The Cryptic Case of Bellamir Johnson

Chapter 9: The Trial

The Cryptic Case Of Bellamir Johnson


CHAPTER 9

"I'm sorry Bell. I failed to inform you about the rescheduling. But rest assured, we have something we could use for your trial. It's not much, but just do what we practiced before. Don't change anything in your statement. We'll stick to with you not knowing anything. Leave the rest to me." Atty. Lance explained while walk down the court room.

THE COURT SCENE:

Mediator: Let me present to you, Judge Christopher Gammel, judge assigned to the murder case of Bellamir Johnson, and the head of the jury, Mr. Rudolph Rudderford. (Rudderford stands). The hearing of Bellamir Morse Johnson versus People of the United States of America, State of Philadelphia, accused of the murder  of Kattlyn Simmon Schmucks, will now commence.

Judge Gammel: Present your opening statements, first on the side of Schmucks, Attorney Richardson.

**I looked at the other side. I saw Mrs. Schmuck's face. She's troubled, I know and I know she doesn't know how to take all of these.**

Atty. Richardson: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, your excellency, Judge Gammel, I represent Mrs. Schmuck in this murder case and let me tell you why that kid, Bellamir Johnson killed Mrs. Schmuck's daughter, Kattlyn. Mr. Johnson was found at the scene of the crime last September 26, 2016, Monday. He was standing right next to where he buried Ms. Schmuck's body. Fingerprints on the spade, eyewitnesses and other solid evidences will be shown further. So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, let me ask you one thing, at the early age of 19, Mr. Johnson managed to kill someone and still denies all the allegacies. No remorse, would you think this kid regrets all his actions, or might be, he would kill again without hesitation. That's all.

Mediator: Next will be the side of the accused, Mr. Bellamir Morse Johnson, and will be represented by Atty. Abegail Lance of the Public Attorney's Office.

(Atty. Lance stands)
Atty. Lance: Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, Judge Gammel. The kid says he's innocent. Why not give him the benefit of the doubt. Youngster these days make mistakes but not everything results in a killing. These security footage, (footage was played) was caught six nights before the arrest. The store owner, Mr. Gallahan, confirmed the situation. Yes, they bought a pregnancy kit. It might be of curiosity. And here, (flashed the autopsy document) is the autopsy report of Ms. Schmuck. The kid has no intention, nor reason to kill Mrs. Schmuck. Besides, they're best friends. Why would would anyone kill a best friend just because they carry their unborn child? Isn't it a gift? Thank you.

**I caught the glimpse of the jury on me. It's hard to be in this situation. Yes, I'm nervous. I saw Chad, Shelly, and my mom on my side. Then the witnesses was presented. The store owner was the first to take the witness' stand.**

Gallahan(store owner): I don't have much to say. It's just that I saw these kids the night of the 20th, that was Tuesday. They bought a pregnancy kit, as shown in the footage. That's it. I think they are in a hurry.

Atty. Richardson: As you confirmed that a pregnancy kit was bought, and they are in a hurry, did you saw anything that Mr. Johnson was carrying, like any digging material?

Gallahan(store owner): No, they're not bringing anything. The girl, she had a huge backpack, like she was going on a hike.

Atty. Richardson: So the possibility that bag might have anything like a small spade or something that could be used for digging. Or might be, Mr. Johnson put something inside.

Atty. Lance: Objection you honor! Leading the witness. He's making up his own conclusions. Nothing was proved in all the things he's stating.

Judge Gammel: Objection sustained. Mr. Richardson, proceed with a proper questioning.

Atty. Richardson: So let me rephrase the question, I'm sorry. Do you think that the girl is carrying the bag, as if it looked heavy?

Gallahan(store owner): I think so. It looked stuffed and big. They haven't even tried to put the kit on the bag.

Atty. Richardson: So, it might have something inside. Everything was burned together with the body of Mrs. Schmuck, so the investigative team failed to retrieve anything to use as a murder weapon. That's all your honor.

Atty. Lance: You said that they are in a hurry.

Gallahan(store owner): Yes.

Atty. Lance: But did you see their faces? Their reaction? Are they in a quarrel? Or did it look like they are having a misunderstanding?

Gallahan(store owner): I don't think so. But I heard the girl said something like, keeping things on theirselves.

Atty. Lance: Are there any cases where other youngsters buying a kit?

Atty. Richardson: Objection your honor! Question is irrelevant.

Atty. Lance: I'm asking if there are other youngsters buying the kit to see other views or reasons why kids buy these things.

Judge Gammel: Objection overruled. Answer the question Mr. Gallahan.

