Psychotic

Chapter 10:Trial

It was the first day of trial. Princeton and his lawyers had prepared for two weeks on what he should expect. They went over questions that would be asked and how to answer them. They always made him recite the events of that day so that he could get his story straight.

Princeton woke up early that morning and got ready. He put on his black slacks with a white button down dress shirt. He slipped on his black dress shoes and made his way down stairs, where his mother and father were waiting.

He could see the pain and fear in his parent's eyes as he walked towards them. His father was trying to stay strong, but Princeton knew that this was killing him on the inside. He hugged them both and assured them that everything would be ok, and that everything would go back to normal after the trial was over with. 

Princeton desperately wanted to believe what he was saying, but he was starting to doubt himself.

They all got in the car and drove down to the court house. They pulled up in font of the building and saw more than a dozen reporters waiting outside with cameras. They all got out as the reporters began to flock around them.

"How do you feel right now?" "Are you guilty?" "Did you kill Ashley?", the reporters asked as they crowded around them

"We can't answer any questions as this time" Mr. Martin said as he walked up to them. He pushed past the reporters and made a clearing as they Princeton and his parents walked into the building.

"Are you ready?", Mr. Martin asked

"No"

"It's ok", Mr. Martin said as he placed his hand on Princeton's shoulder "Just remember what I told you. You'll be fine"

They all walked into the court room and saw everyone waiting. Princeton looked around and saw Ray and Prod in the audience. He was glad that his friends were there to support him, but the one person who he was most excited to see was Rosaline. Just seeing her face in the crowd made him feel as if everything would be ok.

He walked to the front of the court room with his lawyer and sat down in the defendant's section. Ashley's parents were already waiting with their lawyer in the prosecutor's section.

After a waiting for a few minutes, the judge finally arrived. He walked in and took a seat on his large chair. He banged his gavel three times, which notified everyone that the trial was starting.

 "It says hear that the plaintiff is accusing Jacob Perez of the murder of 17 year old Ashley Brookes" the judge read "Is that correct?"

"Yes your honor"Mrs. James said as she stood up

Mrs. James was one of the best Lawyers in California. She had a 97% average on the cases that she had one won, and was known for her great persuasive techniques. She graduated from Harvard law and was immediately hired to work at a private law firm that only with high profile cases.  Since Princeton was the star athlete on his High School's basketball team and was being recruited by major colleges, it generated a lot of publicity. More publicity meant an increase in clients, and there was no way that Mrs. James was going to lose this case.

Each lawyer stood up and gave their opening statements before calling up their first witness. 

"Can Ray Ray please have a seat on the witness stand" Mr. James said

Ray stood up and walked to the witness stand. The court officer grabbed a bible and told Ray to place his left hand on it and hold his right hand up.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?" the court officer asked

"I do"