After Before and After

Phase 4: Chapter 126

December 16, 1993. 8:13 PM.

"Are we ready to proceed?" Judge Eldeson asked the foreman, tired eyebrows raised patiently.

"We are" the foreman confirmed.

Ralph couldn't bring himself to move a muscle as the foreman for the jury began to read out the verdict in the case against Larry for Captain Benson's death. He felt the intensity of the moment bottling up inside him, like a shaken soda bottle ready to explode.

"In the case of the State of Georgia and the Flag State's High Seas Division v. Larry Evans in the death of Johnathan Benson, we the jury find the defendant not guilty..." the foreman began.

Not guilty, was all Ralph could hear. Not guilty, not guilty, not guilty. What a relief, but still only a small one because it wasn't over yet.

"... of involuntary manslaughter on the grounds of self-defense. We believe that Evans was under reasonable belief of a threat to his life and acted with the intention of preserving his life and not with the malicious intent to harm or kill."

In that moment, Ralph's head turned involuntarily. And then he saw the reason on the other side of the aisle, two rows back. Larry and his parents were beaming with joy, cheering quietly but still loudly enough to turn heads. They were crying happy tears and hugging each other with urgency and excitement.

"Order" Judge Eldeson banged his gavel, interrupting their moment of celebration. "I understand emotions are high at this time but I have to ask that we all remain calm until the end. The calmer we are, the faster we get through this and get home for the evening. Shall we continue?"

The silence in the courtroom was the judge's answer, so he asked the foreman to continue with the next case, the death of Simon Bennett.

"In the case of the State of Georgia and the Flag State's High Seas Division v. Luke Armstrong in the death of Simon Bennett, we the jury find the defendant not guilty of voluntary manslaughter on the grounds of self-defense. It is our belief that Bennett presented as a reasonable threat to Armstrong's life in the moment that he acted, and therefore he should not be held criminally responsible for Bennett's death" the foreman announced in a steady and calm voice.

Even without the sudden burst of cheers, Ralph turned his head to locate the Armstrong family. Just across the aisle from them, same row, sat Luke and his family. They were silently but excitedly hugging and crying, just like Larry's family was. Ralph wanted that too, not just for him but for Jack. What if it was just Luke and Larry? What if this didn't mean anything for Ralph or for Jack? There was no guarantee that the other boys' fates had any bearing on his or Jack's.

But the verdicts continued to come out the same. Not guilty. Self defense. Reasonable threat. Not to be held criminally responsible for Simon's death.

The foreman continued down the defendant's roster, a list organized alphabetically by last name. Samuel Brooks: not guilty. Eric Brooks: not guilty. Peter Campbell: not guilty. Gregory Collins: not guilty.

Then came number six, Roger Conroy. This one Ralph was sure would turn things around.

"In the case of the State of Georgia and the Flag State's High Seas Division v. Roger Conroy in the death of Simon Bennett, we the jury find the defendant not guilty of voluntary manslaughter on the grounds of self-defense. We concluded that Bennett presented as a reasonable threat to Conroy's life in the moment he acted, and so Conroy should not be held criminally responsible for Bennett's death" the foreman recited.

Roger Conroy, not guilty. How is that humanly possible? Ralph wondered in shock. Laurie squeezed his hand. If they were letting Roger go free, they might as well just let all the double-homicide convicts in the state prisons go too.