The First Daybreak - Transcript

Episode 1 The First Daybreak - Storm: Hi, there! I guess I should probably introduce myself before we get started. My name's Storm. Storm Sente. I'm an undergraduate student at the Femley School of Law... ...or rather, I was. On the 15th March, 2019, was the triennial FemCon. That's the Femley Convention, which every law student goes to as well as every defence barrister in the country. Practically no exceptions. But, as luck would have it, my alarm clock decided to break down on me that day of all days... Yeah, I know: it's an exceptionally clichéd way to start a story but, that's what happened. As it turns out, I was really lucky. That morning... That morning... Was the morning of what would since be referred to as the FemCon incident. It came without warning... An explosion at my university that left no survivors. If it weren't for my rubbishy alarm clock... ...well, I'd hardly be talking right now, would I? That wasn't all that happened that day. That was the day of the murder of Kathryn Davies... ...the day of the trial of Richard Kingsley... ...and the day of my first ever trial. Uh-huh; that definitely came without warning...

Storm: (Ugh... the trial starts in ten minutes... There's no way I can be ready for this...) (My client's not even here yet... What was his name? Ugh, I can't even remember that...) (Oh, hang on. I should be able to check that in the Profiles .)

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Storm: (' Richard Kingsley '... Nineteen years old, huh? Only a year younger than me. He must be feeling pretty scared.) ... ... ...

Richard: ... ... ...

Storm: Mr Kingsley...?

Richard: Oh! Um, yeah, that's me, Your Honour.

Storm: Huh? I'm a barrister, not a judge!

Richard: Oh, sorry. I was just looking for my lawyer...

Storm: Um, yes, that's me. I'm representing your defence.

Richard: Oh, right! I get it now! So... you're on my side, yeah?

Storm: Yes... (Wow, what a great start... not.) So, I take it you're pleading Not Guilty ?

Richard: Yep. I didn't kill anyone.

Storm: ...Mr Kingsley? I held back from asking straight away, but... what the hell are you wearing?

Richard: Oh! Is it really that bad? I was kind of hoping it wouldn't be too noticeable.

Storm: It's... It's a horse costume.

Richard: Yeah, I know.

Storm: ... ... ... You figured that would be fine to wear to court?

Richard: Well, it's what I wear to work! I didn't exactly have time to change.

Storm: I'm sort of scared to ask where it is you work...

Richard: The Beefy Mare! It's a fast-food restaurant.

Storm: Right... Could you not just get a relative to bring some other clothes?

Richard: I don't have any of those...

Storm: Ah, I see. I'm sorry. So there's no-one else here with you today?

Richard: Huh? No, I meant I don't have any other clothes! I had to sell everything off just to barely afford rent on my flat.

Storm: Oh, I see...

Richard: You think people will mind?

Storm: Uhh... N-no, I'm sure it'll be fine, Mr Kingsley... (By which I mean, our case will be over before it even starts...)

Richard: Hey, Mr Sente? What's with all the 'Mr Kingsley' stuff?

Storm: Wh-what do you mean? It's the standard form of address.

Richard: I swear you're, like, just a year older than me.

Storm: What, so you'd prefer 'Master'?

Richard: Aha, no! You're not my Dad! Just call me 'Richard'. Or 'Rich'. Or 'Rick'. Or 'Dick'. Or...

Storm: O-okay, fine. (His Dad calls him 'Master Kingsley'?! Either that, or he's got no idea what he's saying...) (Agh, crap! The court opens any minute now! What am I doing talking about honorifics?!) So, um, Richard. Why were you accused in the first place?

Richard: Well, that girl, Kathryn, works at the same fast-food place as me. We live in the same block of flats, too.

Storm: ... And that's it?!

Richard: Nah, apparently they found some stuff against me. They took me in for questioning and it was looking all right... But, then some detectives burst in with more evidence, so here I am.

Storm: (Hmm... not much to go on here. Looks like I'm just gonna have to go with the flow and improvise from scratch.) (Ohhhh, my first trial and it's already looking bad...)

Usher: The court is now open for the trial of Richard Kingsley. Proceedings will begin when all are assembled.

Storm: Richard, you know what to do, right?

Richard: Yep. I let that guy in uniform take me to my seat and tell the truth, or something like that.

Storm: Yes. Yes, you do tell the truth. That's exactly what you do...

Richard: What about you?

Storm: Huh?

Richard: Isn't this your first trial? Are you sure you know what to do?

Storm: O-of course! Yeah, I'm fine! I'm great! Y-you just don't worry about anything! (Oh, God... I am NOT ready.)

Richard: Well, see you in a moment!

Storm: (Okay. Deep breaths, Storm. You can do this. I've had my... two-and-a-half years of training.) (Just because I haven't got my university degree... or my professional training course... or my pupillage... or a licence to actually be a barrister...) (It'll be fine! Right, let's do this. Richard's counting on me... I can't let him down!)

???: Aha! Now, THAT'S the kind of face I was hoping for earlier on!

Storm: ...?!

???: You were looking so downcast before... I was surprised poor Richard could bear to look at you.

Storm: Mr... Mr Lawrence! Wh-what are you doing here?! I... I thought... you... (This is Charlie Lawrence ... one of my teachers at Femley School of Law!)

Lawrence: ...were dead? Hah! They're not getting rid of me that easily! Nah, I didn't attend the Femley Convention this time around. Pretty lucky, huh?

Storm: Yeah... Lucky... (Your alarm clock broke too, huh?) So, what are you doing here?

Lawrence: I heard that you were debuting years early. I figured that you'd need a hand, so they let me act as your co-counsel. Though I've got no doubts you're more than up to the task!

Storm: In that case, why didn't you just represent Richard? Why'd they have to force ME into all of this?

Lawrence: ... Well, technically, I shouldn't be appearing in court at all, at the moment. It took a lot of persuasion to get the Bar Council to let me on even as co-counsel.

Storm: Really? How come? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen you in school for a good few weeks now. Why didn't you go to FemCon, again?

Lawrence: ... I've been suspended. From the Bar. Investigation pending.

Storm: (Suspended?! Well, he is infamous for his mischievous ways. I guess the number of complaints has stacked up over time...) (I get the feeling he doesn't want to talk about it at the moment, though. It's hardly the right time, after all.) Mr Lawrence, I really don't think I can do this.

Lawrence: Nonsense! You're perfectly capable. You just need encouragement and a little memory-jogging once you're up on stage! Like, for instance... Mr Kingsley!

Richard: Um, yes?

Storm: Richard?! I thought you'd gone inside!

Lawrence: He was loitering around just past the doorway. You're looking for the big wooden door to the right, Mr Kingsley!

Richard: Oh, right! Thanks!

Lawrence: One last thing. You're aware that you're not a compellable witness ?

Richard: Umm... I...

Lawrence: Sorry, that you have the right to remain silent ? In other words, you don't have to testify if you don't want to.

Richard: Oh, right. Yeah...

Lawrence: Good. Just checking to make sure if you knew!

Storm: (Of course... I should make sure that my client really knows what privileges he has.) So, do you want to testify? It might help prove your innocence... or it might give the prosecution chance to attack you.

Richard: I dunno... Whatever you think is best, Mr Sente.

Lawrence: Okay, off you go. We'll be right behind you!

Richard: Thanks!

Lawrence: Okay, just because he's up for it, doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea. Like you said, it'll give the prosecution chance to cross-examine him and he's hardly gonna be able to stick up for himself. Though, also like you said, it may prove crucial...

Storm: (Okay, so I should only call Richard as a witness as a last resort ...)

Lawrence: Are you ready, Storm?

Storm: I guess... I'm just nervous... What if I mess up? Richard's life will be ruined! Forever!

Lawrence: No. He trusts you a great deal. Most defendants will either be too scared to testify and flat-out refuse, or be so sure of their innocence that they insist on telling their story. Richard was different. Remember what he said?' ...whatever you think is best, Mr Sente. ' He's putting his life in your hands. He's got no-one else to trust.

Storm: ... ... ...

Lawrence: If anyone's got anything to worry about, it's him. It's his life on the line here. You've got no right to be scared. Be strong, Storm. Be strong for him.

Storm: ...Right. We're going in, Mr Lawrence! We're going in there... and we're getting him out of this mess!

Storm: (Okay, here I am. The trial should start any minute now.)

Lawrence: You okay there, Storm? You're looking a bit pale. Don't go passing out, now!

