Home Is With You

19 • Basha v Ronald pt2

*Trigger warning for anyone. Mentions of physical and sexual abuse*

"Okay court is back in session. Mr. Reyes no more badgering witnesses or I'll hold you in contempt." Judge Martin said as he cleared his throat.

"I would like to call Zoya Basha to the stand." I say. I observe as Ms. Basha is sworn in as she takes the stand. "Ms. Basha can you tell the court about the night you went missing?" I asked her.

"When I left at nine that night, Josh had texted me to meet him at the frat house. Something was telling me not to go, but I went anyway. When I got there Josh let me inside, there were people drinking and smoking. Normal college things you know. So we went u-upstairs to this room and it had a big Nazi flag on the wall. I didn't say anything about it. I started helping Josh with his work everything was completely normal. When it was eleven I said I was going home, Josh had gripped my wrist. All the people that were in the house walked into the room, surrounding me. Like a coyote to a duck. When I tried to leave again Josh had pushed me down to the floor. Then they all started beating me, pulling at my clothes, calling me names. 'You dirty whore. You should go back to your country. You filthy Muslim. Your a terrorist just like your kind.' Then it stopped but then they snatched off my niquab. I started crying attempting to try to cover my hair. But they all started to hold my legs and arms down. Josh f-f-forced hi-himself in me. I-I could feel his hands touching me. Hitting me. C-choking me.  I tried to fight him off of me but they would pin my hands and legs down. I could hear their incessant laughing, see the lights from their cameras as they took videos and pic-pictures. When they were done with me, I ran I didn't think about my honor, about what my family would think. I just ran and I collapsed in the alley." Ms. Basha said tears running from her eyes as she hugged herself.

"I know this must be difficult for you, but when Marley found you did she take you to the hospital or police?" I asked. "Yes, she immediately took me to the hospital." She said as I go over to my table picking up the hospital record for that night.

"Judge Martin here is the hospital record for that night. I won't say this out loud for the sake of Zoya's honor." I said to him. The judge takes it his eyes scrutinizing the paper. "What happened when you finally went back to college?" I asked her.

"The other students made fun of me. Said I should of fought harder, tried harder to get away. They patted Josh on the back like he won a medal but I was fighting for my life that night. Marley is the only one who stood by my side." She said making the jury mumbled. "No further questions." I say to the judge. "No questions your honor. I would like to call Josh Ronald to the stand." Mr. Reyes spoke as Ms. Basha stepped down from the witness stand. Mr. Ronald takes the stand looking nervous as he glared at Ms. Basha.

"Mr. Ronald, did you in Ms. Basha's words, rape her?" Mr. Reyes asked. "No sir." He replied as Zoya clenched her hands in her lap. "Are you a racist or are you biased against Ms. Basha because she is Muslim?" Mr. Reyes asked. "No." He replied before Mr. Reyes sat down.

"Mr. Ronald you said you didn't rape her. So what is this?" I asked as I showed him pictures that his friends took of Zoya. They were of Zoya crying. Josh raping her. Of the bruises around her neck and the bruises circling her arms and legs.

"You also said you don't hold any resentment or bias against Ms. Basha being Muslim. But are you sure?" I asked. "Yes I'm sure." He said. "I understand that your dad died in the 9/11 attack on the twin tower. I'm sorry to hear that by the way." I say to him.

He nodded. "I also noticed how you and Mr. Well glared at both Ms. Cooper and Ms. Basha when they stepped down from the witness stand. So you must feel some resent for them." I noticed. "No I don't." Mr. Ronald said. "Okay. Why did you lure Ms. Basha into that frat house? Didn't you know what would happen to her?" I asked him.

"I didn't lure her. She came on her on will. I-I didn't mean to rape her." Mr. Ronald said his eyes darting around. "But you did mean to. There is photographic evidence of this happening. Her hospital record says you did." I say to him but I smirk mentally as Mr. Ronald slammed his hands down on the stand.

"Yes! I did it. That Muslim pig is a terrorist and a threat to America! We beat her and I raped her! You happy!" Mr. Ronald shouted. "No further questions your honor." I sigh walking back to Zoya.

"Alright. Present your closing statements gentlemen." Judge Martin said. I watched Mr. Reyes as he pieced together a closing statement. I know he know he has lost this case for sure.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury earlier today in this court room I said we would put a guilty man behind bars to make everyone safe. But people not only will we it make people feel safe it will help restore her honor. Ms. Basha only wanted to help a fellow classmate but what she got in return is to be beaten and raped, treated as a terrorist. Let's make sure nothing like this happens again." I say before sitting down.

"The jury will delibrerate. We will call you all back in here when they are done." Judge Martin says before hitting his gavel on the sound block. "Come on." I whisper to Zoya as we exit the court room. "Does this mean the rest of them will be arrested?" Zoya asked. "Yes. Hopefully the verdict will come back in our favor." I say to her.

After almost a hour, the bailiff called us back in and I was hopeful for the verdict. "What's the verdict?" Judge Martin asked. "In the case of Basha v Ronald, on the count of hate crime we find the plaintiff guilty. On the count of rape we find the plaintiff guilty. On the count of assault we find the plaintiff guilty." The jury said.

"I sentence the plaintiff eight years on a hate crime. Ten years on the count of rape and three year on the count of assault. All will be consecutive. Court is adjourned." Judge Martin. "Thank you Mr. Watson." Zoya whispered.