"Tell a lie once, and all your truths becomes questionable."
~Unknown
-Tuesday, February 7th. 9:18am.
The cold weather of the January season prowl throughout the State. The degree seeming to drop by every minute. Chunks of snow covers sprawl the streets of New York City. Chilly air whirl widely, brushing pass people's faces as they hug their winter coats tight while hurrying down the streets.
Thick clouds hover over the snow dump vehicles and the workers driving down to the snow dump site. Some snow bikers are out in the street cycling in the snow. The snow chunder are in large clumps which makes cold weather cycling tricky.
Loud blares from cars honking stir the air. Drivers sit impatiently behind wheels stuck in traffic. The traffic on the highway is hideous and tight, vehicles are almost kissing each others bumper. At this point, people who have almost reach their destinations get off the taxis to continue on foot.
Becky pays the driver and disembarks from the taxi. She quickly help her daughter out as well. "We'll just walk down the road." She tells her. "The district court is only few walks away from here."
She hold her daughter's hand tightly and gently drag her along the walkway. She stops to adjust Angela's fur coat, making sure she is not expose to the cold.
"I'm okay mommy." Angela huff, a thick breath steam whirl out of her mouth.
Becky sigh, unsatisfied. "Do you want me to carry you?" She croak, but Angela shake her head.
"I can walk."
"Okay baby, we're almost at the courthouse. If you get tired of walking you tell me at once and I'll carry you, okay?"
Angela nods. Becky takes her hand and they continue walking to the district court. Becky steals a quick glance at her wristwatch, it's surface is misty from the cold weather. She wipes it on her coat to clear off the frosts on its surface.
"Damn," She mutter when she notices the time. "The court session must've begin already." She groan, doubling up her footsteps. Little Angela tries to keep up the pace with her mother.
They arrive at the district court after a three minutes walk. Reporters parade the perimeter with cameramen. Becky shake her head, unsurprised.
It would take more than a cold winter morning to keep these reporters away from the courtyard. She sigh.
They hurry into the grand building, almost running through the hallways. After several apologies to people they bump into, they finally arrive at the courtroom. Becky pushes the large doors on the rear and they fly apart, reveling the courtroom. Few heads turn to glare at the latecomers. Becky smile uneasily and quickly pull her daughter inside. She quickly scout for a vacant seat on the last row in the court gallery. They are just in time for the defense direct examination of a witness.
Jasmine slowly walk to the open space in front of the court. She share a quick glance with Allison before halting in front of the witness stand. The court clerk gets up to address her. "Could you please state your name to the court?"
"Jasmine Janet Joaquin."
"Could you please spell your first and last name?" The clerk demand.
"J. A. S. M. I. N. E, J. O. A. Q. U. I. N."
"Would you like to affirm or swear an holy book?"
"I'd like to affirm." Jasmine state.
The clerk nods at her, "Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. "I solemnly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Jasmine raise her right hand as instructed and affirms, "I solemnly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"Please be seated." The clerk say.
Jasmine steps into the witness stand and sits. The court clerk takes his seat as well. The defense attorney slowly approach the witness stand, stopping few metres away.
Jasmine's eyes takes a quick travel around the courtroom in the split of a second. Mr Dwayne is sitting among other board members on the first row in the gallery. Britney and Lucy are sitting behind the board members. Katherine is sitting next to her fiance on the other side. Chandelier is sitting between Blake and Mrs kringle. And of course Becky is sitting on the last row with her daughter.
All these people came just for Allison? What a shame. She thought.
"Miss Jasmine," the defense attorney's voice rasp, causing everyone to shift their attention to him. "Do you know why you're here today?"
"Yes, I do." Jasmine shrug.
"And why is that?"
"I'm here to testify as a witness."
"Do you recognise the defendant?
Jasmine takes a quick glance at Allison before returning her gaze back to the defense attorney. "Yes. I do."
"Where were you on the day Mr Jean-Pierre was murdered?"
"I was there at his welcome party."
"Okay. Could you please tell the court what happened at the party as you remember it?"
She nods. "The welcome party was a private party strictly by invitation. I was invited, so was Allison. I got to the party around 2pm and I noticed that Allison hadn't arrive at the time, but the party had already begun. I decided to wait a little longer before I call her. She showed up some minutes past 2. I was across the hall from her and she was at a table in the middle of the hall. I wanted to signal her to come over so I'd introduce her to some friends, but then I saw her dancing with Coach Vincent so I just let her enjoy the party with her own friends. Everything was going fine until the time Mr Jean-Pierre was about to give a speech. I was paying attention to Mr Jean-Pierre until some struggling by the doorway to the convenient interrupted us. I looked over and I saw Allison hovering over one of the security guard and she seemed to have knocked him out. I don't know how she was able to do that, but by the time I looked, she had the guard's gun pointed at Mr Jean-Pierre and she shot him twice, before another guard tackled her to the floor and he knocked her out."
"What is your relationship with the defendant?"
"I am her manager."
"So that means you know Allison's dealings and things she gets herself involved in better than any one in this courtroom."
"Uh, As her manager, I like to think that I know her business. I'm aware of every schedules, meeting, travels and a lot more of her engagements."
"Has the defendant exhibited an aggressive or dangerous gesture before now? Anything that can suggests she is capable of homicide?"
"No."
"Does she have any criminal history. Maybe got involved in anything illegal, criminal, disturbing. Anything?"
