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"The defense calls Oscar Ramirez to the stand."
Juliana watched in pain, holding Rafael's hand, as her rapist took the stand. "Hello, Mr. Ramirez. Can you please tell the jury what happened on that night, October 14, the night that the witness, Detective Juliana Vasquez, was allegedly kidnapped?" Buchanan asked. "That night, I was having one of my evening walks, and I had walked past the alley where the witness, Juliana Vasquez, was alone and noticeably upset. I stopped and asked her what the problem was, and she told me that she said that she didn't want to talk about it. Then we just started having a normal, casual conversation, getting to know each other and all. Then, not knowing that she was with anyone.... I regrettably asked her if she wanted to have sex. Then, Aaron Garcia attacked us once he was awake, and I had a knife on me for protection, and Vasquez had her gun, and I hit his leg and she hit his chest. He was as good as dead. Nonetheless, she still began to put in a call, and then panicked and hung up. She examined the body, and we then realized that Garcia had a bandanna soaked in chloroform, Lord knows where he got that. Vasquez had figured this out by smelling it, so she was a bit incapacitated, and unable to walk or speak clearly, so I brought her to Ms. Prado's house, where I was always welcome. She rested up in the guest room, unconscious at that point, and then once she was awake we unfortunately had a bunch of wine and consensual sex, not rough, which she consented to by repeatedly saying 'yes', and also to record and post up on a porn website, before she started cutting herself in the bathroom when she started to panic about cheating. So, I bandaged her up and gave her some antibiotics, not wanting to take her to a hospital since there would be too many questions to answer. I went home, leaving her at the house to rest up. I went to check on her the next day, and found that she'd done it again, and drank some more wine. Then, we had sex again, not rough, which she also clearly consented to by saying 'don't stop', and then we decided to leave. I was driving her home when she suddenly told me to stop, and I of course did, panicking. She wanted to have a quickie in the empty house being sold, and I went along with it. She also asked me to livestream it. I was not rough, she only requested to be tied up each time. Then, she panicked again, and started fighting against me. She grabbed her gun, and I wrestled it out of her hands and managed to push her across the room. Then, when she pretended to be unconscious, I still tried to help her. That's when she grabbed the gun and shot at me, two times," Ramirez finished. "I see. No further questions," Buchanan decided, sitting back down.
Wayne Collins stood, prepared to cross examine Ramirez. "So Mr. Ramirez.... I understand that you said that when you first came into contact with Detective Vasquez, you were on an evening walk. Is that correct?" he began. "Yes sir," the rapist nodded. "And do we agree that you had started from your own home and made your way to that alley, where you met Detective Vasquez?" Collins asked. He nodded. "That's true." "Care to explain why you were on a casual evening stroll, at eight o'clock at night, nine miles from your own home?" "Oh, that's my mistake, I meant to say that I was on more of a sort of slow jog, training to get more in shape," Ramirez lied smoothly. "Nine miles already and you were still going? That's definitely very impressive. Now, you say that Detective Vasquez had smelled the bandanna found on Garcia, which was soaked in chloroform, yes?" Wayne continued questioning. "That's correct." "Right, right.... Mr. Ramirez, were you aware that at the police academy, Ms. Vasquez and many other cadets were specifically taught not to inspect suspicious and unknown items in such a manner? Furthermore, there were other ways that she could have figured out what was on it, and even if she did smell it, it would definitely take her a long time to smell enough to become too intoxicated to walk or function," he explained. "I don't know why, but for some reason I suppose Detective Vasquez broke her rules. Certainly wouldn't be the only rules she broke within those two days that we were together." "Alright. Also, I'd like to ask, if you were on a walk, how did you drive Detective Vasquez to the house? Surely you didn't have access to your own car, and we checked with all driving services and their drivers; none of them remember ever seeing you," Wayne Collins pointed out. "Well, I called a cab over and payed in cash that I had on me. don't know, they're drivers, they probably have about ten customers a day, things get confusing," he replied defensively. "No, Mr. Ramirez, we checked with all the cab services in New York, none of the drivers have ever seen you, and they're sure of it." Ramirez was silent. "Moving on, Detective Vasquez was found in a dress that had belonged to your sister. Any explanations?" Ramirez sighed dramatically. "I had suggested costumes. Vasquez liked the idea." "I see. And was she aware that the dress had once belonged to your sister?" Wayne asked. "No." "Well, how would she know that then? Wasn't it included in part of her testimony?" Collins continued questioning. "I don't know, I don't think it would've been difficult to somehow find out." "I see. No further questions, your honor," Wayne Collins announced. "You may step down," Judge Barth called. "The prosecution calls Dr. Hannah Perez," Wayne called out as she sat in the seat. "Dr. Perez, please tell me, what details are consisted with both stories?" he asked. "There was a bit of alcohol in Detective Vasquez's system, and minuscule traces of chloroform in her nose. Also, her wrists were raw, consistent with rope burn, and she had a concussion from her impact with the wall," Dr. Perez replied. "Right. Any inconsistencies that you can detect in Detective Vasquez's testimony?" Collins asked. "No, nothing that can be proven medically," she shook her head. "Any possible inconsistencies in Mr. Ramirez's story?" "Well, possibly. There were multiple more severe bruises along her head and neck, which would be consistent with assault, rape, or rough sex," she explained. "I understand. Now, tell me, do you think that all of these bruises could have been obtained when she made impact with the wall?" Wayne asked. "No. Not likely, no. She would have had to hit a very hard surface multiple times, possibly in the exact same way within mere seconds, which wouldn't be the type of injuries found on someone who hit a wall once. She would have had to been pushed or thrown or hit against something multiple times, and vigorously, without even stopping," Perez replied bluntly. "I see. No further questions, your honor."
****
"The prosecution calls Rafael Barba to the stand," Collins called. Rafael stood, taking the stand. "Mr. Barba, I feel terrible about what you and your girlfriend, Juliana Vasquez, have gone through only in this past week. I'd like to begin by asking you, does Detective Vasquez have any dangerous or concerning habits or tendencies?" Wayne asked. "No, sir. Juliana only smokes cigarettes, and that's only about twice a week at most," Rafael began. "Understandable. And does she have any problems with other drugs, or alcohol?" "No. Juliana does not do any drugs, and drinks occasionally and moderately," Rafael Barba replied. "So we agree that she is not a cigarette addict, nor is she an alcoholic, or a masochist?" he asked. "You would know, seeing as you see her while she's at work and live with her?" "That is correct, sir." "And is she ever dishonest?" he asked. Rafael shook his head. "No, not that I can recall. Juliana always admits that she's wrong, even if I've already apologized to her after an argument," he remembered fondly. "Thank you. Now I hate to ask, but.... sexually, has she ever done or suggested anything public? Say, pornography? Threesomes? Anything like that?" "No, never," Rafael shook his head. "And would you say that she prides herself on following police protocol, on efficiency and integrity?" Wayne Collins asked. "Yes, definitely." "So she wouldn't cheat on you and then lie about it, nor would she consume large amounts of alcohol, mixed with antibiotics, nor would she smell an unknown and suspicious item, and suspicious substance, nor would she so severely cut into her own stomach, nor would she shoot someone in cold blood, or fabricate a rape allegation just to avoid admitting that she cheated?" Collins concluded. "No never. Juliana is the most honest, loving, loyal, and smart woman I've ever known. I know her just about as well as anyone could know another person. I know that this claim is false," Rafael Barba said somewhat tearfully. "I understand. Thank you, so much, Mr. Barba."
