After Before and After

Phase 4: Chapter 124

December 10, 1993. 9:04 AM.

It shoud've been any other morning in Courtroom 4 because every day before it was any other morning. But today was not yesterday. Yesterday wasn't the last day. Today was the last day.

Ralph took in the feeling of the dark brown wooden bench, and how it felt cool underneath him in his black dress pants. He wouldn't be here tomorrow. He couldn't fathom that he wouldn't be here tomorrow. Where would tomorrow take him? Home? Jail? The psychiatric hospital for kids? Rock bottom?

"All rise, the honorable Judge Eldeson presiding."

Just like any other morning.

The people sat and the jury was sworn in, like any other morning. The floor should've been handed to Barnes or Reynolds then, whoever's turn it was to shock the court with new evidence or a surprise witness. And if it were any other morning, that's exactly what would've happened.

But this morning, the last morning, Judge Eldeson sat in the highest seat in the courtroom and kept the floor to himself for the time being.

"At this time, I am compelled to grant either or both parties the opportunity to present any additional evidence or bring in any final witnesses they feel are critical to the conclusion of this case" the judge announced to the otherwise painfully silent room. "Councilor Barnes, do you have anything further at this time?"

"No, Your Honor" she rose from her seat next to her co-counsel at the prosecution's table. "The State of Georgia rests."

"Very well" the Judge complied, "Councilor Murray, do you have anything further at this time?"

"No, Your Honor" he echoed Barnes, both prosecutors still standing side by side. "The Flag State Jurisdiction rests."

The judge then directed his attention to the primary defense attorney and asked the same question. "Councilor Reynolds, do you or any third party attorney representing your clients have anything further at this time?"

"No, Your Honor, we don't. The defense rests" Reynolds answered and took his seat.

All three attorneys were calm and confident in their stance and tones, making Ralph wonder whether that was a good or a bad thing. Did it really mean they were all confident in their ability to win the case, or was this still part of the show?

"We will proceed to closing arguments at this time" Judge Eldeson declared. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it is my responsibility to remind you that it is your civic duty to render and fair and true verdict as to these defendants based solely on the evidence presented here in this courtroom over the course of this trial and this trial alone. The closing arguments you are about to hear are not in and of themselves evidence, and serve the purpose of summarizing the cases and evidence presented by each side. Might I remind you that it is on the prosecution to bear the burden of proof, not the defense. If you do not feel that the burden of proof has been met by the prosecution as it pertains to each individual charge, you must render a verdict of not guilty. If you do feel that the prosecution has met the burden of proof as it pertains to each individual charge, then you must render a verdict of guilty. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Your Honor" each member of the jury mumbled out of unison in a wide variety of volumes, pitches, and tones.

"Very well, let's move onto closing arguments now. As is customary, the prosecution will start us off. Councilor Barnes, you have the floor" the judge declared, and the state prosecutor returned to her comfort zone; the head of the courtroom.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, over the last twelve months, you have been presented with an overwhelming amount of evidence pertaining to each of the twenty-two defendants. There is no question in my mind that all of these boys are guilty, and every last one of them participated in and contributed to the death of at least one of the three victims who are no longer here with us today. Larry Evans admitted that it was he who killed Johnathan Benson, a well respected Navy veteran who left behind a family and a community who will grieve his loss for the rest of their lives. Larry Evans' age and mental state on the island does not justify the slaying of a military veteran, a teacher, a leader. Johnathan Benson was all those things. There is nothing less American than letting the killer of a man who served our country for twenty-two years go free. With that said, I ask you to think of Johnathan Benson's kind heart and his legacy as you deliberate and decide on a verdict in this case. To that end, the vast majority of these boys have also admitted that they stabbed Simon Bennett, a stabbing that bode him a violent and tragic death. No twelve-year-old child deserves to die like that. The only thing Simon Bennett deserves now is justice. He deserves to rest in peace, and his family and friends deserve the peace of knowing that his killers will face the consequences of their horrific actions. Just like Johnathan Benson, young Simon was innocent of wrongdoing. You heard the testimony of his family and friends, people who love and miss him dearly. Simon was a sweet, caring, and quiet boy who was just trying to survive. He, least of all, deserved to die so young and so violently. I ask you to imagine the thoughts Simon must've been thinking in his final moments as you reach your verdict in the cases against his killers. Once again, age and circumstance does not excuse a second violent murder on that island, especially not one of a child as young and hopeful as Simon was. And last but certainly not least, I want you to remember the cold-hearted, intentional nature of Pieter Kingston's death. He too was so young and had such a hopeful future ahead of him. If it wasn't for the premeditated actions of Roger Conroy and his accomplice, Jack Merridew, only ten days before the rescue, Pieter would've been the twenty-third defendant instead of the third victim. His murder occurred in the light of day, and lacked any reasonable threat to Roger and Jack's lives. It was purposeful, hateful, and a final, brutal act of bullying, something we know Pieter faced almost everyday of his young life. If we let kids like Roger and Jack get away with this now, what message are we sending to other kids like them? To other kids like Pieter? I ask you to please consider the brutality of this murder, and the possible future consequences we as a society may face if murderers like Roger and Jack are set free to go do something like this again in the future. All three of the lives that we lost on that island, all three of them were preventable. That plane crash was an accident, perhaps inevitable, but nothing that happened after it was. Someone must be held responsible for what happened to the two children, and to the Navy veteran and hero. I ask you to think about the lives they will not get to live as you decide on a verdict at this time. Thank you for your time and attention, and I wish you all the best in coming to the right decision."