Storm: I... I should be fine, Mr Lawrence. Just give me a moment.

Lawrence: You've been inside courtrooms before, haven't you?

Storm: Yeah, but only twice. Not to mention they were only Magistrates' Courts, not a full-on Crown Court like this.

Lawrence: Ah, you'll be fine! See that guy over there?

Storm: You mean that black-haired guy with the green tie? I take it he's the prosecutor on this case.

Lawrence: Yep. Don't you recognise him? He's pretty well-known in the area.

Storm: No, who is he?

Lawrence: His name's Sebastian Donovan. He's a crown prosecutor.

Storm: Hmm... the name rings a bell, actually. Is he good?

Lawrence: He's VERY good. Excellent, in fact!

Storm: (Oh, well that's just GREAT...)

Lawrence: You look terrified, Storm! You want my advice? Don't be. Donovan's a brilliant barrister... for all the right reasons.

Storm: Huh? What do you mean?

Lawrence: He cares about the truth, Storm. He's not your average lawyer trying to win and earn money and respect. You won't be considered an opponent, per se. He's more aiming towards... constructive non-aggressive argumentation. And he's a very nice bloke, to boot.

Storm: (So at least the prosecution's not going to be stamping me into the ground... Small mercies, I guess...) (Ah...! The jury's being led in...)

Lawrence: Now, now. You will try not to look TOO terrified, won't you? Look, here comes the judge. Get ready, Storm! It all starts here!

Usher: Court rise!

Justice Sullivan: Court is now in session for the trial of Richard Kingsley. Will the counsel for the prosecution give their opening statement?

Donovan: Earlier this morning, Kathryn Davies, an eighteen-year-old girl, was found dead in her flat. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death was a gunshot wound. This is the report compiled by the CID.

Evidence Added Post-Mortem Report

Storm: A gun, huh...? I wonder how that managed to get into the situation... Kind of implies it was pre-meditated.

Lawrence: Exactly. Whatever this was, it wasn't just on the spur of the moment. Oh, and remember, Donovan just had that evidence added to the court record.

Storm: (That's right. I can access the evidence, profiles and locations at any time I want.) (I should keep myself up-to-date with the latest information and check it regularly...)

Donovan: In addition, a gun was found in the same flat. The gun has the defendant's fingerprints on it and he later admitted to owning this gun, under police interrogation.

Evidence Added Gun

Storm: Fingerprints?! Confessions?! (Oh, come on, Richard!)

Lawrence: Odd. Hardly seems like the kind of guy who would own a gun, if you ask me! Highly doubt he has a firearms licence, so that's a crime in itself...

Storm: (Oh, brother...)

Lawrence: Oh, and the CID? That's the Criminal Investigation Department of the police service.

Storm: I KNOW what the CID is, sir. (I haven't gone completely blank... yet...)

Donovan: The prosecution will also prove, as well as how murder could have taken place, but that it DID take place. A witness who found the body shortly after death is prepared for testimony.

Storm: There's a witness, too?!

Lawrence: Hey, it could be worse. There could've been a full-on eyewitness of the actual crime as it took place.

Storm: (Richard, are you sure you didn't do it...?)

Justice Sullivan: Now, does the counsel for the defence have an opening statement, too?

Storm: (Huh?! What, ME?!)

Lawrence: Go, Storm, go!

Storm: But... But... I don't know anything! YOU do it, sir!

Lawrence: ... Nah. You're probably right, actually. We don't have enough information at the moment. We'll just start our case when Donovan calls his witness.

Storm: ... ... ...

Lawrence: Well, go on, then! Tell him! He's still waiting for an answer, you know!

Storm: Oh, um, no, Your Honour.

Justice Sullivan: ... ... ...

Lawrence: ... *mumble* ... *mumble* ...

Storm: What...?

Lawrence: ... 'My Lord'... 'MY LORD'...!

Storm: OH! Um, I'm very sorry, My Lord. No opening statement.

Justice Sullivan: This is your first trial, isn't it, Mr Sente? I understand that you've been rather thrown into this.

Storm: Yes, My Lord. I only found out a couple of hours ago...

Justice Sullivan: Are you sure that you're up to the task? I see Mr Lawrence is present... Could he not have represented the defence?

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Storm: Um... No, My Lord. We're all comfortable with this as it is.

Justice Sullivan: Very well, then. The counsel for the prosecution may call their witness. - Donovan: Please state your name and occupation to the court.

Mendax: The name's Benjamin Mendax. I'm manager at the Beefy Mare.

Storm: (Do none of these guys have any other clothes?!)

Donovan: In case the court is not aware, that's the fast-food restaurant at which the defendant also works.

Storm: (Yeah, I think we could tell from all the costumes, thanks...)

Justice Sullivan: Mr Mendax... Are you aware that you have a spatula sticking out of your pocket?

Mendax: * hmph* A true professional always keeps his tools at the ready. Take yourself, My Lord. Don't YOU always have your gavel at hand at all times?

Justice Sullivan: Why, yes! You're right!

Storm: (English judges don't even use gavels!)

Donovan: * ahem* So, Mr Mendax, where were you at the time of the murder?

Mendax: I must have been on my way back to my flat...

Donovan: ... ... ...

Mendax: ...!

Donovan: ...?

Storm: Um... why is Mr Mendax... glaring at Donovan?

Lawrence: Beats me! Seems like Donovan's trying his best to ignore it, though.

Donovan: Mr Mendax, would you please testify to this court about the last time you saw the defendant, Richard Kingsley, and also about how you came across the murder ?

Mendax: ...Sure.

Lawrence: Right, Storm. Mendax here is going to give testimony. He's going to relay his side of the story to the court. Listen carefully. Listen well. Shortly afterwards... you're up, kiddo.

Storm: Once he's finished his testimony... I get to cross-examine him, right?

Lawrence: Exactly! The art of cross-examination... arguably the most crucial part of ANY barrister's training.

Storm: (I haven't really gotten much training, but yeah...)

Lawrence: Okay, here we go! - Mendax: Kathryn Davies didn't turn up to work this morning. I got a call saying she was off sick, so I didn't think much of it. Kingsley left the shop premises on his morning break. He went into the side alley like usual for a snack. It was only a few minutes later I noticed him walking by the shop, looking kind of stressed, down the street in the direction of our block of flats. On my own break around an hour later, I started to make my way back home to fetch some money. I happened to walk past Davies' room and I noticed the door was ajar. I knocked on it and called in to her. There was no response, so I entered... and found her lying on the floor, her chest covered in blood. - Justice Sullivan: What a gripping tale, Mr Mendax. You must have been quite shocked!

Mendax: Of course. I thought she was off sick with fever, not exsanguination.

Justice Sullivan: Yes... It's funny how these things happen, isn't it?

Storm: (...Huh?)

Lawrence: Hah...! That's Justice Sullivan for you! He's a good enough bloke. A bit slow on the uptake, maybe, but he's fair enough.

Justice Sullivan: The defence may now begin their cross-examination.

Lawrence: Right, Storm! This really IS it! Now, you get to do something for real!

Storm: (About time... I've been standing here silently drowning in my own despair for ages...)

Lawrence: Now, listen to me carefully. You're gonna get the opportunity to analyse each of his statements down to the letter. You need to take in every bit of information. As you're doing that, look at the evidence. There's only a couple of exhibits at the moment, but it's all you need. If your client really is innocent... then HIS testimony is wrong. If it's wrong... then, logically, that means it contradicts the facts. So, look through the evidence. Find the inconsistency. Once you've spotted it... shove it in his face! Present the right evidence to the conflicting statement. In other words, raise an objection ! It's what a lawyer does best!

Storm: (Okay, there must be a part of his testimony that doesn't agree with the facts.) (I just need to find the contradiction with the evidence and present it! Simple as!)

Lawrence: It shouldn't be that difficult, Storm. I can see the discrepancy from a mile away. In fact, I noticed it the second he said it.

Storm: (Well, good for you...)

Lawrence: But, be careful. If you go throwing around evidence haphazardly... you're sure to land yourself in trouble. The judge is only so patient. Every time you waste the court's time, you run the risk of getting a penalty and decreasing your standing. If your standing hits rock bottom... you're outta' here. Your case is OVER.

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Storm: (Okay... so I need to think things over first.) (Go through his statements, go through the evidence ... and once I'm absolutely sure of the contradiction, present !)