Gallahan(store owner): Yes, I had a couple of customers before, students, who buy pregnancy kits. Some said it was for school projects, and some are just pure curiosity.

Atty. Lance: That's all. Thank you your honor.

**As the hearing goes by, I got more and more on edge. Then I was called in the stand.**

Atty. Richardson: You said, you don't know anything about what happened. Then why are you on the scene of the crime, Monday, September 26 of this year?

ME: I don't know. I have this...uhmmm... it's just that I really don't know. I am searching for Kat and maybe due to too much exhaustion, I end up in the woods.

Atty. Richardson: Then why did you bring a spade?

ME: Maybe it was there, so maybe I tried to dig up somewhere. Tried to look for any clues.

Atty. Richardson: Huh? So you're saying, that "maybe" you just got there, and "maybe" you are looking for any clues? I guess that's for now your honor. No more questions.

Atty. Lance: Tell me Bell, about the night of disappearance.

ME: I was having dinner with my friends, because Shelly's dad got a promotion. We ate, and I guess something came up and I had to go home.

Atty. Lance: What came up Bell? Can you tell us exactly why you left the Kim's residence?

ME: I don't know exactly. But it has something to do in our household. But the next day, my friend Chad, came to our house. I was there.

Atty. Lance: That's all your honor.

**My mom also testified, so was Chad and Shelly. There testimony confirmed my alibi. Until..**

Mediator: Let me call the next witness, the arresting officer, Detective Dylan Rosberg of the PPD.

Atty. Richardson: Tell us Detective about all of the results of the investigation.

Det. Rosberg: Yeah, uhmm.. According to the autopsy report done by our department's legal medical officer whose identity will be kept out of the record. The body, yes, was burned, (pictures flashed)(crowd gasping)(Mr. Schmuck's covering her eyes) and chopped on the head, both arms, and legs. The victim was diagnosed of a sleeping drug hours before the murder.

Atty. Richardson: So, what's the connection of the accused, Mr. Johnson for these records?

Det. Rosberg: I never trusted mysterious kids. So as an officer, I followed my instict. I was sure that Mr. Johnson will lead us into something connected to Ms. Schmuck's disappearance. So, I started to follow him until the day of the arrest. The kid fell asleep earlier that day in the front of a flower shop. Then, minutes after, he woke up, and with a blank expression on his face, he stood up. Then he walked to the the shop. Without the owner noticing, he stole the spade that was filed outside the shop. Curiosity it is, I followed him. He just rushed as if he knows where he was going. Then we got into the woods. He hadn't even noticed that I was following him. Then the same spot as where Ms. Schmuck's body was buried, he started to dig. Then I called back up and everything else just follows until now.

Atty Richardson: Thank you Detective. That's all your honor.

Atty. Lance: It might be possible that the kid knows where exactly was the place because he was looking for her all days since the disappearance. Let me ask, why do you keep your medical officer's identity unknown? Isn't it our right to see the credibility of the inspecting officer?

Det. Rosberg: He requested it before the trial. He wants to keep his identity a secret because he said that he was just doing his job, and he wants nothing to do with the case. We have nothing to do about that.

Atty. Lance: Okay. Also, you were saying you followed Mr. Johnson since Kat's mother, Mrs. Schmuck, reported a missing person's case. That means, you didn't do anything to look for the person who's lost? Thus, violating a certain law and creed of police officers, saying, "An officer assigned to any case should do nothing unrelated to the case."

Det. Rosberg: (grinning) You know what, I'm a detective Ms. Lance. And what I do is investigate. If it was nothing unrelated, definitely, we're not here and everyone is still looking for the missing girl.

Atty. Lance: I see.

Det. Rosberg: You can ask anything you want Ms. Lance, but I made the right decision to follow the kid. Justice is what we all want for Ms. Schmuck's horrible murder.

**I saw the an agreement on the jury with Det. Rosberg's testimony. After the questioning, he left the stand, going back on his seat and I saw a glimpse of him, smiling, saying as if I am doomed.**

Atty. Lance: Don't worry Bell, we got this...

Mediator: Calling the last witness to be presented, from the accused, Professor Reinhart Schmuck.

**Everyone including Mrs. Schmuck was shocked. She didn't expect his ex-husband, Mr. Schmuck, to witness against their daughter. Now everybody was waiting on what Professor Schmuck will say on the stand. He took his vow, and sat.**

Atty. Lance: That's what I'm telling you Bell, we got this.

**Why is Kat's father on my side? Isn't I was accused of the murder of his daughter? Why help me? I can't wait to hear what Mr. Schmuck will say.**



(Woah?! You didn't expect it, did you? Just wait for CHAPTER 10 - Family, Friends, Foes.)