"None. She has never been that person."
"So there's nothing that indicate that my client have any premeditated homicide motives."
"No."
"How would you describe Allison's personality and her career?"
"Uh, I know Allison is a very determined person. She is hardworking. She knows what she wants and she works towards achieving it. She got into NY Demon Girls by her own hard work. And she didn't relent. She push herself to limits and everything she achieved today, she worked for it."
"When one makes it to NY Demon Girls, what does it take one to remain on the squad? Not just remain on the squad but to be one of the best girls on the squad, the Demon Girl of the year"
"Uh, literally, you'd have to be consistent and hardworking to improve on yourself. You'd have to train and work on yourself relentlessly. You have to prove to the team and the world that you've got what it takes to be on the squad."
"And how did Allison see fit to improve on herself?"
"She uh, had her own rehearsals, four times in a week. And she was on a diet. And uh, she avoided any form of sugar. She used to say that she wants to always be in the right shape and weight."
"So she had personal trainings not once, not twice, but four times in a week besides the usual rehearsals with the squad."
"Yes sir."
"How often does Allison take breaks, rests, vacations?"
"Almost never. She is all about dance routines, choreography and practices. I suggested a vacation, she thought it was a good idea but she never got the chance to go on the vacation before, uh..." She pause, acting unable to find a suiting word to complete the phrase.
"Before the incident at the party?" The defense attorney suggests.
"Yes, before the incident at the party."
"You've described her as someone who works her ass out without minding the stress and fatigue. And she never for once stop to take a break?"
"Yes."
"All these with which she subjected her body and mind to, what could be a side effect of it?"
"Uh, stress? Fatigue and, uh, lost of weights. It could also cause a break down maybe headaches, I don't know."
"What if I told you that constant stress to the body without rest could seldom cause rare negative effects such as sleepiness, paranoia, hallucination."
"If I knew that I would've advised her to take breaks from practice often, and see a doctor. I would've said something to her." Jasmine sniffle.
The defense attorney approach the jury box. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, as you can see, my client is a humble and hardworking citizen of America, with big dreams. Dreams to become a popular choreographer. Now she may have pushed herself too much and paid no attention to the possibility of it causing mental breakdown, with which she began to see things that are not real. My client had no premeditation to murder anyone. She has never been on the wrong side of the law ever. We're asking for the help she deserves. A recommendation to a mental hospital. She needs a therapy not jail. I'm asking you ladies and gentlemen of the jury to do right by Allison." He finished his closing argument and sightly bow before returning to the council table.
"Okay. Does the plaintiff wish to cross examine the witness?" The judge ask.
"Yes your honour." The prosecutor say and walks out into the open space. "Ma'am, you're the defendant's manager, right?"
"That's right sir." Jasmine furrow her brows.
"Then you would know who she has business with, that right?"
"Yes. I foresee her business as her manager."
"How well do you know the defendant?"
"I know her just enough."
"Just enough huh? Well how long have you known her?"
"Uh, I've known her for uh, six months. And I've been her manager ever since."
"How long has she been a Demon Girl?"
"It's been about a year now." Jasmine say thoughtfully.
"So you know nothing about her prior to the six months that you've been her manager."
"Uh, no I don't."
"So you don't know her well enough after all." The prosecutor ricochet.
"Objection, irrelevant!" The defense attorney hiss.
"Sustained."
"Could you tell the court what businesses the defendant have with the deceased? Any legal, or illegal businesses maybe? Any personal relationship, conflicts or anything that may have led to what happened that day?"
"Uh no, I am not aware of any business or relationship between Allison and Mr Jean-Pierre."
"Is it possible that the defendant must've pulled the trigger because of some sorta secret business she might've had with the deceased which you were not aware of?"
"Objection! Leading question." The defense Attorney springs on his feet.
"Sustained." The judge say.
Nodding at the judge, the prosecutor continues. "Are you aware that the defendant withdraw her plea of not guilty, and now she plea guilty by reason of insanity?"
"Yes, I'm aware."
"As her manager, you have access to her medical record. You would know about any mental illness or disorder, wouldn't you?"
"Uh, that's right. I have access to her medical records."
"Is the defendant in any support group for mental illness?"
"No."
"Is she seeing any therapist or going for any therapy sessions?
"Uh, just physiotherapy sessions. That's the only therapy session I'm aware of."
"Could you explain to the court the kind of therapy they administer in a physiotherapy session and what the therapy is for?"
"It's an exercise therapy to keep the body and mind fit. They administer only physical techniques such as massages, ultrasounds, heat and exercise to the client."
"So it's neither a therapy for mental illness nor any sort of disorder?"
"No, it's none of that." Jasmine shake her head.
"Does the defendant suffer any mental illness?" The prosecutor ask.
"I don't know."
"Is there any actual prove that she suffers any form of mental illness? A document from a doctor maybe?"
"No." Jasmine lower her head.
"So there's no proof she acted by reason of insanity?"
"I don't know."
"Thank you for your time." The prosecutor say to her. Turning to the judge, he nods. "That'll be all for the government your honour."
"Thank you Miss Jasmine. You may step out of the stand." The judge say to Jasmine.
Jasmine nod in respond and exit the witness stand.
"The case of the United States of America versus Miss Allison Kringle has been adjourned to February 7th." The judge say, and bangs the gavel on her desk indicating the end of the court session.