Lawrence: Are you sure you've got all of this, Storm? This stuff is absolutely essential. I'm more than happy to go over it again...

Lawrence: Go get 'em, Storm! - Cross-Examination A Summary Of Events

Mendax: Kathryn Davies didn't turn up to work this morning. I got a call saying she was off sick, so I didn't think much of it. Kingsley left the shop premises on his morning break. He went into the side alley like usual for a snack. It was only a few minutes later I noticed him walking by the shop, looking kind of stressed, down the street in the direction of our block of flats. On my own break around an hour later, I started to make my way back home to fetch some money. I happened to walk past Davies' room and I noticed the door was ajar. I knocked on it and called in to her. There was no response, so I entered... and found her lying on the floor, her chest covered in blood.

Storm: Mr Mendax... you've clearly stated that Ms Davies had blood all over her chest. However... the post-mortem is proof that this is simply not the case. She was shot in the head. This is... a contradiction!

Mendax: ...!

Lawrence: Aahh! You make me proud, Storm! Your very first valid objection!

Storm: (At that moment... I knew.) (The adrenaline... The pointing finger... The shout of 'Objection'...) (It all came naturally, like it was lying in wait all my life. This is what I was born to do!)

Justice Sullivan: That's... That's right! A blatant impossibility! Witness, can you explain this?

Mendax: ...Well, I...

Donovan: Objection! Yes, there is undeniably a contradiction here... though I don't think it really means anything at this point.

Storm: Wh-what do you mean?! Obviously the witness...

Donovan: ...has slightly blurred memories? It was quite a horrifying discovery, Mr Sente. Perhaps the exact location of the blood escaped his recall?

Mendax: ... ... ...

Justice Sullivan: Sustained. Alone, this contradiction does not amount to much.

Storm: * grumble* Mr Lawrence, how can they ignore something like this?

Lawrence: It's all right, Storm. It's only the beginning. As a great lawyer once said: ' lies always beget more lies '. He's gonna change his testimony to cover up his mistake. When that happens, just find another one!

Storm: Wait, so... he is actually actively lying, then? As in full-on perjury ?

Lawrence: Your client really is innocent, isn't he, Storm? If he truly is... then how can there be such a strong case against him? Can it really just be coincidence?

Storm: (That Mendax guy is definitely hiding something.) (There's just something about him... even his name sounds a little ominous...) (And the way he keeps glaring at Donovan! What's up with that?!)

Donovan: Mr Mendax? Could you please testify about finding the body in more detail?

Lawrence: Okay, the same thing here, then, Storm. Listen carefully... - Mendax: I was returning from the restaurant to my flat. I had to pass by Davies' room... I do it every day. I noticed that her door was half-open. Cleaners usually leave doors open when they're working, but there was no sign of anyone. I knocked on the door and called her name, but I didn't hear anything, certainly not a reply. I found Kathryn lying on the floor. Her eyes were open and she was in a pool of blood. I had a quick look around to see if there was anyone hiding or anything, but the room was empty. So then I just went back outside and rang the police with the nearest public phone. - Storm: (Hmm... it all seems pretty normal to me. Besides the whole murder thing, I mean.)

Lawrence: That's a pretty solid testimony. As far as I can see... there aren't any contradictions with the evidence we've got.

Storm: Th-there aren't?! Well, what am I supposed to do?

Lawrence: Well, seeing as you've got the basics of cross-examination down, it's time to 'level up'.

Storm: 'Level up'...?

Lawrence: If you want to find out where his story falls apart, you're going to have to prey more information out of him. The bases of lies often aren't what fail... it's the details. Put him under enough pressure and he's sure to trip up!

Storm: (Okay, so this testimony alone isn't going to be enough... I need to press him!) (Ask him questions! Get more details out of him! Then I might be able to spot a contradiction !) - Cross-Examination Discovering the Murder

Mendax: I was returning from the restaurant to my flat. I had to pass by Davies' room... I do it every day.

Mendax: I did this during my morning break, which means the time must have been close to half past seven.

Mendax: I noticed that her door was half-open. Cleaners usually leave doors open when they're working, but there was no sign of anyone.

Mendax: I knocked on the door and called her name, but I didn't hear anything, certainly not a reply.

Mendax: I found Kathryn lying on the floor. Her eyes were open and she was in a pool of blood.

Mendax: I had a quick look around to see if there was anyone hiding or anything, but the room was empty.

Mendax: So then I just went back outside and rang the police with the nearest public phone.

Storm: You found the body at 7:30... you're sure about that?

Mendax: Yes, that's the time of my break.

Storm: Seems pretty early, if you ask me.

Mendax: Well, the restaurant does open very early. I get my first break then and another at quarter past ten.

Storm: Oh, no, sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I meant it's TOO early.

Mendax: Wh-what do you mean?

Storm: This post-mortem report proves that Kathryn Davies died at 10:15. If you had happened across her room at half seven... there wouldn't be any corpse to find!

Mendax: ...! Well, I...

Storm: Incidentally, you just stated to this court that another of your breaks is at 10:15... Pretty coincidental, huh?

Mendax: What are you suggesting?! That I killed her?!

Donovan: Objection! I'm afraid you don't have enough proof to start throwing around those accusations, Mr Sente. Though admittedly, the believability of this testimony is falling quickly.

Storm: (Huh? Did he just condemn his own witness?)

Justice Sullivan: Objection sustained. Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that Benjamin Mendax here committed the crime... ...his version of events simply does not make sense.

Storm: (Yes! Finally, I'm getting somewhere!)

Lawrence: Excellent work, Storm! You see how influential cross-examination can be?

Justice Sullivan: Hmm... even if we were to accept this testimony, it only constitutes circumstantial evidence.

Storm: ( Circumstantial evidence ...? Oh, that's right.) (So far, they've only tried to assert the possibility of Richard being the culprit.) (They've yet to try to definitely prove that he DID do it!)

Justice Sullivan: Does the counsel for the prosecution have any direct evidence ? It doesn't look like this witness is going to be very helpful after all.

Mendax: ... ... ...

Donovan: Yes, My Lord. The weapon itself is the strongest piece of damning evidence against Mr Kingsley!

Justice Sullivan: In that case, the examination of Benjamin Mendax ends here.

Storm: Is that okay, Mr Lawrence? Did I do all right?

Lawrence You did GREAT, Storm! A perfect opening! But, the real challenge starts here. If we're going to prove that Richard is innocent, we need to face off against the direct evidence ... namely, that gun.

Storm: (I guess I've gotten a good footing, now.) (Though the cross-examination is over, I'm still sure that Mendax is hiding something!) (His version of events just doesn't make sense... but why? Why was he lying?) (Well, perhaps I should think about that later. Right now, that gun is the problem...) - Donovan: The gun was a Glock 17, currently a standard-issue semi-automatic pistol for a majority of authorised firearms officers.

Lawrence: As far as fully-functional firearms go, that's one you can get with a little foot-in-the-door-edness. Perhaps the killer had links to the police, then?

Storm: (Interesting... if I can link someone to the police, then it could be pretty strong evidence that they got hold of the weapon.)

Donovan: The murder weapon was found in Kathryn Davies' flat by the detectives during the initial investigation. During the time the defendant was being interrogated, forensics proved that his fingerprints were all over the gun. Mr Kingsley then proceeded to confess ownership of the weapon.

Storm: (Gnrk...! That's pretty incontrovertible!)

Donovan: Even though Richard Kingsley denied that he killed Davies... this evidence is pretty incontrovertible!

Storm: (Okay, that was weird, but he's right! How the hell can I disprove all of this?!)

Justice Sullivan: You're right, it IS pretty incontrovertible! If that sums up your case... I think the jury may be ready to decide upon their verdict.

Storm: H-hey! My Lord, I...

Justice Sullivan: You've performed admirably, Mr Sente, especially for one so young. However... I fail to see how anyone could deny that Richard Kingsley murdered his colleague. In fact, I may even make a directed verdict ...

Lawrence: Objection! My Lord, none of this will be necessary!

Storm: (Mr Lawrence...?!)

Lawrence: There may well be an exhibition of direct evidence for the conviction of the defendant... ...but the counsel for the defence has yet to truly begin their case. We haven't had the opportunity to rebut this evidence!

Justice Sullivan: I suppose that's true...

Lawrence: I'm sure that Your Lordship doesn't want to end up making a rash decision. This case has been ushered through extremely quickly, after all, what with the events of this morning...

