"Mr. Watson make your opening statement." Judge Martinez said as I stood up approaching the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury I stand before you today to prove that the plaintiff Mr. Josh Ronald has committed grievous hate crimes against Zoya Basha. Simply because of her race and ethnicity. Today we will put a guilty man behind bars, for the sake of everyone's safety." I say before I sit back down nodding to Zoya who wore the traditional niquab.
Looking back, I see all of Zoya's family here to support her in this case. I roll my eyes as the prosecutor starts his opening statement to the jury. I frown as he tries to make Zoya out the be a whore who tried to seduce the defendant. "Ms. Basha don't say anything. They are going to try to make it seem like you were the assailant and not the victim. But we will fight this." I say turning to her. She nods as she wiles stray tears from her eyes.
"Mr. Reyes give you first piece of evidence?" The judge grunted to us. "Sir, I would like to call my first witness to the stand Ms. Preston Well." A boy who wore a arrogant smirk approached the stand as he was sworn in under oath.
"Mr. Well how do you know the plaintiff and the defendant?" Reyes asked him. "Well I've known Josh since elementary but Zoya is just some girl in our college." He shrugs. "Mr. Well have you ever known the defendant to want to cause harm to girls or have any racist ideologies?" Reyes said. "Never I mean, were in college now, we go through girls like we go through clothes. Boys will be boys, yes. Besides Josh doesn't have a racist bone in his body" Preston smirked eyeing the jury who nod
"Withdraw." Reyes says as I stand up approaching the stand. "Boys will be boys. You mentioned your in college, right?" I asked. "Yes we are all in our sophomore year." He says. "Since your all sophomores you would be well into your twenties. If that is true then you are well into your adulthood." I say to him. "What does this have to do with anything?" He asks. "I would like to know as well." The judge says.
"See to exhibit A. This is Mr. Well Facebook page if you scroll down, the jury will see a picture of a group of young students but in the back ground is a Nazi flag behind you all. If you go further their are pictures of you all at a gun range shooting a target of a Muslim women's face. Along with other groups of minorities." I say showing them on the plasma screen.
I hear a few mumbles and gasps from around the court. "That doesn't prove that Josh was in on it." Preston rebutted. "But it does. See Mr. Ronald is in the group photo along with you, Mr. Wells. You all are to old for your parents to make decisions. This was a choice to be in it. No further questions you're honor." I say taking a seat.
"You may step down Mr. Wells. Call your witness Mr. Watson." The judge says. "Your honor. I call Marley Cooper to the stand." I say clearly as the brown skinned girl stepped forward.
Quickly being sworn in she takes the stand trembling as she does so. "Ms. Cooper I understand that you are friends with the defendant. Can you share with the court the events that followed for Ms. Basha and Mr. Josh to be in the same room?" I ask her and she nods.
"When Zoya and I were at the library studying for a upcoming test in our theology class. She received a text. We thought nothing of it since the class has a group hat to keep everyone update. When she looked at it it was Josh asking if she could tutor him. Zoya has always had a crush on Josh. She left our dorm at around nine, when she didn't come back I got worried you know. I got a hold of campus security and they couldn't find her. So I went looking the next morning, hoping she'd come back during the night. When I went everywhere. The library, Josh's dorm, to class but I didn't find her. I found her in a alley, her niquab snatched from her head, bruised and battered face. And she was crying hysterically." Marley said sniffling as I handed her a handkerchief.
"Thank you Ms. Cooper. Your witness." I say as I sit down. "You said you waited until the next morning. Why didn't you look that night? If your her friend you would of been worried?" Mr. Reyes says. "I was worried but we agreed as roommates that we wouldn't be in the other's business. Zoya has tutored before and always came back around eleven. I thought maybe she would show up in the night." Marley replied.
"Did you ask security to help you in the morning? I mean that would make logical sense." Reyes says making Marley shake her head. "No, it was no use security doesn't do anything if someone goes missing or doesn't show up. They say we are adults and not to worry." Marley says rolling her eyes. "Why didn't you go with Zoya that night? Didn't you have a gut feeling that something wasn't right? I have a feeling you didn't care about Zoya." Reyes said making Marley whimper as she shrunk in on herself.
"Your honor he is badgering the witness." I say to the judge frowning. "Okay fifteen minutes recess. I think we all need a break." Judge Martin said. "Get you something to eat Zoya we'll be here a while." I say to her. "Yes sir." She hummed as she stood up. Everyone left out of the court room and I caught the sneers Josh and Preston gave Marley and Zoya.
A long day indeed
YOU ARE READING
Home Is With You
RandomFifty year old Homer Watson is a distinguished lawyer in the booming city of San Francisco, California. Divorced from his wife of a decade, he finds himself drowning in his workload with a empty feeling inside. His nephew decides to take him to a n...
