Ace Attorney: Golden Future Of Law

Chapter 35: Turnabout Paradox - Trial 1 ~ Part 1

February 17 9:30am

District Court

Defendant Lobby No. 1 ~ Niamh Tenniswood's POV

"I still can't believe the police arrested him for murder again... It's happened way too often..." Chrysalis muttered.  The defendant, from what we had heard, was on his way to the courthouse, and Chrysalis was anxious to meet with him.

"Was Prosecutor Wood serious when she said he had been arrested ten times?" I asked.

"No, she was just exaggerating there. But it's not far off the actual number..."

(Speaking of Prosecutor Wood, I wonder what she managed to discover from the defendant... We didn't get the opportunity to meet him, so we'll have to find out as much as we can before the trial starts.)

The lobby doors opened and Chrysalis turned towards them, a hopeful look on her face. Stood in the doorway was a woman accompanied by a young man.

The young man, who I could only assume was Anton Burke, had curly blonde hair and wore sunglasses over his eyes. He wore a white outfit with a sort of red gem in the chest area. The woman had brown hair which reached just past her shoulders and brown eyes. She wore a black zip-up jacket (although she wore it unzipped) and black jeans. The t-shirt she wore under the jacket was grey.

"Anton!" Chrysalis cried, running up to him.

The woman immediately walked past the happy couple and approached me. "Tenniswood, correct?" she asked, but didn't expect a reply. "Polly Bloom, prosecutor."

"A pleasure to meet you, Prosecutor Bloom." I replied, bowing my head.

"I hope you have what it takes to win this case." Prosecutor Bloom crossed her arms. "Anton is, without question, innocent."

"Don't worry, Prosecutor; I will do everything in my power to get Anton a not guilty verdict."

"Thank you." She did not smile, she did not even make eye contact. I could even hear some suspicious discord behind her voice. She was certain of Anton's innocence... but not so much of someone else's.

It was at that time that we were called into the courtroom.

(I didn't get the chance to speak to Anton like I'd hoped... But we have to win this regardless!)

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February 17 10:00am

District Court

Courtroom No. 1 ~ Polly Bloom's POV

"Court is now in session for the trial of Anton Burke." His Honour announced. "Hmmm... I've seen that young man on trial quite a few times now." he added.

I flinched slightly. Even when I was in the gallery watching over the trial, I still didn't feel completely confident in that lawyer's abilities. Ghastly had assigned her to the case without a single thought or asking me first. Typical Ghastly.

"The defense is ready, Your Honour." Tenniswood said.

"Very good." His Honour nodded and turned to the prosecution. "Is the prosecution ready?"

"Y-Yeah. We're- I mean, I'm ready." Niamh replied. I guess she's gotten used to just standing on the side lines.

The judge, however, didn't notice Niamh's nervousness and kept glancing between the two of them for a different reason. "Y-You two..." he stammered, referring to Niamh and Tenniswood. "You look... strikingly similar! Are you, perhaps, distantly related?"

"Erm, well..." Niamh started, not quite sure of what to say.

"Your Honour, the relationship between myself and the prosecution is not relevant to the case at hand." Tenniswood pointed out.

"You are absolutely correct." His Honour nodded. "The prosecution may give their opening statement."

"Opening statement... right.... I-I got this...." Niamh muttered as she was shuffling through the case files. "W-Well, the body of Dominic Forge, a local prosecutor, was found yesterday at the Prosecutor's Office. The cause of death was a blow to the head with a blunt object. Death was instant. A weapon hasn't been found, though due to the autopsy we think it's some kinda long object."

"I see. You may now call your first witness."

Niamh nodded. "D-Detective Scott Hunter is the prosecution's first witness."

A man in a red coat appeared at the witness stand. Niamh hesitated before asking for his name and occupation. Most likely because she'd already said his name and occupation, but everyone has to follow the court protocol.

"Scott Hunter, homicide detective." the detective introduced himself. "I'll be detailing the crime for you chums with my testimony."

"Then please give us your testimony, Detective." His Honour requested.

- Witness Testimony -

- Details of the Crime -

"Dominic Forge was murdered at 8:15pm on the 15th of February, in other words two days ago."

"Around that time, the defendant was not seen by anybody and cannot provide an alibi for himself, thus leaving him as the only person with no alibi."

"Furthermore, the victim left a message with his own blood that clearly says 'ANTON'."

"Due to these facts, we had to arrest him on suspicion of murder."

"Thank you for your testimony, Detective." His Honour said. I, however, had lost my focus.

The victim left a dying message of Anton's name. But how? Did the killer write it instead?

I was so lost in thought that I remained unaware that the cross-examination had already started.

- Cross-Examination -

"Dominic Forge was murdered at 8:15pm on the 15th of February, in other words two days ago."

"Around that time, the defendant was not seen by anybody and cannot provide an alibi for himself, thus leaving him as the only person with no alibi."

"Furthermore, the victim left a message with his own blood that clearly says 'ANTON'."

*OBJECTION!*

"Are you sure the victim wrote that message?" Tenniswood asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" The detective asked.

"Just moments ago Prosecutor Wood stated that the victim's death was instant. He couldn't have written that message."

Other people in the gallery began to murmur. Honestly, can't they talk AFTER the trial?

"It's not such a big deal," Niamh shrugged. "All this means is that the killer wrote it instead."

Tenniswood nodded. "Exactly: the killer wrote that message, not the victim. They did it to frame my client!"

I sighed with relief. So Tenniswood managed to prove Anton's innocence after all. Is the trial over...?

"Sooo..." Niamh grinned. "Where does this leave us?"

Nobody replied.

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MYSTERIOUS.

I promise, things WILL get more exciting than the clichè 'who wrote the name'.

I can't wait! XD

AceAttorneyFan over and out!