Storm: (Yeah, the explosion... For a criminal case, this has come through to court REALLY quickly.) (I guess they're keen to establish whether or not this murder is related in any way.)

Justice Sullivan: Very well. Counsel for the defence may request to have someone summoned to the stand. The court may or may not find it prudent to accept this.

Storm: (Right, I can have someone summoned... Someone important... Someone who may be able to shed some light on all of this...)

Lawrence: Choose carefully, Storm! Who's it gonna be...

Storm: The defence requests that the detective in charge, DCI Lizzy Harrison, be summoned for testimony!

Lawrence: The detective, huh? What makes you say that?

Storm: Obviously, there's something seriously wrong about that gun. It seems like all of this miraculous direct evidence stems from the police investigation, so I think we need to hear it from the horse's mouth.

Justice Sullivan: Detective Chief Inspector Lizzy Harrison? Does the prosecution have any objections?

Donovan: No, My Lord. In fact, I think it'd be quite beneficial to learn more about the investigation of the incident. The prosecution will call Detective Harrison as a witness, then.

Lawrence: All right! Now you're starting to take control of things, Storm!

Storm: (Okay, now it's time to get to the bottom of her!) (Well, I mean, the investigation. Whatever.) - Donovan: Would the witness please state her name and occupation?

Lizzy: The name's Lizzy Harrison. I'm Detective Chief Inspector at the Criminal Investigation Department for Answell.

Storm: (SHE'S Detective Chief Inspector?! She looks just about young enough to have just graduated!)

Lawrence: You look shocked, Storm! Well, she is 26 years old ...

Storm: 26?! And she's that high up in the police service?!

Lawrence: She's quite well-known locally. She got there on pure aptitude and drive, you know.

Storm: (Wow, she must be pretty amazing.)

Donovan: So, Detective Harrison. When did you first arrive at the crime scene?

Lizzy: I personally only arrived at the scene much later, but DCS Pilfnam led the response soon after Mendax's call. The reponse unit told me they arrived at the apartment shortly before 11 o'clock.

Storm: (So, I guess Mendax wasn't lying about alerting the police, then...)

Donovan: Who was it who found the murder weapon, the gun?

Lizzy: It was one of the officers who had arrived there before me. It'd already been entered into the collected evidence.

Donovan And where was it found?

Lizzy: It was actually found in the toilet bowl of Kathryn Davies' flat. We thought the culprit might've tried to flush it away.

Evidence Updated Gun

Storm: (In the toilet bowl ? Hmm, that's bound to be an important point later on...)

Lawrence: You're looking pensive, there, Storm! It's good; you need to keep making these connections and thinking ahead.

Donovan: Would you please testify to the court about the weapon, the Glock 17 gun, and how it connects to the defendant?

Lizzy: Sure, Mr Donovan.

Storm: (Right! Listen carefully, Storm.) (It's gonna be my job to cross-examine her once she's done...)

Lizzy: And YOU must be Mr Sente. Nice to meet you!

Storm: Oh...! You too, Miss Harrison.

Justice Sullivan: Could you perhaps save the introductions for later, Detective? We're on a tad of a tight schedule.

Lizzy: Oh, sure. Sorry, My Lord!

Justice Sullivan: Aha... That's quite all right!

Storm: (Wow, it seems like she IS pretty well-known.) - Lizzy: The bullet was extracted from the corpse by forensics. Ballistic fingerprinting proved that it came from the Glock 17 in the toilet. As these tests were being run, I was personally interviewing Richard Kingsley about the incident in a room not far away. It was he who actually named Benjamin Mendax as a witness. Mendax approached us about it all only a few minutes later. Forensics found fingerprints all over the gun which proved an absolutely perfect match with Richard Kingsley. When I got this information, I presented it to Mr Kingsley and he confessed to owning the gun. We arrested him after that. - Storm: Mr Lawrence, that's a pretty solid testimony...

Lawrence: You're right on that one. It pretty much just captions what we already knew, straight from the horse's mouth, like you said.

Storm: I can't think of anything outwardly wrong with this... but there must be! Why would Richard's fingerprints be on the gun? Maybe he thought confessing to owning the gun as an explanation would get him out of it, but it just made things worse!

Lawrence: Hmm... there is something there that doesn't quite make sense...

Storm: Huh? Really?

Lawrence: Yeah... ... ... You can figure it out, I'm sure!

Storm: (Why can't you just tell me?! Geez...) - Cross-Examination The Murder Weapon

Lizzy: The bullet was extracted from the corpse by forensics. Ballistic fingerprinting proved that it came from the Glock 17 in the toilet.

Lizzy: As these tests were being run, I was personally interviewing Richard Kingsley about the incident in a room not far away.

Lizzy: It was he who actually named Benjamin Mendax as a witness. Mendax approached us about it all only a few minutes later.

Lizzy: Forensics found fingerprints all over the gun which proved an absolutely perfect match with Richard Kingsley.

Lizzy: When I got this information, I presented it to Mr Kingsley and he confessed to owning the gun. We arrested him after that.

Storm: The fingerprints were on the gun and were matched directly to Richard Kingsley... That's, concisely, what you're saying.

Lizzy: Pretty much. That's what happened.

Storm: Well, that barely makes sense.

Lizzy: What? What do you mean?

Storm: You yourself have stated numerous times that the gun was found in the toilet bowl... submerged in water !

Lizzy: Yes, but... Oh!

Lawrence: Aha! I was right! Congrats, Storm!

Storm: (YOU COULD'VE JUST TOLD ME!) If the gun really was submerged in water... It seems VERY unlikely that fingerprints could have retained enough precision to 'perfectly match' it to the defendant!

Donovan: I suppose that's true...! Full submersion would quite possibly reduce the accuracy, especially if the culprit had indeed attempted to flush the toilet !

Storm: (He's supporting me on this?) (I guess he really is looking for 'constructive non-aggressive argumentation'...)

Justice Sullivan: I'm no expert on forenics, DCI Harrison, but even that makes sense to me. Can you explain this?

Lizzy: I... I... No, not really, My Lord.

Storm: (She's totally nonplussed. At least she seems more surprised than nervous.)

Donovan: Mr Sente, could I offer my opinion on this?

Storm: Sure, Mr Donovan. Go ahead.

Donovan: The fact that fingerprints were found on the gun which matched to Mr Kingsley is incontrovertible. This means that DCI Harrison here must have been fed false information about this gun. After all, it was another member of the CID who actually submitted it.

Storm: So... you're saying that there's one aspect about this gun that must be wrong ...?

Donovan: Exactly. And it was somewhere along the line this must have happened.

Storm: (Well, that's a pretty obvious conclusion, though I get what you're trying to say.)

Lawrence: Any ideas, Storm? Things ARE beginning to come into light. A little.

Storm: Actually, yeah. I've got a pretty good idea about what's wrong with the evidence.

Lawrence: Well, then, shout it out!

Storm: Looking at the evidence thus far, it can be asserted that there are some things about the gun which must be true ... ...leaving something which must be false. Precisely speaking, this must be wrong ...!

Storm: From the evidence the court has seen so far, it's clear that the murder weapon was this particular handgun, the Glock 17. It's also proven that the fingerprints of the defendant, Richard Kingsley, were found clearly on this weapon... So clearly, in fact, that it was next to impossible for the gun to have been submerged in flushing water! The falsity... is where the gun was found !

Lizzy: But the investigation...

Storm: All of the other aspects are covered by undeniable evidence. The only thing which indicated that the gun was found in the toilet bowl was through word-of-mouth, by Lizzy Harrison here. She wasn't even the one who found the weapon. It's just hearsay !

Justice Sullivan: Although I see no reason to doubt DCI Harrison's testimony... It's true that, by the process of elimination, it's the only thing that can be wrong.

Donovan: I agree. Though of course, this leaves a rather important question hanging in the air. Namely, if the gun wasn't found in the toilet bowl... where was it found ?

Lawrence: This is a tough point, Storm. I've only got a vague idea myself... and no proof to support it.

Storm: What's your idea? (Is there really any point in trying to ask?!)

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Storm: (Fine. I'll show you that I can figure this out myself.) (We were told that the gun was found in the toilet bowl, but I've demonstrated to the court that this simply can't be the case.) (So, why was the court misinformed like that? What could it mean?) (WHERE could it have REALLY been found?)

