Don't Talk about Dead Queens

CHAPTER 3 : NIGEL KUE'S MURDER TRIAL

'The accused, Mr and Mrs Zakir are from a respected family. I've submitted evidences on where my clients were the night Nigel Kue was said to be murdered. Facts and evidences are indicating that, Nigel Kue must've been drunk and killed himself.'

'Your Honour,' the Deputy Public Prosecutor stood up, 'the evidences submitted by the accused's counsel are contradicting. And this court certainly does not need the counsel's opinion on Nigel Kue's demeanour or character. In the examination-in-chief, Mr Zakir testified that he was with his mistress at Kg. Kayu Ara on the night of the murder of Nigel Kue. His body was found the next day in the BU 11 forest. His wife was said to be sleeping at home at 2.30 a.m.,' he passed me the transcribed notes of evidence dated 23rd of August 2015. 'But now, the new counsel of the accused is trying to establish that Mr and Mrs Zakir were at a party on the 16th of August.'

I flipped through the pages of the notes of evidence. It was indeed contradicting. I asked the accused's counsel, 'Mr Farid, are you submitting a false report on your clients' whereabouts on the night of the murder ? If this is untrue, they can be sentenced to Death.'

All the evidences were against the accused during the prosecution case. It was a matter-of-time-and-luck before they were sentenced to death. Now, during the defense case, everything seemed wrong. The testimonies from both the prosecution witnesses and the defense witnesses were against Nigel Kue. The accused even assumed Nigel to be a drug addict.

But it can't be. I knew him too well. He was a man who respected himself and he wouldn't have taken drugs.

'This court should sentence them to death, My Lady. Funny how Mr Farid just lied in the court room for his psychopathic clients,' the public prosecutor said.

'Language, Mr Joseph,' I said.

Both counsel stood quiet for a few seconds. Mr Farid went back to his desk.

I let a few seconds pass by. The tragic murder of Nigel Kue seemed like a difficult case for me to decide on. Though I knew who the murderer was, I couldn't make a decision against them. No solid evidence. That is often the problem with law. Perpetrator of the most heinous of a crime sometimes gets away scot free due to a loophole in law.

Like in a recent case of a billionaire who raped and murdered three Indonesian maids. But he got away with it because all three of them had boyfriend problems and their Visas were expired.

I didn't know what to say. 'I still find it difficult to come to any conclusion in this case. The trial of Nigel Kue's murder against Mr and Mrs Zakir will be continued on 14 September 2015. Court dismissed.'

Everybody rose to leave as I switched my sight towards the two counsels. 'You two, meet me in my room in 15 minutes.'

With that I hurried to the Judge's Chamber, needing some time to cry over the disturbing assumptions made over Nigel.