Circumstance (Kaylor)

Red

Blue eyes are fixated on the empty space behind the witness stand. The wall behind it was painted a dull yellow colour that accented all the dark oak intricately detailed stands. It all looked very serious and Taylor felt out of her depth. She was treading water but her head was still dipping below the waterline.

The judge's stand was central to the back wall and was the highest of them all signifying authority. The black gavel lay sideways on top.

Taylor was sat on the front row with Karlie and her family just behind the prosecution table on the right side of the court. Samantha and her lawyer were sat behind it and she looked as though she was holding up just as well as Taylor; not at all.

The lawyer had told them that today they would open their case followed by the defence and then they would bring Samantha to the stand first who would be questioned by the prosecution first followed by the defence. Taylor would follow after and the same would happen. The next day is when Emily would be called to the stand and then the defence's other witness who was a friend of hers. The defence would question first followed by the prosecution and then the jury, who sat in the left wall, would be sent out to deliberate. 

They needed a majority verdict of guilty and then the judge would decide a sentence. At the least Emily would be put on the sex offenders register and given up to ten years for sexual assault and at the most she could get life if convicted of the second offence, rape. There were seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of rape due to the law stating that there must be unwanted penetration involved to be classed as rape. The prosecution was also filing for restraining orders for both Taylor and Samantha.

The lawyer had also told them that there was a good chance of a guilty verdict because many instances of sexual assault and rape are never reported meaning the jury will be more likely to side heavily with the victims for sympathy. Taylor and Samantha had been told to be as graphic and detailed as possible so that the defence couldn't accuse them of lying; that would be their only defence as the prosecution had a very strong case.

"Enter the honourable Judge Jones", a man from the front says and a woman walks in to take a seat behind the large stand.

"Case number 1324 of Swift and Johnson vs Green. If the prosecution would like to make their opening remarks". Samantha's lawyer gets up and walks around the desk.

"This case is a simple one. My client's argument will tell you the facts; that Emily Green is guilty of seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of rape as well as three counts of ABH. We will tell you all in detail just what my client and Miss Swift have endured and I trust that you, the jury, will believe the truth and come to a unanimous guilty verdict. That is all".

"Opening remarks from the defence". The defence lawyer gets up and stays standing behind the desk.

"I don't believe it is fair for any court to convict my client of seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of rape based on the amount of evidence that will be provided. You cannot convict someone for crimes they did not do". Taylor realises she has been holding her breath and lets out a long breath. Her nightmare is sat mere metres away hand cuffed in a glass cubicle. That face haunts her nightmares and for the defence to say that these incidents never happened crushes her. It negates her pain, her scars.

Taylor can't bring herself to look at Emily as Samantha is called to the stand. Sheepishly, she takes her seat and swears to tell the truth as the judge asks her.

The prosecutions lawyer questions her first. "When did you first meet Emily?", he asks pacing the width of the court.

"Um, at a friend's New Years eve party", her voice is shaky.