure. I’m glad I could help.” He answered. With a smile on Aurora’s face, she embraced him.
“I’ll never forget this.” She muttered against his chest.
“How is Arthur, though?” He asked after they stopped hugging.
“He’s getting better. He woke up about a week ago. He’s still in the hospital though. But he’s way better than before.” Aurora told, and he nodded with a smile.
“I’m glad he’s doing better. You’ll be getting together with him, right?” He asked, and Aurora gulped hard and looked at the others that listened.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I want you to know, okay? I need to know if I still have a chance or not.” Alec answered with a chuckle.
“Oh, no, Alec. I don’t think you have any chance. My friend wants her back, and she does too. She’s just not thinking about it yet.” Derick answered with a grin, and Alec chuckled.
“It was a joke. I know Aurora’s heart belongs to one person alone, and that is Arthur. I wish you the best.” He answered, and they all chuckled softly.