Taylor vs Reid (GxG)

Part 2 - {The Verdict}

It took a week for the magistrate to come to his decision. I was just finishing up some work in the court's library when Reilly found me. "His magistrate would like to see us in his chambers."

"What are you doing here? I did not know about you needing to be at court today."

"You're keeping tabs on me?" She said, smiling brightly as she leaned against the desktop I sat around and folded her arms.

I sighed heavily before looking up to meet her eyes. "I have to know where my enemies are at all times. Was that all?"

"Yup." At that, I got to my feet, gathered all my paperwork, and started for the exit. She followed me at my side. "Did you want to hear something else? Perhaps—"

"Nope," I increased my pace, hearing her soft laugh behind me. I made it to the chambers a few steps ahead of her.

"Thank you for joining me, Ms Taylor and Ms Reid," he began as he filed through the papers on his desk. "I have come to a decision re our committal hearing a week ago. After multiple thorough reviews of the mental check evaluations that were done on Mr Francis, it has been determined that Mr Francis was indeed sleepwalking at the time of the incident. Therefore, this case will not be taken to trial."

My heart fell, a cold feeling washing over my body as if I had been ducked with a bucket of iced water. "Your honour--" I began, but he silenced me with a raise of his hand. 

"Let me finish, Ms Taylor." My jaw clenched and my lips pressed together in a thin line. Reilly was silent next to me, but her presence hung heavily in the room, making it even more claustrophobic. "Although Mr Francis was not found criminally responsible and thus not subjected to a trial or traditional sentencing," the magistrate continued. "I'm imposing a few conditions to mitigate future risks of incidents like this."

"What are the conditions, Your Honour?" Reilly inquired, her interest piqued. 

"Mandatory professional help," His magistrate began to list. "Mr Francis is required to seek professional help to manage his sleepwalking condition. This involves medical treatment, therapy, and strategies to minimise the risk of his sleepwalking episodes. I'm also putting restrictions on his living arrangements to prevent potential harm to others. Mr Francis is prohibited from sharing living quarters with others, including in a multi-family dwelling, unless he takes specific precautions."

"These are?" Reilly wondered. "Just for reference?" 

"It's up to him to decide so long as they are designed to ensure both his safety and the safety of others during any future sleepwalking episodes. Failure to comply with these conditions, especially the precautions related to his living arrangements, will result in a criminal conviction on the count of criminal negligence."

"Your Honour, if I may speak," I began, my throat aching from the fury I was holding back. He nodded and so I carried on. "Respectfully, Your Honour, sleepwalking is not a viable reason to let a sex offender off the hook. Intent is one thing, an important thing, yes. But having done a crime such as this one deems repercussions that reflect the severity of the case. It's not only about intent, proven by manslaughter charges. It is about justice and I, respectfully believe justice has not been served here." 

The magistrate clasped his hands and stared me down, his jaw set. "Are you implying that my ruling is biased, Ms Taylor?"

YES! "No, Your Honour," I gritted my teeth. "I just...her life was ruined by this and it just seems like he's being let off with a warning while she gets nothing from this."  

"I understand that you are upset, but do not undermine my judgements again. You are a passionate lawyer who I admire. Let us keep it that way." Noted. He turned his attention back to his files and began to read from it again. "To Shannon, the court awards compensation of $145,051 made up of..."