Donovan: Mr Sente, do you perhaps have an explanation for this? This remains your cross-examination, after all.

Storm: I do, Mr Donovan. I think I can explain it. Where was the gun found ...? Well, it could only have been...!

Storm: DCI Lizzy Harrison here was in charge of the murder investigation this morning... but she was not the one who found the weapon. And yet, she's brought it in as evidence, with its location having been 'established' through hearsay.

Donovan: An admirable synopsis. What's your conclusion?

Storm: She's not the only one who didn't find this gun. No-one did. The Criminal Investigation Department did not discover this evidence at all!

Lawrence: Hah...!

Lizzy: H-huh...?!

Donovan: What...?! I feel this line of reasoning needs some serious elaboration!

Storm: Okay, I know I'm really going out on a limb here. But, just think about it! The facts simply don't add up! Detective Harrison, can you personally confirm this gun was found at the crime scene at all?

Lizzy: Well... no, not me myself...

Justice Sullivan: Mr Sente, this argument has taken a very dangerous turn. What you are doing amounts to issuing accusations as to the integrity of the investigation itself.

Storm: I know, My Lord. (I just get such a strong feeling that something's afoot...!)

Donovan: Objection! Mr Sente. I can't deny the possibility of integrity issues here any more than you can. However, your argument is extremely circumstantial. It's an incredibly extreme stance to take, especially with no evidence in favour. Even more so considering it's based on the premise that fingerprints couldn't have been found after submersion in water, which is also circumstantial at best.

Justice Sullivan: Sustained. Such serious doubts cannot be based on conjecture alone.

Donovan: Perhaps if my learned friend were to expand upon his premise a little further...?

Storm: Where do we progress from here? It's clear that this murder weapon, the gun, is the one thing that holds all the secrets in this case. The fingerprints... the ownership confessions... even its whereabouts following the crime... They're all the big, unsolved mysteries. In order to get the answers, there's one person we need to call up to the witness stand at this point!

Lawrence: Yep, you've got it. You've timed it well. It's pretty obvious we've got no other choice!

Storm: My Lord, the defence requests that this person be brought to the stand ...!

Storm: The defence requests that Richard Kingsley be summoned for testimony!

Justice Sullivan: Richard Kingsley... as in your client, the defendant?

Storm: Exactly, My Lord.

Sullivan: You wish to call your client as a witness for the defence... Does the prosecution have any objections?

Donovan: None at all, My Lord. The prosecution agrees with the defence's decision. Ms Harrison, I think it would please the court if you could further investigate this issue of the fingerprints.

Lizzy: Of course, Mr Donovan. I was planning on getting right to it.

Justice Sullivan: Very well. Here ends the examination of Lizzy Harrison. Detective, you may now leave the stand... and let the defendant take it.

Storm: (Richard, I have no idea what kind of game you're playing, but it's obvious you're hiding behind a plethora of lies...) (Oh, please, God, let him not have done it...!) - Richard: ... ... ...

Storm: ... ... ...

Donovan: ... ... ...

Justice Sullivan: My God! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when you walked in, but it seems you truly are wearing that... *ahem* thing.

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Richard: ... ... ... Um. This is my uniform... uh, sir!

Justice Sullivan Be that as it may, I'm afraid it's simply unacceptable in a Crown Court! Remove it at once!

Richard: No, wait! This is all I'm wearing!

Storm: WHAT THE HELL?! You mean you're naked under there?!

Richard: You realise how HOT this gets?!

Storm: (Well, you're sure making this whole court hot under the collar...)

Donovan: * ahem* I wonder if His Lordship could make an exception for the defendant... um, just this once?

Justice Sullivan: Oh, very well. I must say, Mr Sente, this hardly gives a good impression of your client to the jury.

Storm: (Well, they're certainly going to think so now you've said that.) (Can I object to the judge leading the jury?)

Lawrence: Come on, now, Storm. Let's try not to get distracted... although that truly is one hell of a horse costume...

Storm: Please state your name and occupation.

Richard: Oh, right. Um... I'm Richard and I sell food. Hi, everyone.

Storm: ... Please state your FULL name and occupation.

Richard: Oops... uh, sorry... The name's Richard Kingsley and I work at The Beefy Mare. But, you can call me 'Richard' Or 'Rich'. Or 'Rick'. Or 'Dick'. Or...

Storm: O-okay, fine! You've done it already!

Lawrence: Now, we need to focus our attention on that Glock 17 gun. But keep in mind that Richard is YOUR witness, not Donovan's. You can't cross-examine him, you can only conduct examination-in-chief, which means no leading questions. Do your bit then let Donovan at him.

Storm: (Right, it's clear that Richard's confession is a complete load of bull, so I just need to press him on it so he can help himself look innocent.) Richard, why do you own a gun?

Richard: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... My Dad gave it to me.

Storm: Your Dad gave it to you?! Why would he do that?

Richard: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... It was my birthday.

Storm: Right... And how long ago was this?

Richard: It was my seventeenth birthday! So that's... ... ... ... ... four years ago.

Storm: (Two-and-a-half years, actually. Good job.) How did you get a license for it?

Richard: Um, can't say that I have one. I kept the gun secret for years!

Storm: (Oh, for God's sake! I'm supposed to be helping you look innocent!) (Richard, what the heck are you playing at? Why are you intent on looking so guilty?)

Lawrence: Storm, back off. This is doing way more harm than good. Oh, unless...! Right, end your examination for now! Let Donovan cross-examine him!

Storm: (That's all I should do?! Okay, then, I'm trusting you, Mr Lawrence...) No further questions, My Lord.

Justice Sullivan: Really?! Very well... Mr Donovan, you may cross-examine the witness for the defence.

Donovan: Mr Kingsley. You admit that the gun is yours?

Richard: Uh, yup.

Donovan: You admit that you own this gun illegally?

Richard: Yes, I do.

Donovan: Do you realise the implications this has on your case? You entered here pleading Not Guilty, and yet you are practically admitting to the crime.

Richard: ... ... ... Yeah, I admit to it.

Storm: (Oh, Richard... I wish I could see into that head of yours...)

Donovan: No further questions...

Storm: (Hmm...? Wait, why is he staring at me? Is he trying to tell me something?)

Lawrence: Storm, don't tell me you missed that incredibly pointed look off Donovan. He's throwing you a bone here!

Storm: He is?! But, I don't get it! He just helped establish Richard's confession!

Lawrence: Exactly! Listen, if you think Richard is innocent... why do you think he's so eager to admit to it all?

Storm: He told me he was innocent before the trial started. What on Earth would make anyone admit to... Oh! Wait, you think that he's being ...?

Storm: If he's really innocent, then what about all the evidence against him? Does it mean he was framed? If so, does THAT mean he's being blackmailed into going through with it?

Lawrence: Seems like we're on the same page. Yeah, blackmail's my theory, at any least. In that case, him telling you that he's really innocent means he's placed a great deal of trust in you by telling you the truth. Now, you've got to squeeze that truth out of him for all to see!

Storm: Well, great, but how do I do that? He's my witness, so all I can do is examination-in-chief... (...which sucks and is really boring.)

Lawrence: Right! So, Donovan worked out all of this-

Storm: Wha-?! He did?!

Lawrence: Yup. He worked out all of this and helped to show you how unhelpful Richard is being for his own case. In fact, he's being outright self-incriminatory ... There's grounds for being a hostile witness if I've ever heard any!

Storm: (Of course! He's my witness, but right now, he's essentially functioning as a witness for the prosecution!) (All I have to do is have him declared as such, then I can rip into him with full rebuttals with my re-examination!) My Lord! I wish to have this witness declared as hostile !

Justice Sullivan: What?! First, you call your own defendant as a witness for the defence... ...and now you want him as a witness for the prosecution?! In all my years...

Donovan: My Lord, I fully agree with the defence's request.

Justice Sullivan: You do...? Well, in that case... I suppose I have no reason not to allow it.

Storm: (Thank you, Donovan... I promise I'll buy you a cookie or something afterwards.)

Richard: Um. What exactly is going on...?

Storm: I'll begin my re-examination, if it's alright with you. Richard, please testify about the gun. In full, please...

Richard: ...! Okay, I'll try my best... - Richard: Um... I love my gun! No-one else knows about it, so it's perfect for committing murder! My Mum gave me it on my sixteenth birthday, so it means a lot to me. You all said it yourselves! It's got my fingerprints all over it, so it's obviously mine. It's true I tried to flush it down the toilet... straight after I killed Kathryn with it! -

Donovan: ... ... ...

