After Before and After

Conclusion: Chapter 3

December 22, 1993. 10:09 AM.

The deja vu felt like an insult, like the universe was mocking them with this blatant reminder that the justice system wasn't done scarring them for life yet. Jack Merridew turned around to look behind the gate that separated the gallery from the judge and attorneys. Ralph, Jeffery, Laurie, and Paige sat in the first row of the gallery with anxious looks on their faces. Today, Jack was on the attorney's side of the gate. He, Brett Winslow, and Jeremy Reynolds were situated at the defense's table, while Dana Barnes took her rightful seat at the prosecution's table.

The rest of the courtroom was empty.

"I apologize for my tardiness" Judge Eldeson said after the bailiff announced him like he always did. "I was wrapping up a few details in a prior case. Let's not waste any more time and get on with it, shall we?" he rhetorically suggested.

"Today, we enter the sentencing phase of the State of Georgia and the Flag State's High Seas Division v. Jack Merridew" the bailiff announced.

"Jack" the judge addressed the boy directly, his eyes on him for an unsettlingly long time. "You were found guilty of criminal negligence in the death of Pieter Kingston by a jury of your peers on December 16th 1993. We are here today to determine what the most fitting sentence will be. This is not an opportunity for you to debate whether or not you believe the guilty verdict was fair. We are not here to re-argue the case. Is that clear, Mr. Merridew?"

"Yes, Your Honor" Jack answered with a nod, his hands folded down in front of him, standing tall.

"Glad we're on the same page" the judge took his eyes off Jack, a relief to the blond boy. "We will begin with the submission of the prosecution, followed by the defense. Once I've heard both sides' submissions, we will hear any victim impact statements submitted for this case. Once that's all been completed, I will take a fifteen minute recess to deliberate and then we will commence for the announcement of the sentence. Any questions before we proceed?"

Can we fast forward to the end?

"Excellent. Councillor Barnes, you have the floor."

Jack's heart fell into the pit of his stomach as Dana the Devil made her way triumphantly to the head of the courtroom. She looked prepared and confident, though that wasn't saying much since she always looked prepared and confident.

"Your Honor, I am here today to remind you and everyone in this courtroom of the gravity of the crime that was committed by Jack Merridew. A child is dead because of the action and the inaction taken by Merridew on the island. A week before Pieter's twelfth birthday, the boys were found and rescued from that deserted island. The thrill his family felt when they heard the news, and then the horror of learning soon after that their son died only ten days earlier. Ten days. Pieter survived all but ten days of the five months the boys spent on the island. He didn't even get to turn twelve, to come home a week before his birthday and turn twelve in the presence of his loving mother, and his stepfather, a veteran who served this fine nation. Jack Merridew played a critical role in the brutal and violent murder of an almost twelve-year-old boy. He helped plan it, and therefore had the knowledge to prevent it. Jack Merridew may not have pushed the bolder down that killed Pieter Kingston, but he was the catalyst that allowed it to happen. There is no sentence strong enough to give Pieter his life back. There is no sentence strong enough to help his family miss him less. There is no sentence strong enough to rehabilitate Jack Merridew, to make him truly pay a fair price for what he's done. It may be too late to save Pieter's life, but it is not too late to get him the justice he so desperately deserves. It is not too late to make sure he didn't die in vain, to give his family closure and peace of mind in knowing that his killer is facing consequences too. With that said, I ask you to impose the maximum sentence for a juvenile offender for a crime of this magnitude. On behalf of the victim and his family, I ask you to sentence Jack Merridew to a juvenile detention facility for the maximum period of five years, the time that Merridew will turn twenty-one. Thank you."