I spent 3 weeks in jail, until my trial came up. I used those three weeks to read a little, and you know...being on my own was very peaceful. I was waiting for trial, just so I could get it over with. Sometimes, you just gotta deal with the shit life throws at you. I know that now.
So the first day of the trial started, they charged me with drug trafficking, and voluntary manslaughter. To be honest, I was okay with that...chances are I won't end up spending my life in prison, and I'll have a second chance at making it in the world, this time a legal way.
As I sat there, next to my lawyers, the judge asked me what to plead. Without hesitation, I looked him in the eyes and said, "Guilty." I didn't want to hold up any more time with this, honestly I just wanted to get this trial out of the way and start my sentence.
To be honest, if I really wanted to I could've beat the case, I was the only living person out of the whole incident, so this whole case is based on here-say, with no probable cause or reasonable doubt beyond a certain extent. But, the streets were hot. They needed to cool down, and with me being a free man that wasn't going to happen. I just decided to chalk this one up as an L, after all, when I get out...I'll still be on top; even if I don't have to get back in the game.
All in all the trial took about three days, which was great. It was a Thursday, about 9 in the morning. I was woken up out of my cell, and taken to the courtroom so I could hear my verdict. The ride was peaceful, I got one of the last looks at the outside world I was going to have for a while, I was sure of it. I've come to grips with my fate, all I need to do is hear the words now.
We got into the courtroom, and I looked around. I saw a lot of people I knew, on top of my mom and family. People from my school were there, P's family, Reed's family; we had a full house this morning. Then, the judge walked in. There was an almost instant silence.
"I would like to thank all of you for being here today...I believe the jury has something for me."
The first head in the jury stood up, and pulled out a piece of paper. I waited as he read.
"In the case of Kaide Wallace, we find the defendant...guilty on the grounds of voluntary manslaughter."
Hell broke loose in the court. I swear my mom fainted, I looked back and told her to cool out. I heard others gasp and make other miscellaneous noises. The judge was obviously fed up.
"ORDER!" He slammed his gavel. "We still have one more verdict to read...back to you." He looked over at the jury.
The head cleared his throat. "And on the grounds of drug trafficking, we find the defendant...not guilty."
Another frenzy brewed, but a calm one. Sighs of relief brewed throughout the jury. I myself, was shocked, but it was whatever.
The judge had his sentence ready.
"It is with my duty, that I sentence you to 15 to 20 years in a maximum security prison. Do you have any words to say?"
I stood up, and looked at the people who were there.
"I just want to apologize to those whose lives I have ruined. Lives have been lost, careers ruined, and people have been changed. This life is a killer, and if you have anyone who might be dabbling into this kind of stuff, please tell them to stop, and use me as an example. I don't want anyone to go through what I went through..." I turned back to the judge. "That's all, your honor."
The judge nodded, and the officers came and grabbed me and took me to the van, and sent me off to prison.