Justice Sullivan: ... ... ...

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Storm: What... the... frak.

Richard: W-well? Am I guilty now?

Justice Sullivan: You can be, if you want me to give a directed verdict to the jury...

Storm: Objection! No, wait, My Lord, please! I still need to examine him properly!

Justice Sullivan: * sigh* Very well. Though, please make it quick. I fail to see what valid points you may raise after that performance...

Storm: (Yeah, me too, to be honest... But I've got to try and force him to tell the truth!) - Cross-Examination My Beloved Gun

Richard: Um... I love my gun! No-one else knows about it, so it's perfect for committing murder.

Richard: My Mum gave me it on my sixteenth birthday, so it means a lot to me.

Richard: You all said it yourselves! It's got my fingerprints all over it, so it's obviously mine.

Richard: It's true I tried to flush it down the toilet... straight after I killed Kathryn with it!

- After pressing all statements

Storm: Richard, I think you just gave the most ridiculous testimony imaginable by man, without actually contradicting any of the evidence. I don't know how you managed it, but well done, I guess.

Richard Aha! Gee, thanks!

Storm What you DID contradict, though, is common sense. You are not guilty of the murder of Kathryn Davies.

Richard: ... ... ...

Justice Sullivan: That's a bold thing to say in light of the evidence, Mr Sente.

Storm: Maybe so, My Lord, but there's actually a very simple explanation for the defendant's actions.

Justice Sullivan: Oh...? Do tell!

Storm: He's clearly just been framed ... and blackmailed into confessing, on top of that!

Justice Sullivan: Framed...? Blackmailed...? How on Earth did you come to this conclusion?

Storm: (Um, maybe because I just LOOKED at him...?) We know that the investigation squad was fed false information about the discovery of the gun. If it was simply planted as damning evidence to frame Mr Kingsley, the prosecution would surely have tried to talk about it with the detectives. They would've never seen it before, so the jig would be up. However, the real culprit could've blackmailed him into planting his fingerprints all over the gun and telling the police that he owned it, making it that much more believable!

Donovan: Objection! That's certainly a valid possibility, Mr Sente... However, the evidence against him is still very strong. To simply pass it off as fabrication... How can you prove such a thing took place?

Storm: ... ... Uhh... (He's got me there. I can hypothesise all I want, but I've got no way of proving any of this...)

Lawrence: Hmm... Quite the pickle we're in...

Storm: I'm sure I'm right, sir! I mean... just look at him! There's no way he's the real killer! If I could just prove it...

Justice Sullivan: Mr Sente... Although your theory doesn't seem impossible... It doesn't seem you can prove anything you're saying. Evidence is what holds ground here.

Donovan: I'm afraid... It certainly seems that way...

Storm: (Damn it! When it comes right down to it... there's nothing I can do!)

Justice Sullivan: In that case, I must declare the examination of Richard Kingsley over. I will now pass the verdict over to the-

???: Wait!

Lizzy: Please, stop right there!

Justice Sullivan Detective Harrison?

Donovan: Detective, your timing is impeccable. Do you have more details regarding the investigation?

Lizzy: Absolutely. Firstly, we were uncertain over the potential state of fingerprints after being submerged in water, so I went to speak to our forensic pathologist, Dr Lendez. He confirmed to me that regular fingerprints, without other contaminants, usually wouldn't survive underwater. He's made this statement as an amicus curiae, so I'll submit his brief.

Evidence Added Amicus Brief

Storm: (Yes! This is exactly the confirmation we need!)

Donovan: Well, then... that settles that. Anything else?

Lizzy: As a matter of fact... yes. After we talked about the gun, I went back to do my own analysis of it.

Storm: You did? You mean you found something on the gun?

Lizzy: I did a UV analysis with fluorescent powder. It's true... Richard's fingerprints show up clearly, even though I was told it was submerged in a flushed toilet.

Evidence Added Gun Analysis

Storm: (It's irrefutable, then... Richard's fingerprints are definitely on the weapon.)

Donovan: This certainly seems to support the fact that this evidence was fabricated, to some extent. While Mr Kingsley definitely touched the gun... someone slipped it into the evidence!

Storm: (Yes! At least that much of my theory's been proven!) (Wait a minute... Looking more closely at that analysis... I don't know if it means anything, but...) Detective Harrison? If this is a photo of the gun under ultraviolet light... What's the deal with all those specks on the handle?

Lizzy: Right, that's exactly the other thing! I had forensics run some quick tests... and as it turns out, they're traces of cornflour!

Storm: Cornflour?!

Donovan ...!

Lawrence: AHA!

Justice Sullivan ...! No, sorry, I don't follow...

Storm: My Lord, this is highly important! Cornflour is the usual powder used for modern latex gloves !

Evidence Updated Gun Analysis

Justice Sullivan: Gloves...? Egads! You mean to say...?

Lawrence: You've got it in the bag, Storm! Go for it!

Storm: Whoever really killed Ms Davies could've simply done so whilst wearing latex gloves, meaning they wouldn't have left fingerprints on the gun! Then, they could've blackmailed Richard into plastering his fingerprints all over it, before slipping it into the evidence!

Donovan: I must say, this theory of yours does seem to be getting all the more likely... The cornflour does support it a lot, but in essence, it's still just conjecture. I wonder if the defence could offer a final point ...?

Storm: (He's figured something out. He thinks I should make one more point which'll support my theory!)

Lawrence: Seems you're getting better at reading Donovan already. He's giving you a hint: there's still one last blow you can deal!

Justice Sullivan: Let's hear it then, Mr Sente. What else implies that the gun evidence is fabricated ?

Storm: Just take another look at the gun analysis, My Lord. It should tell you everything you need to know about Richard's innocence!

Justice Sullivan: Oh? I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific. Where exactly in this photo is this final implication of yours ?

Storm: It's actually really simple. Richard's fingerprints might've been the most damning evidence against him, at first... but they actually prove his innocence!

Justice Sullivan: They do?! How so?

Storm: The simple fact that his fingerprints are on the gun isn't important, if we're assuming that he was blackmailed into touching it. The crucial fact is, his fingerprints are on the barrel of the gun... But, if he really shot it, they would've had to have been on the handle !

Justice Sullivan: ...! You're right! His fingers would have been nowhere near the trigger!

Lawrence: Perfect, Storm! Go in for the kill!

Storm: This evidence is conclusive! There are no other fingerprints on the gun. Richard's fingerprints are nowhere near the trigger.

Richard: No... That's not true... I have no idea how that could...

Storm: Playing dumb won't help your cause! Richard Kingsley, you are INNOCENT!

Richard: ...!!!

Donovan: Objection! I agree, it certainly seems possible that Mr Kingsley might have been framed and blackmailed. But this evidence is all fairly circumstantial ... I fear that his innocence has yet to be directly proven.

Justice Sullivan: I think I agree with the prosecution.

Storm: (Oh, COME ON! How many more hoops do you want me to jump through?!)

Lawrence: Don't get disheartened, Storm! Every forward step is still a step forward, no matter how small. If you think about it logically... the real killer should be fairly obvious.

Storm: (The real killer...?)

Lawrence: My Lord! The defence would like to have a witness brought back to the stand.

Justice Sullivan: Very well. Assuming the prosecution has no objections, the court will summon this witness of yours. Who will you have called to the witness stand ?

Storm: The defence requests that Benjamin Mendax be called to the stand!

Justice Sullivan: You mean the witness who discovered the body?

Donovan: More importantly, I think, the witness whom we discharged on account of his testimony lacking coherence. The prosecution agrees with the defence's request! It seems likely that his story may take on a new perspective with our newfound knowledge!

Justice Sullivan: Yes, indeed... In that case, Mr Mendax shall be brought before the court again! - Mendax: ...

Justice Sullivan: Right, then, Mr Sente. You have your witness, as requested.

Donovan: I think it would be wise to focus our questions in a particular direction. His last testimony was fairly unsuccessful, after all.

Mendax: ...tch...!

Storm: (Boy, he really doesn't like Donovan...)

Lawrence: Donovan's right, Storm. We can't beat around the bush any more.

Mendax: I don't know why you've bothered to call me back here. Nothing's going to change. I was telling the truth before.

Justice Sullivan: We'll be the judge of that, Mr Mendax. Mr Sente, it seems as though we need to refocus our view of Mr Mendax's testimony based on what we've learned thus far.

Storm: (Right... there must be something we haven't thought of yet.) (Mendax's testimony was completely impeached the first time around, but if we're going to find the real killer ... there has to be something in the evidence we've yet to address!)

Justice Sullivan: Very well, Mr Sente, let's hear your choice. What should Benjamin Mendax testify about ?

Storm: Mr Mendax! Please testify to this court about the body you found!

Justice Sullivan: The body? You mean the corpse of Kathryn Davies?

Storm: Exactly, My Lord. (Although, for all we know, he might've put her there in the first place...) Recently, we've been caught up in speculating about the gun. We learnt that it's possible Richard may have been framed and blackmailed... and also that the CID investigation may have been corrupted. But right now, we need to return our focus to the crime itself !

Donovan: An excellent suggestion. Mr Mendax, please testify further about your discovery of the crime, in detail.

Mendax: ...fine.

Justice Sullivan: This time, please try to be more accurate. Details are essential... and your credibility is already harmed. - Mendax: I didn't get any response from knocking on her door, so I just went in by myself. Kathryn was lying on the floor, obviously dead. Blood was pooling on the floor from her head. I ran over to her straight away. There was clearly massive damage to her head, with blood all over her forehead and hand. You can probably imagine how scared I was. After making sure there was no-one else still in the room, I popped outside to call the police. Once the police were on their way, I went back to her side. She seemed unharmed, bar the gunshot wound to her head. - Lawrence: Hmm... sounds a lot like what we've already heard from him.

Storm: Yeah, he's sure sticking to his story. But it's definitely more detailed than before.

Donovan: Thank you, Mr Mendax. I think your version of events is crucial to this case.

Mendax: Do you, now? Crucial how, exactly?

Justice Sullivan: Now, now! Let's not get side-tracked! Mr Sente, your cross-examination, please.

Storm: (Great! Time to get to the bottom of this guy! I don't think I can stand much more of his animosity towards Donovan...)

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Storm: Mr Lawrence? What's wrong?

Lawrence: Hmm... his story sounds very... well, normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Storm: Yeah, well, I just have to find a contradiction, right?

Lawrence: Sure, but I can't see any. No offense, but you'll have a hard time doing so if I can't.

Storm: Well... I'll just have to press him! Wring a mistake out of him!

Lawrence: Yeah... Yeah, okay, you do that...

Storm: (Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence...!) - Cross-Examination Finding the Corpse

Mendax: I didn't get any response from knocking on her door, so I just went in by myself.

Mendax: Kathryn was lying on the floor, obviously dead. Blood was pooling on the floor from her head.

Mendax: I ran over to her straight away. There was clearly massive damage to her head, with blood all over her forehead and hand.

Mendax: You can probably imagine how scared I was. After making sure there was no-one else still in the room, I popped outside to call the police.

Mendax: Once the police were on their way, I went back to her side. She seemed unharmed, bar the gunshot wound to her head.

- After pressing all statements

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Storm: * sigh* You were right, Mr Lawrence. His whole version of events is just seeping in suspicion, but...

Lawrence: Yeah. If he's lying about it all, which is becoming our main premise now, then he's starting to do a very good job of it.

Storm: I almost feel like the simple mistakes he made before were just deliberate red herrings.

Lawrence: That wouldn't surprise me, to be honest.

Storm: Gah! This is so frustrating! I feel like we've come way too close to be stumped here!

Lawrence: Hey, now. If there's one thing to do at times like these, it's to keep pushing onwards. If you truly believe in your client, then Mendax here has to be lying through his teeth. No matter how strong his fabrication may be, there's got to be a loose string to pull somewhere.

Storm: But, where? There aren't any contradictions! Even YOU can't figure anything out.

Lawrence: Oh, come now, Storm. You and I both know which of the two of us is the more intelligent.

Storm: ...But, I...

Lawrence: You've been running on pure adrenaline and nerves thus far. Sure, I may have experience in advocacy behind me, but you've got something else far more useful in this kind of situation. You've got it running in your blood. The latest member of the Greaves family to be called to the bar!

Storm: I haven't exactly just inherited their experience, sir...

Lawrence: No, but you've got their attentional control. You need to start calming down, Storm. Try to relax. Just pretend this is no more than an exam. This is just another puzzle to be solved. Everyone knows your inherent ability to work things out. Don't convergently compare his testimony to the evidence anymore. Apply some divergent thinking ! Analyse his testimony for what it is!

Storm: (He's right... I can do this. All I have to do is relax and concentrate.) ( Analyse his testimony for what it is, and abduce some new ideas!)

Justice Sullivan: Defence counsel? Are there any issues?

Storm: Sorry, no, My Lord. I'll continue with my cross-examination, now. -

Storm: Right... Mr Mendax... you mentioned that you spotted blood on the victim's hand in addition to her head.

Mendax: Yeah, that's right. What of it?

Storm: Well, you're certainly not going to get away with merely a passing mention of it. Kathryn was shot in the head. How on Earth would YOU explain this significant amount of blood specifically on her right hand?

Mendax: Huh?! W-well, it's simple enough! Maybe her hand was just close to her head at the time.

Storm: Objection! No, sorry, Mendax, but I'm not buying it. Unluckily for you, bloodstain pattern analysis is a very real and legitimate thing. For your information, blood back-spatter from the entrance of a gunshot wound would be a relatively small amount of fine droplets at high-velocity. When you stop and think about it, it makes no sense for this amount of blood to be present solely on one hand!

Mendax: ... ... ...Well, whatever. That's, like, your opinion.

Justice Sullivan: As it happens, Mr Mendax, Mr Sente's opinions are those which I'm beginning to hold a lot of faith in. We haven't heard any discussions of this yet, Mr Sente. What are you trying to infer from this?

Storm: My Lord, all I know is that being shot in the head would have led to a predictable blood spatter and instant death. Was the body moved? Did she not die there immediately? These are the sort of questions we should be asking ourselves, now.

Mendax: Oh, please! You're still hanging on a really minor point. You're saying my description of the scene is 'improbable'. So what?! I maintain that's exactly what I saw. Improbable things happen all the time with a big enough sample.

Storm: Well, how would YOU explain it, then?

Mendax: The blood on her hand? I told you, she was just shot in the head. Is it REALLY that impossible that blood ended up on her hand?!

Justice Sullivan: I wonder if he does have a point, Mr Sente.

Storm: I can do better than showing the described scene as 'improbable', my Lord. I can show its impossibility ! style="color:#4F81BD">(...uh, I think.)

Mendax: Oh, come off it!

Justice Sullivan: Quiet, Mr Mendax. Mr Sente, this an extremely critical point, and one I'd love to hear. Which piece of evidence demonstrates the impossibility of the scene as Mendax has described it ?

Storm: I believe the final nail in the coffin lies in something we've yet to consider all that much as of yet... Namely, the photograph of the scene !

Mendax: Fine, I'll bite. How does this photo contradict anything I've claimed ?!

Storm: Why, can't you see it, Mr Mendax? Can you not see what's blatantly obvious?

Mendax: Wh-What are you clutching at...?

Storm: It's actually really, really simple. I've already spoken about bloodstain pattern analysis. However, you don't need a PhD in forensic science to realise what's wrong with this scene... There's a complete lack of any blood spatter on the walls behind the victim!

Mendax: Gah...!

Lawrence: Aha!

Justice Sullivan: But... But... But, of course! A most obvious fact, indeed!

Storm: The implications of this turn the case as we thought we knew it on its head.

Mendax: No, they don't! All this tells you is that she wasn't shot from the direction of the photograph!

Storm: Objection! But that, Mendax, is exactly my point! If the crucial blood forward-spatter on the wall was included in the police photograph, that would be fine. But, significantly, it isn't! By all accounts, a huge gap in our knowledge! In fact, the only spatter we're aware of is the blood on her right hand... ...but as I've already said, it seems unlikely that it was even gunshot spatter at all!

Donovan: Objection! My Lord! If I may, I'd like to urgently direct the court's attention to the post-mortem report.

Justice Sullivan: Y-Yes?! I was wondering why you were frantically scanning through it just now...

Donovan: As my learned friend has been emphasising, it seems we cannot comfortably rely on the police-provided evidence to any great extent. During the defence's cross-examination, I've been perusing the post-mortem report. If you allow your attention to be drawn to the bottom of page 12, you will see a reference to broken fingers on the right hand.

Storm: I didn't spot that...!

Donovan: I wouldn't blame you, Mr Sente. It's discreetly mentioned in passing in a way implying it's immaterial.

Storm: But, the blood on her hand looks as fresh as that from her gunshot wound! I'd say it's clear the report is underplaying the relevance of her hand injury to the time of her murder... In conclusion, it's most likely that Kathryn was not shot dead from the direction of the apartment door, and she suffered an additional injury to her right hand during the event.

Justice Sullivan: Hmmmmmmmmmm... what a to-do... From the evidence and deductions I've seen, I must agree with the defence's conclusion. It is apparent that we are experiencing a severe and frankly worrying lack of information from forensic investigations. My advice is for both counsels to organise further investigation and reconcile the facts of the case with the utmost urgency. Court is hereby adjourned for an hour-long break. - Storm: (And, pheeeewwwwww... Dear God, did I need a break...)

Lawrence: You look pretty drained, Stormy. It's ok, enjoy this breather while you can!

Storm: Thanks so much for your help in there, sir. I feel like we might actually we have some sort of a chance, after all.

Lawrence: Of course we do. I mean, I'd say we've uncovered some pretty startling stuff already...

Richard: ... ... ...

Storm: Oh, Richard. How are you doing?

Richard: Um, I think I'm doing ok, thanks...

Storm: So, we hit the nail on the head, right? You've been framed and blackmailed?

Richard: I... was threatened. They'd threatened to hurt me, and some cousins and the like...

Storm: Threatened to not talk and to take the wrap? That's why you originally told me you weren't guilty, but put on that performance in court?

Richard: I thought maybe you'd figure it out from that, and I technically wouldn't have blabbed...

Lawrence: Well, that's certainly a gambit you've been playing! Not only that, but when the time comes for you to speak the truth, it'll be that much more believable and consistent with your actions. Nicely played!

Storm: (Maybe he's not quite so hapless as he seems...) So, who was it? Who set you up? Was it Mendax, your boss?

Richard: ... ... ...

Storm: Don't worry, no-one's listening right now.

Richard: ...Yeah. It was him. It came out of nowhere... I don't even understand why he killed her in the first place.

Storm: I guess we'll just have to figure that out in due course. Right now, we just need to focus on clearing your name.

Lawrence: That's right. From here on out, we need to fight the evidence implicating you with a strong enough case of framing, such that the court has reasonable doubt of your guilt.

Richard: Right... So, eventually, I'll have to tell the truth.

Lawrence: Key word: eventually. That should preferably be the final nail in the coffin. We can't have you speaking out against the terms of your blackmail before we're absolutely sure we've got it in the bag.

Storm: Absolutely. So, it's all about timing from here on out.

Richard: Ok... Thanks, Mr Sente. Thank you so much.

Storm: Don't worry about it, Richard. Just doing my job.

Richard: And you too, er...?

Lawrence: Lawrence! Charlie Lawrence. I'm Storm's favourite teacher!

Richard: Ah! Well, thanks, Mr Lawrence. I guess I should probably go back in now...

Lawrence: Yeah, we'll need to address other issues. Don't worry, Mr Kingsley. We've got this sorted!

Richard: I'm sure! You were pretty amazing out there!

Lawrence: Quite a dramatic lad, isn't he? That'll be his American blood.

Richard: Oh! I thought I recognised a half-and-half accent!

Lawrence: Naturally! Why else would he have gone with a nickname like 'Storm'?"

Storm: (Um... I'm right here, guys...)

Richard: Anyway, I should be heading back in... Thanks again! I'm counting on you!

Lawrence: Heh... Well, I think we can safely say there's not much surprise, there.

Storm: I knew it... We are SO nailing Mendax.

Lawrence: As useful as it is to get that out in the open, we've still got a lot of work to do. Storm, I think you can realise how much deeper this case seems to go, already...

???: Not a promising state of affairs, wouldn't you agree...?

Donovan: It certainly seems like we've opened a veritable can of worms.

Lawrence: Looks that way, eh, Donovan?

Donovan: Firstly, Mr Sente, can I just say... fantastic work in there. Not that I wish to be patronising, of course.

Storm: N-No, of course not. Thanks very much.

Donovan: Based on Justice Sullivan's advice, I thought it would be best to discuss our plan of action together. Here, Detective Harrison...

Lizzy: Yeah, right, so. Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the way the CID's presented itself in this trial. Clearly, there's been a catastrophic failure in proper investigative procedure. Frankly, I think the FemCon incident is just eating up our manpower.

Storm: (I nearly forgot that even happened, with my head buried in this trial...)

Lizzy: I've discussed my plan of action with Mr Donovan and I'm going to rush straight back over get more information.

Storm: ...

Lizzy: Hey, I saw that look, Mr Sente! I know it's not that much in the way of covering my own back, but the only input I had on the case was interviewing Richard. I don't blame you at all for your wariness, though. It's become a case of CID misconduct, and sadly Answell's got a lot of history in that department.

Donovan: I know it won't mean much to you at this point, but you've got my word that Miss Harrison's someone who can be trusted.

Lawrence: Mine too, as it happens. You're currently with a band of people you can trust.

Lizzy: Right, I'll be off as fast as I can, then. I'll be quick.

Donovan: To think that this sort of thing could be happening the same day as the FemCon incident... It's no wonder we have to consider the possibility of them being related.

Storm: I can't even think about that just yet... I'm struggling enough just comprehending what's going on right here, right now.

Donovan: Well, right here and right now is what we should be focused on. It's wisest to take things one step at a time, for now. I think I'll go over the post-mortem report more carefully in the meantime. Well, gentlemen... See you on the other side.

Storm: Right... So, we just need to build up our case of framing. I guess one of the best ways to do that now would be to implicate Mendax further? Build up reasonable doubt, right?

Lawrence: ... ... ...

Storm: Sir? What's wrong?

Lawrence: ... ... ... We can't win, Storm.

Storm: W-what?! What do you mean?!

Lawrence: At least, not in our current state.

Storm: What's wrong?

Lawrence: Evidence, Storm. Evidence is everything. And right now, evidence is what we don't have.

Storm: But... But, the evidence we've got-

Lawrence: -isn't helpful. Not ultimately, anyway. Think about it, Storm. Mendax killed Kathryn with the Glock 17 and pinned the crime on the nearest hapless colleague. Plastered his prints all over it. But then...? He filed it into the police evidence. Somehow, he managed to slip it into the investigation, under the guise of it being found in the toilet bowl by detectives. How? How did he do that?

Storm: He's just a fast-food manager... What possible links to the police could he even have?

Lawrence: Exactly, the whole thing could be compromised. We just don't know who or what we can trust. If Mendax had the power to influence the investigation, then it must go beyond him. Not just CID negligence... but outright corruption. And, it's just as Lizzy said and as I'm sure you've heard yourself: Answell police has an infamous history of corruption. This is why we have a duty to investigate ourselves. We need to collect evidence and make our own deductions. As it is, we're just working with what a corrupt investigation has cherry-picked and filtered for us. Ergo, we can't win.

Storm: We haven't had any time to investigate ourselves, though! At this rate, we never will!

Lawrence: ... ... ... I'll have to leave it up to you now, Storm.

Storm: W-what?! But, sir...

Lawrence: You can manage just fine, Stormy. I know you can. Look, if we want any chance of winning this case, we need more to work with. I'm going to go follow up some more leads as quickly as I can.

Storm: You mean, at the restaurant and the flats?

Lawrence: Exactly! If we can just get some more evidence for ourselves... Well, it's our only chance, frankly.

Storm: Ok... Well, I suppose I'll be able to manage by myself...

Lawrence: You absolutely can! Just keep the case running. Keep standing up. Keep looking forward. Keep pushing on. One way or another, we'll get there, I promise.

Storm: Right, sir! I'll do my best!

Lawrence: Oh, and one last thing... ... ... I'm proud of you, Storm. I mean it.

Storm: ... ... ... Sir...

Lawrence: See you at the end!

Storm: (Right, it's the beginning of the end. I've got no safety net from here on out.) (I just need to keep fighting my case and turn the spotlight back onto Mendax... I promise I'll clear your name, Richard! I'll get justice for everyone!)

To be continued... -